BVC Serves more than 200 at annual Project Homeless Connect

“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”       
           - Maya Angelou

On the frigid morning of February 4th, 2015, hundreds of local homeless were huddled outside the entryway of the Bergen County Housing and Human Services building in Hackensack, awaiting a hot breakfast at the 9th Annual Project Homeless Connect. The annual event assists and links people experiencing homelessness with access to health services, legal advice, social services and employment assistance. More than 150 of these events are held in over 115 cities across the nation.

The Business Volunteer Council has been participating in Project Homeless Connect since 2011, coordinating volunteers to prepare and serve breakfast to people in need. This year's event was sponsored by Business Volunteer Council partners, Five Star Premier Residences of Teaneck, Community Bank of Bergen County, Sealed Air and supported by volunteers from Hudson City Savings Bank. 

Five Star Premier Residences of Teaneck generously prepared and donated the breakfast served to an estimated 200 displaced individuals. “We’ve been doing this as a staff for the past five years”, says Marc Sturiale, Director of Human Resources. “It’s great to be able to help in some small way. We want to give back in honor of our employees.” The entire community is affected by homelessness and it is up to the entire community to help end it by finding real solutions to this complex problem.

The entire community is affected by homelessness and the Business Volunteer Council understands the importance of finding real solutions to this complex problem. “As a company, we are always looking to help in our community," says Volunteer Carole Feeney of Community Bank, "and the Business Volunteer Council helps us to do that.”

The Volunteer Center’s Business Volunteer Council gives businesses a platform to successfully engage employees through volunteer service and workplace giving. Members receive customized volunteer projects, including skills-based volunteering and support for corporate social responsibility initiatives. The BVC makes doing good a good part of doing business by building high-impact employee led-programs that are locally significant and socially relevant. We believe companies with the right engagement tools and guidance can create incredible social change, while having a fun, memorable team building experience!

For more information, contact Erica West, Director of Corporate Engagement, at ewest@bergenvolunteers.org or call 201-489-9454, x133 or visit www.nnjbvc.org.