Opportunities From: Volunteer Opportunities at United Way of Northern New Jersey

Volunteers are the lifeblood of United Way and our programs, sharing their valuable time, talents, expertise, and caring.  We wanted to show our volunteers how much they mean to us and to our community and YOU can help!  Use your artistic talents and imagination to create cards to thank volunteers and let them know how much their volunteer service is valued.

Make one card or many cards - you decide!  Please include a message of thanks and a nice picture, graphic or drawing.  Here are some examples of kind messages of appreciation:

* Thank you for volunteering and showing the world your kind heart.

* Your kindness is the spark that lights up our community.  Thank you for giving your time, energy, and heart so generously - you truly made a difference.

* Volunteers like you prove that the most valuable gift is not money or possessions, but the willingness to serve others with love and compassion.

* Because of your dedication, hope feels closer, smiles shine brighter, and challenges seem smaller.  Thank you for being a beacon of goodness.

* You didn't just give your time - you gave a piece of your heart.  And that's what makes your contribution priceless.

* The world needs more people like you - people who see a need and step forward without hesitation. Thank you for inspiring us all.

* Your selflessness is a reminder that one person's effort can ripple out and change countless lives.  We are deeply grateful for you.

* You are proof that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they care enough to act. Thank you for being extraordinary.

Please send your cards to us at:

United Way of Northern New Jersey, P.O. Box 6835, Bridgewater, NJ 08807   Attn: Lisa Galonardo

Thank you for volunteering to help us thank other volunteers in the community!

This spring is the perfect time to take action to assist ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families who work hard in our community, but who struggle financially and are one crisis or emergency away from falling into poverty.

As part of this year's National Volunteer Month (April) and to promote volunteerism that has a direct impact in our community, United Way of Northern New Jersey is offering a volunteer project to assist families with critical essential items for their well-being.

Volunteers are asked to create Care Kits that include any (or all) of the following essential needs for families:

* Shampoo/Conditioner

* Soap

* Deodorant

* Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

* Feminine Hygiene products

* Home cleaning products (paper towels, dish soap, household cleaner, toilet paper, laundry detergent, etc.)

Items can be full-size or travel-size (which works better in shelter or transitional housing situations) and can be packed in Ziplock types of bags or in any type of reusable bags.

Another option for volunteers is to create a Baby Care Kit - which would include any type of baby care items such as:  diapers, wipes, baby shampoo and baby wash, towels, bottles, clothes, powder formula, toys and anything else that would be helpful for new parents in need.

We are aiming to have the Care Kits ready for distribution to our ALICE clients and those of our partner nonprofit organizations by Friday, April 28, 2023, but we can accept the Care Kits any time this spring.

United Way would like to recognize and thank all volunteers participating in this project, so if you register to participate, please take photos of your work and the kits, so that we can share your efforts on social media and thank you publicly for Taking Action for ALICE Families this spring!

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Lisa Galonardo at lisa.galonardo@unitedwaynnj.org.

Thank you for your generosity in sharing your time and support of ALICE families in our community!!

Help United Way by creating Spring Cleaning Kits and/or children's Snack Kits for local ALICE families and those in shelters.  This is a great way to "Spring into Action" and help give families a fresh and clean start this spring!

United Way is partnering with local shelters and food pantries to distribute the kits to families in the shelter, those transitioning to permanent housing and those who are struggling in our community.

When you register, you will receive a flyer with information about what to put in each kind of kit, options for partner organizations receiving the kits and some fun extras to personalize your kits!

This project is designed to take place April through May, so that kits can be distributed to families this spring.

Many thanks for your interest and look for your flyer soon!

Help ease the financial burden of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families, who work hard but still struggle to make ends meet, by donating "essential" items this winter-early spring.

Items most needed include:

Health and Wellness Items:  shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, floss, menstrual pads, tampons, pain relievers, lotion

Household Items: Laundry detergent, dryer sheets, fabric softener, dish detergent, tissues, toilet paper, hand soap, cleaning products, paper towels

Baby Care Items:  Diapers (all sizes), bottles, formula, pacifiers, baby blankets, diaper cream, burp clothes, teething rings, onesies

New Clothes: Socks (children and adults), children's underwear, children's sweatsuits, fleece jackets

Gift Cards:  For Stores (Walmart, Target, Old Navy), Grocery Stores (Shop Rite, Weis, Stop & Shop, Aldi), Gas (all local brands), Phone (prepaid cards for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Boost, Straight Talk, etc.)

Volunteers are needed to coordinate collection drives, promote this collection drive and deliver donated items to the United Way of Northern New Jersey.  The deadline for donating items is:  May 15, 2026.

Please register for the project and we will share a project flyer for the project.  If you have any questions, please contact us at: lisa.galonardo@unitedwaynnj.org.  

Thank you for helping to assist ALICE families in our community.

United Way of Northern New Jersey is celebrating National Volunteer Week by hosting a special volunteer opportunity.  We will be creating Baby Basic Boxes for expectant and new parents in need.  Volunteers are asked to bring donations of new baby care items and together we will create festive boxes and then fill them with baby care necessities so that the new parents can give their babies a good start in life.

Items being collected can include:

* baby shampoo

* baby wash

* diapers

* diaper cream

* baby lotion

* washcloths and towels

* blankets and bedding

* baby clothing

* bottles and bottle cleaners

* small care/grooming items such as baby brushes, thermometers, suction bulbs, etc.

* gift cards

We are also taking donations of baby gift wrap, that we will use to create the fun and festive boxes for each family.

Come and help us give our youngest community members a good start in life by helping their parents provide basic necessities.

2026 Foodstock

Even before any disaster or crisis hits, food security can be a significant issue for ALICE®  (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and those in poverty. ALICE was already navigating life without a safety net and was one crisis away from financial despair. The government shutdown and suspension of SNAP (food assistance) benefits is that crisis, creating a significant increase in food insecurity while pantries are already at capacity and experiencing shortages.

In response to this impact of the SNAP emergency, United Way is taking action and encouraging people and groups to collect needed items for local food banks/pantries. While Foodstock is a year-round project, we are strongly promoting its expansion during this critical timeframe, given the critical need right now.  This will help ensure ALICE and poverty-level households have enough food while the SNAP program is on hold. 

How to Help

Please sign up to support local food banks/pantries by running a collection drive or contributing food to YOUR local pantry. 

To sign up, respond as an individual or as a team using the buttons to your right. Submit your name and email address—all other requested information is optional—and that’s it!

Once you’ve registered, please check out food pantry information and the types of foods most needed right now in the following counties:

Somerset County: Somerset County Emergency Food Box Needs     (Food Assistance | Somerset County)

Morris County:  Donate Food - Interfaith Food Pantry Network

Sussex County:    food-pantry-update.pdf

Warren County:  Food Bank

Essex County:  Essex-County-Food-Pantries-pdf.pdf

You can also check out the Foodstock flyer, which contains all you need to get started such as a list of participating pantries in our five-county region, needed pantry items, and ideas for getting others involved in this effort.

Please make sure to connect directly with the local food pantry you plan to deliver your food donations to in advance of going there.  Also, please consider making a financial donation to your local pantry to support their efforts to help your neighbors in need.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of struggling families, children, seniors and those with disabilities in need of food throughout northern New Jersey! 

Once you’ve registered, please check out the Foodstock flyer, which contains all you need to get started such as a list of participating pantries in our five-county region, needed pantry items, and ideas for getting others involved in this effort.

Please make sure to connect directly with the local food pantry you plan to deliver your food donations to in advance of going there.  Many have implemented safety protocols that you will need to understand before going there.

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of struggling northern New Jersey residents!

Kindergarten is the start of a formal school environment for many children.  United Way, as part of our United In Care program, encourages school-readiness and early literacy.  Through this effort, we would like each child at one of our many partner preschools to get a card or letter of encouragement that creates excitement about entering kindergarten.

Volunteering for this project is easy and can be done by ANYONE!  Simply make a card or write a short note of support and encouragement for a new kindergartener.  You can include a favorite memory about your own kindergarten experience or perhaps the titles of your favorite children's books.  Please send your card/letter to United Way of Northern New Jersey at P.O. Box 6835, Bridgewater, NJ  08807 - Attn. Cards for Kindergarten. 

This project can be done by a family, an individual, a Girl Scout or Boy Scout troop, service club or any other type of group.  Sign up TODAY and start making a nice card to encourage continued learning for children entering kindergarten.

United Way of Northern New Jersey works to build a love of reading and early literacy among children from ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and those struggling financially.  One way we do this is providing Reading Bags to children who do not have access to books and other learning materials in their homes. 

You can help by becoming a Book Buddy and providing one or more Reading Bags for a local child.  Simply sign up, then feel free to either run a drive to collect the items needed for the bags or build your own Reading Kit(s) to donate.

Reading Bags can include: 

The Basics:  1-3 new children's books (for ages 2 1/2 to 6 years), a pack of crayons, an activity or coloring book, a bookmark, and a small inspirational card or note (no last names)

Enhancements (one or more of the following):  a small new stuffed animal or pillow, a small snack pack, flash cards with letters, etc.

Items can be shared in reusable bags, decorated canvas bags or drawstring bags.  New books in multiple languages are also welcomed.

Thank you for helping to promote early literacy and the love of reading with young readers!

VVF is looking for volunteers to participate in virtual “visits” with a nursing home resident for as little as 10 minutes. Click the link below to access our signup sheet. After you sign up, you will receive a welcome email with further instructions.

This link will take you to the registration page for this opportunity.

Katie's House is a non-profit organization that provides housing, activities and mentoring for adults with intellectual disabilities in Sussex, Passaic, and Morris Counties, New Jersey.

We presently have 4 homes that provide Self Directed Supportive Housing, and we are on the verge of opening our fifth home. We are seeking volunteers to paint the home once it is opened, date to be determined.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another chronic illness is one of the most selfless things we can do, but it can also be exhausting.

Through Jewish Family Service of MetroWest’s Respite program, volunteers support caregivers by visiting their loved ones for 2-3 hours once a week or every other week. Each volunteer is matched with a caregiver and their loved one to provide companionship, socialization, and activities such as reading books, watching movies, or playing games depending on the person’s abilities. This allows the caregiver a break while the care recipient still has safety and supervision.

Volunteers must complete a background check. Training on working with clients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another chronic illness is provided. For more information, call (973) 637-1762 or mmoyer@jfsmetrowest.org

This service is supported by a grant from The JFNA Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma.

Friendly Visiting

Friendly Visitors are matched with a homebound older adult to meet with in their home weekly. Volunteers provide conversation, companionship, and socialization opportunities.

Volunteers must submit to a background check. The program commitment is 1 hour once a week and the schedule of meetings is flexible. Volunteers are expected to report their hours monthly through the JFSMW Volunteer Tracking system and submit an update of the visit to the program coordinator via our app.

This program covers Essex, Morris, and surrounding counties, but we have the most need for female volunteers to visit homebound women in Essex County.

For more information contact Kathy Mikula at kmikula@jfsmetrowest.org or 973-637-1726.

Tessie’s Touch brings joy & connection to isolated older adults by matching them with a caring volunteer. Together, they can do activities and excursions in the community. Tessie’s Touch is an extension of our traditional Friendly Visiting program and allows us to go above and beyond for our seniors.

Volunteers must submit to a background check. The program commitment is 1 hour once a week and the schedule of meetings is flexible. Volunteers are expected to report their hours monthly through the JFS Volunteer Tracking system and submit an update of the visit to the program coordinator online.

For more information contact Kathy Mikula at kmikula@jfsmetrowest.org or 973-637-1726.

United Way of Northern New Jersey is building an online library of stories being read by people of all ages in our community.  We need volunteers like YOU to be a virtual reader and a virtual Book Buddy! 

Please sign up to volunteer to share your time and a much-loved children's story and your love of reading with early readers in our area.  We will send you the Book Buddies Toolkit to assist you and other interested volunteers in how to record yourself reading young children's books.  The online Guide can be accessed through this Form:  21VirtualBookBuddies. or by registering for this project.

Participating is easy!  The time needed is about an hour to 90 minutes to plan and record yourself reading one children's story, depending on how much you choose to rehearse the reading.  You will submit your recording via WeTransfer, which make it easy to upload your video and send to us.

Book Buddies is an ongoing project, so feel free to sign up and submit as many recordings of reading children's books as you wish.  We are also encouraging people to read stories in other languages, especially in Spanish (the books themselves do not need to be Spanish-language books).  Please contact us for more information about submitting a recording in a language other than English.

Thank you for helping to promote early reading and the love of reading with new readers!