With worries about impending weather on everyone’s mind, the Volunteer Center has an idea to help you take this opportunity and turn it into an excellent way to give back to your community. Help out an elderly or disabled neighbor who can’t shovel for themselves, or check in and make sure everyone has what they need before the storm hits. A simple gesture can help you stay warm on the inside when its cold outside.
For more volunteer opportunities visit our website.
A very special Thank You! to Houlihan’s in Hasbrouck Heights, which helped some kids thank the grown ups who are mentoring them.
Being successful in business is about more than doing well. It’s also about doing good.
With that in mind, the
Since its inception in January of 2000, employee volunteers at 31 BVC member companies have worked on behalf of low-income children and families, generating and distributing more than $1 million in resources. More than 4,000 foster children have been provided with backpacks filled with personal care items, socks, underwear and gifts. Approximately 13,000 children in Head Start programs have received new books to encourage love of reading and to foster literacy. The yearly August back-to-school supply drive has generated almost $325,000 worth of school gear for non-profit organizations and schools, while the annual summer food drive has resulted in over $223,000 worth of food and grocery store gift certificates being distributed to low-income families who rely on school meal programs that are not available when school is out.
The mission of the nationally-recognized BVC is to provide leadership in meeting community needs, especially those of children and families, by mobilizing employee volunteers. The BVC is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.
Representatives from area companies who are interested in learning more about the BVC are encouraged to join in the 10th Anniversary Celebration. The cost is $25.00 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres, pasta, dessert and cocktails. Click here to purchase your tickets (RSVP by February 5) or call Amanda Missey (201) 489-9454 Ext. 119 for more information.
This September Bergen LEADS will begin its third year and you can be a part of it. Applications are now avialable for the Bergen LEADS Class of 2011. Bergen LEADS is an innovative, 10-month learning and leadership program for adults who live or work in Bergen County. An application form can be downloaded at http://www.bergenleads.org/.
Today, January 21, is Thank Your Mentor Day. We took a few minutes to ask our Mentoring Moms program particpants how their mentors have helped them. Here is what they said.
“When asked, “What do you like about having a mentor?” the responses included:”
“I have someone to talk to who has had some of the same things to deal with as me and to bounce ideas off of.”
“She is like my older sister. She is always there in difficult times.”
“Jackie is a god send. She listens & gives her opinion. Jackie is like family, she is always there for me when I’m in need.”
“It’s like making a new friend who wants nothing in return.”
“She’s someone I can call to talk to and if I need anything she’s there to help me.”
“Everything. She is my best friend.”
“I can talk to her about anything and express myself. It has been worthwhile because she helped me accomplish my goals.”
“When asked, “Do you feel your mentor makes a difference in your life?” the responses included:”
“Yes, she lifts my spirits up in a positive manner.”
“She is the only person I know who is always there for me, and would do anything for me.”
“My mentor helps look at another perspective of my problems and helps me to decide what to do in life.”
“Yes, she helps me to focus better and to feel better about myself.”
“She is caring giving, makes me smile. My kids love her.”
“Yes! She has helped me in so many ways and she gives me the best advice.”
“She always encourages me to keep going to school.”
“She has helped me through a lot of stuff.”
“She has helped me with my resume and I am trying to better myself with a new job.”
As a focus of National Mentoring Month, Thank Your Mentor Day is Thursday, January 21. On this day many people will be reaching out to thank or honor those individuals who encouraged and guide them, and who had a lasting impact on their lives.
The theme for Thank Your Mentor Day is “Who Mentored You?” Thank Them, and pass it on ”Become a Mentor”. The goal is to encourage people to think about individuals in their lives during their formative years family members, teachers, coaches, neighbors, employers, friends” who encouraged them, showed them the ropes, and helped them become who they are today. Then, thank them and encourage others to become mentors.
Most people have someone who helped them somewhere along the line, says Janet Sharma, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. This is a chance to say ˜thank you” and at the same time take advantage of this national initiative to inspire others to become mentors.
Thank Your Mentor Day promotes Four Ways to Honor Your Mentor :
1) Contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation.
2) Pass it on by becoming a mentor to someone in your community.
3) Make a financial contribution to a local mentoring program, like the Volunteer Center Mentoring Moms and Volunteers in Protective Services Programs.
4) Write a tribute to your mentor for posting on the national mentoring website http://www.whomentoredyou.org/.
The Volunteer Center has been sponsoring mentoring programs for over 30 years, including the Volunteers in Protective Services (VIPS) and Mentoring Moms Programs, and is currently in need of men and women to become volunteer mentors to meet the increasing needs in several areas of the community. There is an especially great need for male mentors and bi-lingual Spanish speaking volunteers of both sexes.
For more information about becoming a mentor, and to find out when the next training sessions will be held, call the Volunteer Center of Bergen County at (201) 489-9454, or visit our website and click on Mentoring Programs.
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