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!

Discovering the wonder of how something works can be the spark that ignites a child’s enthusiasm for learning. The world of science provides unlimited potential.  In the time it takes to have lunch, employees can create a STEM kit and help light that spark in a child’s imagination!

A STEM kit is comprised of a book, supplemental materials and all of the items necessary to complete an age appropriate science experiment.  STEM kits give teachers, child care workers and parents ready-to-use tools to unlock the possibilities for a child’s future in science, math and related fields.

This is a fun and interesting team-building project and has a long-term positive impact for children in our community.

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!

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.

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!