Friday, October 19, 2012

County-wide Corporate Volunteer Day a Success

Being successful in business is about more than doing well.  It’s also about doing good.
 
 
 
Over 100 volunteers from companies throughout Bergen County recently participated in All in a Day’s Work, presented by the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC), a program of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.
 
An inaugural, county- wide day of service for corporate volunteers, All in a Day’s Work was sponsored by TD Bank, and began with a kick off pep rally breakfast for all volunteers at the Volunteer Center. Participants limbered up for the day’s activities with a Zumba dance session, as well as prepared goody bags and notes for soldiers through Operation Goody Bag. The groups then traveled to several locations in and around Bergen County to begin their projects.
 
The largest project of the day was at Teaneck Creek Conservancy, where 40 employee-volunteers of event sponsor TD Bank applied buckets of gravel to spruce up its network of nature trails.
 
Volunteers from Janome America of Mahwah helped with a mailing at Gilda’s Club in Hackensack, while City Green, located in Clifton, benefited from muscle power provided by employees from the Volunteer Center of Bergen County and BD, who dug, weeded and watered at this urban farm facility.
 
Members of the Community Service committee of the Eastern Bergen County Board of Realtors helped to sort and pack 4 ½ tons of food at the Office of Concern Food Pantry at St. Cecilia’s Church in Englewood.  Other members from this committee also prepared 200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which were distributed to homeless clients of the Hoboken Shelter.
 
Volunteers from Hudson City Savings Bank were on-hand to clean stock and organize the food storage facility of the Center for Food Action in Mahwah.
 
Upper Saddle River’s Triangle Manufacturing staff joined with Rebuilding Together to finish a ramp which was built for a disabled Korean War veteran so he could enter and exit his Paramus home more easily.
 
Five Star Premier Residences in Teaneck was a site for some of the day’s activities. Volunteers from T. Rowe Price and Jack Daniels Motors worked with residents of the facility to write thank you notes and put together gift bags for military personnel through Operation Goody Bag.  Five Star employee-volunteers also helped to clean and maintain the aircraft exhibits at the Aviation Hall of Fame in Teterboro.
 
Volunteers then shared their experiences at a wrap up luncheon back at the Volunteer Center.  Breakfast and lunch were provided courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts, Baker Sports Marketing, A Bite of Heaven Caterers, Main Dish Restaurant and United Water.
 
“Successful businesses know that community involvement contributes to the bottom line and produces a real return on investment.  Volunteering boosts employee moral, helps to attract qualified employees, develops employee skills and enhances the company’s image within the community, differentiating it company from its competitors,” says Janet Sharma, executive director of the Volunteer Center.  “We are thrilled that so many companies participated in the BVC’s first combined day of service.  It was a tremendous success.”
 
For more information about the BVC, and to learn about other community projects contact Tess Tomasi at 201-489-9454 Ext. 114, or email ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org.  Visit www.nnjbvc.org.

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