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.”
