Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Operation Goody Bag

Students at Eastbrook Middle School, in Paramus, are paying tribute to those lost on September 11, 2001 by participating in Operation Goody Bag.  Operation Goody Bag is a student-centered, service-learning project dedicated to remembering September 11th.  Its mission is to perform tributes remembering those who perished and express appreciation to our Military Men and Women, Veterans, and First Responders, through the gift of a Goody Bag. 

Operation Goody Bag has ongoing activities through the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.  For information on how you can be involved, contact Jane Cosco at janecosco@operationgoodybag.org.  This is a great opportunity for people of all ages and families as well as schools and companies.  And remember -- you can report your good doings on our Thousand Acts of Caring website.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Call to Change Lives

The Volunteer Center’s mentoring programs want you! Fall training is right around the corner.

Mentoring Moms are mentors and role models to isolated and/or overwhelmed mothers; training starts on October 3. Please call Cindy at 201-489-9454, ext. 123 for information or to register.

Mentoring Youth (formerly VIPS), are adult role models to children who have experienced abuse, neglect, trouble or isolation. Training for this program starts on September 21; both men and women are invited to call and register today. Please call Francine at 201-489-9454, ext. 111.

If you
  • find satisfaction in helping others



  • seek opportunities for personal growth and fulfillment



  • enjoy making new friends



  • want to get give back




    •                                           ... call today!

      Friday, August 19, 2011

      NEW! Volunteer Opportunties

      The Volunteer Center’s Chore Service is looking for volunteers. Each Chore volunteer is scheduled one day a week as part of a crew, and each crew is assigned 4-5 service calls per day. Chore volunteers should be able to perform minor household repairs such as those that most homeowners do and should be available on a regular basis so they can be scheduled with a regular crew. Call Maureen McCormick at 201-489-7790 for further information.

      Community Blood Services, Allendale, is looking for a volunteer who has a Ph.D. or M.S. with lab/research experience. Stem cell experience preferred. This ongoing project involves working with a blood donor database; project is managed by Roger Mrowiec, Ph.D, Director of our Stem Cell Division, and Dennis Todd, Ph.D., President and CEO. Interested parties should contact Volunteer Director at 201-389-0459.

      Heightened Independence in Progress (HIP), Hackensack, Project Downtown Access needs volunteers to survey businesses along Main Street to identify problems of access. HIP will then reach out to these businesses providing information about barrier removal so their facilities can be accessible to all customers. Volunteers can work alone or partner with another volunteer, and can survey as little or as much as they wish. Call Nancy Hodgins at Bergen HIP, 201-996-9100, x26 or email her, nhodgins.ber@hipcil.org.

      The Volunteer Center occasionally needs the assistance of volunteers to help with mailings. If you’d like to be called when we need help, please email info@bergenvolunteers.org. Thank you!

      Wednesday, August 17, 2011

      Thousand Acts of Caring

      September 11 will always recall a horrific day. But it has also become a national day of doing good in remembrance of those who lost their lives, those who suffered as the result of the attacks, and those who rose in service afterwards. Thousand Acts of Caring is the Volunteer Center's way of helping people pay tribute in remembrance of September 11, 2001.



      We encourage you to visit thousandactsofcaring.org and briefly describe your act(s) of caring. Whether you help a neighbor, donate food, or give blood, every act can make a big difference.


      Visit Thousand Acts of Caring and share your way of remembering.

      Monday, August 15, 2011

      Local Companies Sponsor Bergen Bike Tour

      We are delighted to recognize several area companies as sponsors of the 16th Annual Bergen Bike Tour, set for Sunday, September 25 at Darlington Park in Mahwah. Proceeds benefit Tomorrows Children’s Fund and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Companies support these 2 organizations not only with sponsorship, but also by forming company teams, donating products and encouraging customers and employees to ride and to volunteer!

      Sponsors to date include TD Bank; CUNet/Peterson’s, a Nelnet Company; Apax Partners; EisnerAmper; Inserra ShopRite; Jamis Bicycles; Lakeland Bank; NeoStem; Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation; PNC Bank; Tanis & Sons; Baker Sports Marketing; Bolkema Fuel Company; Columbia Bank; Compensation Solutions; Dunkin' Donuts; Flackman Goodman & Potter, P.A; Flavor & Fragrance Specialties; Garden State Wiper; Hackensack University Medical Center; KRE Group; Murphy, Miller & Baglieri, LLP; Nowell Amoroso Klein Bierman, P.A.; Rockland Electric Company; Andrew Rubenstein, M.D.; Robert E. Martini, LLC; Rudy’s Inflight Catering; Sanzari Companies; Sharp Electronics; Sovereign Santander; United Water; Withum Smith+Brown Global Assurance; Zerega Custom Pasta Company; Aldo's/The Brickhouse; Allendale Bar & Grill; Applebee's; Bollinger Insurance; Downes Tree Service; Excel Physical Therapy; La Cena Fine Foods; Lowenstein Sandler; and Topline Products.

      Thank you sponsors!

      Difficult economic times have really affected our charities,” says Phil Murphy, chairman of the event. “TCF and VCBC provide programs and services that help children with cancer, the frail elderly, people with disabilities and families in crisis. Services are in jeopardy, so we encourage community-minded companies and cyclists to support this great event.”

      More than 400 cyclists will ride routes of 10-, 25- or 50-miles through some of northern Bergen County's most scenic areas. There will also be a "Kids Ride" for children 10 and under.

      For more information, visit http://www.bergenbiketour.org/ or to become a sponsor of this stellar event, call Jane He at 201-489-9454, ext. 125.

      Thursday, August 11, 2011

      Thanks, and come again

      Thank you to everyone who supported the Volunteer Center by dining at Blue Moon Mexican Café in Woodcliff Lake and Wyckoff on Tuesday, August 9.

      We apologize to those who went to the Englewood restaurant and found it closed. We did not know that they remodeled and would be reopening the next day. To compensate, Blue Moon has generously offered to extend the event to next Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16, at all three locations.

      The Englewood site will be open, but just incase here is the telephone number, 201-541-0600.

      Click here to print the flyer (which you will need to present to your server, or no credit will be given to the Volunteer Center).  The date says August 9, but Blue Moon will honor it. Again, thank you!

      Tuesday, August 9, 2011

      Companies Provide Tools for School

      The Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is sponsoring  a collection to provide school supplies for hundreds of children who are from low-income families, in foster care, or who are homeless. Community-minded companies are invited to participate in the “Tools for Schools” initiative, which runs until the end of August.   Employee volunteers will collect school supplies and deliver them to non-profit organizations including various locations of Head Start and the Center for Food Action plus Children’s Aid and Family Services (Paramus) and Youth Consultation Services (Hackensack).  You can also make a donation to the program online here.

      “School begins soon, and children will be given a list of supplies that they need,” says Tess Tomasi, BVC Coordinator.  “In these difficult economic times, families are struggling. While school supplies may be low on the list of priorities, children cannot do without them.”

      The BVC is coordinating the drive to collect the school supplies based on lists developed in coordination with the social service agencies. This year’s goal is to collect $35,000 worth of school supplies.  Any company wishing to participate can contact Tess Tomasi at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, at (201) 489-9454 Ext. 114 to receive an organizational packet with complete instructions on how to organize and conduct the campaign. 

      Sponsors of the 2011 “Tools for Schools” campaign include State Farm, PSEG, IKEA, United Water, Orange & Rockland Electric, and BD.

      Thursday, August 4, 2011

      A Summer Makeover

      Mentors, moms and kids in our Mentoring Moms program enjoyed "makeovers" galore when Parisian Beauty Academy, in Hackensack, hosted the fifth annual night of beauty expressly for our program. 40 guests were treated to haircuts, facials and manicures, with services provided free of charge by stylists who donated their time.

      Many of the women we mentor live on a shoestring and rarely have the opportunity to enjoy this kind of pampering. As one mom said, "This was such a treat - I haven't been to a hairdresser in years!" It was great fun for everyone.

      The Mentoring Moms program recruits, screens, trains and supervises caring mentors for overwhelmed mothers in need of guidance in parenting and life skills as well as in sustaining their families. For more information on the Mentoring Moms program or how you can help please visit the Volunteer Center of Bergen County’s website.

      Monday, August 1, 2011

      Family Fun at the Bergen Bike Tour

       
      The 16th Annual Bergen Bike Tour is a great way for families to spend time together, get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors and do good -- all at the same time!  The Bergen Bike Tour will be held on Sunday, September 25th, at Darlington County Park in Mahwah.  Routes of 10, 25 and 50 miles are available for riders of every level.  Kids’ Events, sponsored by TD Bank, will feature a special ride for those 10 and under on small bikes, big wheels and tricycles on our special Kids' Ride track.  The TD Bank Kids' Events will also include clowns, fire trucks to explore, pumpkin painting, face painting, games and crafts - including a lesson in origami - and much more.

      After the ride, riders of all ages are invited to the family fun picnic featuring a home-cooked barbeque lunch, plus prizes and fun for the whole family.  Two Jamis bicycles will be raffled at $5 per ticket. Register online at http://www.bergenbiketour.org or call 1-877-BER-BIKE (237-2453).