Family Volunteer Day Set for April 18

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County, in partnership with MEVO (Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization) is planning a Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, April 18th from 9 am to 3 pm at the Lodge at Campgaw Mountain, 200 Campgaw Road in Mahwah. Families of all shapes, sizes and ages are needed to work together to create a farm that will provide fresh produce to supplement local food pantries, providing long-lasting impact to help hungry neighbors in Bergen County. Families will be building garden beds, planting early seeds, preparing bee-hives and mulching. The farm will always serve as a teaching site for families, groups, schools, and many other interested organizations, interested in organic and sustainable gardening.

This project is one of the Volunteer Center’s activities to recognize National Volunteer Week, April 12th-18th. “Volunteering strengthens family relationships and teaches kids such values as kindness, empathy and respect for others. More importantly, it teaches them that happiness is not dependent on what we have,” says Debbie Emery, Community Volunteer Services Director for the Volunteer Center. “You and your family can give your time and talent to those in need and show your kids that you as a family value community service.” 

The registration fee is $5.00 per person for participants age 3 and up, and includes a light breakfast, lunch, snacks, project leadership by MEVO’s staff and volunteers, kid-friendly crafts and opportunities to learn about organic farming. Sign up here.

Children must be accompanied by at least one adult; reservations can be made by calling 201-489-9454 or by visiting www.bergenvolunteers.org, where registration and payment can be made on-line. Deadline for reserving space is March 28th.

Family Volunteer Day is sponsored by Boiling Springs Savings Bank. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals or companies to support this initiative. Call 201-489-9454 or email lturiello@bergenvolunteers.org for more information.