Happy New Year!

 

Have a safe and happy New Year

from the Volunteer Center of Bergen County

Happy Holidays

 

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday!

-Volunteer Center of Bergen County



Konica Minolta’s Biggest Losers are actually the Biggest Winners with the Biggest Hearts

Season 15 of Konica Minolta’s Biggest Losers went off with great success this year!  The Biggest Loser is a weight lose competition, started by a group of employees a few years ago.  Yes, the goal is to loss the most weight, however it more.  This special group of employees have changed their eating and exercise habits.  These changes have and will help them in the long run.   

 

Normally, the registration fee is used as prize money for the Biggest Losers.  However, this season, the employees decided to donate all of the registration fee, to the Volunteer Center’s All Wrapped Up Holiday Giving Program. They all thought it would be a great idea to help others while helping ourselves.  They donated $425 worth of Target cards which will go to some of the clients being “adopted” this season.

 

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

SHOP FOR A CAUSE TODAY!

Join us at Bloomingdale's today, December 11, for a

shopping event to benefit the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  We will earn 10% of sales brought in by the flyer below, so print this email and head to Bloomingdale's at the River Side Square Mall.

Stop by our table for information about how you can get involved in volunteering
or some of the other great programs at the Volunteer Center.

 

 

Retarus Wraps Up All Wrapped Up

Thank you to Retarus, a company combining comprehensive IT expertise with an innovative solutions portfolio focused on managed services for email, fax, SMS and EDI, for such generous support to our annual holiday giving program, All Wrapped Up.  “Adopting” more than 35 people, Retarus provided overwhelming support and stewardship, making many children and teens feel cared and concerned for during this special time of year.

 

According to Fae Marshall, Marketing & Strategy Business Development Manager for the company, “Thank you for enabling Retarus to participate in your program this year.  We had so much fun and we had 90 percent employee participation.   We just delivered the gifts today to the Bergen County Children Protective Services.  We look forward to working with you in the new year with other volunteering projects.  

 

There is still a little time left for you or your company to follow in the footsteps of this amazing company.  Sign up for All Wrapped Up now and make the holidays special for someone else.

 

Happy Holidays!

Lee Perla Jewelers at the Shops at Riverside supports All Wrapped Up

A special thank you to Lee Perla Jewelers at the Shops at Riverside who will be graciously hosting a holiday shopping experience on December 5^th and 6^th that will be benefitting the Volunteer Center’s All Wrapped Up Holiday Giving Program.  Wanting to give back to the community, Lee Perla chose our Bergen County based program as a way to support almost 3,500 people in need this holiday season.

Lee Perla Jewelers wants to honor their customers by making this donation on their behalf.  “The All Wrapped Up Program provides tremendous assistance to local residents in need so it was especially important for us during this time of year to support this community effort,” said Joanne Lee, owner of Lee Perla Jewelers.  “I look forward to a great holiday season and hope our clients will join us to ensure the program is an even greater success this year.”

If you wish to support All Wrapped Up on your own visit us online.

All Wrapped Up Holiday Gving Program Still in Need of Gifts

 

The All Wrapped Up Holiday Giving Program still has over 500 people in need of gifts for the holidays. Many of these people are adults with disabilities, seniors with very little income, and families trying to make ends meet.  The program is due to close on Friday, December 12so gift cards will help make sure each person receives a gift.  Gift cards in demolitions of $ $10, $20, or $25 to stores like Target, Kohls, Dunkin' Donuts, and Shoprite are most helpful.

Gift cards can be dropped off at the Volunteer Center between 9:00am and 4:00pm.  Gift cards can also be mailed to 64 Passaic Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.  If you would still like to adopt a family please call Debbie Emery at 201-489-9454, ext. 118.  Visit us on our website to learn more about All Wrapped Up.

Calling all Family Volunteers!

The Bergen County VOAD is calling all families and gardeners! The VOAD presents Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, Nov. 22, 11am - 2pm. Volunteers to help area residents with fall yard work. These residents may be elderly or still suffering from the lingering effects of Hurricane Sandy. We will also be planting bulbs in front and around the municipal buildings of Moonachie.  Let’s kick off the holiday season by helping our neighbor’s brighten up their properties!  If you are interested in volunteering please email Patti at pkennelly@bergenvolunteers.org or call 201-906-7648.

November “Lunch and Learn” for Volunteer Managers

The Non Profit Training and Resource Center of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County will present a Volunteer Managers’ “Lunch and Learn” Roundtable on Thursday, November 20, 2014, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Volunteer Center’s offices at 64 Passaic Street in Hackensack.

 

The Roundtables are free, but all attendees must be pre-registered to attend. To RSVP, call 201-489-9454 Ext. 118 or e-mail demery@bergenvolunteers.org by November 18^th.

 

Participants must bring their own lunches; soft drinks will be provided. Driving directions and parking instructions will be e-mailed to registered attendees before each session

 

All professionals who work with or manage volunteers in non-profit, corporate, community, governmental or faith-based settings are invited to attend this seminar—part of a series of bi-monthly meetings that are informal yet interactive, with time for networking and group problem solving activities.

 

Each Roundtable will provide an opportunity for professional growth and interaction with colleagues as well as a forum for sharing ideas and best practices in the field. Additionally, attendees will get updates on new programs and services that the Volunteer Center has available to enhance agencies’ volunteer programs.

 

“These meetings have proven to be informational as well as inspirational”, says Debbie Emery, Community Volunteer Services Director for the Volunteer Center. “The lively exchanges have helped participants keep their skills sharp, find out about new ideas, and get answers to questions about making the most of their volunteer workforces.”

N.J. Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism

The N.J. Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism The Power of One, will be presented on Monday, November 17 ,  9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. 

 

The Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, which is coordinating the conference, welcomes nonprofit leaders, particularly those who manage volunteers, as well as Board members and volunteers affiliated with the broad range of public and private nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations throughout New Jersey.  Volunteer leaders in college or high school are also encouraged to attend.

 

The conference will feature a robust corporate track, with workshops targeted specifically to corporate employee engagement and corporate social responsibility. Workshops include Starting an Employee Volunteer Program; What Data says about CSR; 10 Ways Social Media Boosts Employee Engagement; Corporate Response to Disaster, Maximizing Service on Nonprofit Boards and CSR Investments in Community.  Business Volunteer Connect (BVC), a program of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, is coordinating the corporate track.

 

The non-profit track, coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, will feature workshops on volunteer management, skills based volunteerism, fundraising, grant writing, risk management, emergency response, youth/college service, working with veterans, and coordinating large service projects, among others. 

 

The opening plenary session, “Community Engagement: Philanthropy and Volunteerism” will feature a keynote panel which includes Nina Stack, council of NJ Grantmakers; Michael Bzdek, Johnson & Johnson, Etta Denk, Bank of America; Mark Shamley,  Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals, and moderator Linda Czipo, Center for Nonprofit Corporations. 

 

The conference begins with registration and breakfast at 7:30 am; the opening plenary is at 9:00 am, and the last workshop ends mid-afternoon. 

 

The registration fee for nonprofits is $85 and $90 on site. The registration for students is $30. Registration for the Corporate Track  is $125 and $150 on site.  Members of the Northern NJ Business Volunteer Council receive a $25 discount.

 

Registrations received before October 17 will receive free parking.  Registration fee includes materials, continental breakfast and lunch.  Parking is $6.  To register, call 609-633-9627 or visit www.bergenvolunteers.org, and click on Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism.          For more information about the Conference on Volunteerism, email Rowena.madden@sos.state.nj.us or call 609-633-9627.

 

For information about the Corporate Track, contact Janet Sharma, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County,  at 201-489-9454, Ext. 116.

Upcoming Workshops for Hurricane Sandy Recovery



How did you spend your summer?

 

Youth initiatives at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County ended the summer the way they started, with Ready, Set, Serve, our innovative summertime service “camp.”  The last week in August was the Middle School track for this fun, educational and experiential leadership summertime encounter with service.  Fifteen  7^th and 8^th grade students from all over Bergen County joined together to become spectacular team investigating service and leadership.  We explored team building, leadership, individual and group goals, and planning and carrying out a community project.

 

Lily Cohen, 7^th grader, said “I really enjoyed Ready, Set, Serve and I learned a lot about how to be a better leader.”  Through a series of challenges, these young leaders were able to explore their own styles of group work, how they solve problems and how they communicate and get their point across to the group. 

 

“We had a wonderful week together and I am looking forward to working with this special group as they work on individual projects as well as some group activities over the next several months” states Debbie Emery, Director of Community Volunteer Services and program leader for Ready, Set, Serve.

Summer Food Drive for Children a Success

Hundreds of children from needy families receive hot breakfast and lunch during the school year through subsidized school meal programs.  When schools close for summer vacation, these meals are not available, and low-income families are often unable to fill the void, many having to make the choice between paying rent or going hungry.

 

The Volunteer Center’s Business Volunteer Connect (BVC) coordinated  a summer food drive with both its member companies and other interested companies, to collect “kid-friendly”, non-perishable breakfast and lunch food items.  The food collected during this initiative, entitled “Brown Bag Buddies”, was delivered to the Center for Food Action and other local food pantries.

 

“The wages of the working poor have not kept up with housing, transportation and child care costs.  Northern New Jersey has the highest child poverty rates in the state.  Without school meals, families must turn to the food pantries to provide nutritional meals for their children,” says Janet Sharma, executive director of the Volunteer Center.

 

Eleven companies took part in this year’s initiative, collecting and distributing over 4,000 lbs of food, as well as donated cash.  Included in that total was 263 lbs. of food collected at the BVC’s Night at the Races fundraiser, where 205 guests donated  cereal, mac & cheese and other kid-friendly food, and raised nearly $15,000.  Total value of food/cash distributed was almost $75,000. 

 

The sponsors for this year’s drive  were Bank of New Jersey, BD, Community Bank of Bergen County, Konica Minolta, KPMG, Rockland Electric, Sealed Air and United Water.

Registration Is Open for MM&B Bergen Bike Tour

Registration is now open for the 19th Annual MM&B Bergen Bike Tour, a family-oriented event to be held on Sunday, September 28, that benefits the Volunteer Center of Bergen County and Tomorrows Children’s Fund.  Presenting sponsor is accounting firm Murphy, Miller & Baglieri, LLC.  The MM&B Bergen Bike Tour will feature 10, 25 and 50 mile routes for cyclists of every level. The tour begins and ends at Darlington Park in Mahwah, and riders will enjoy some of Bergen County’s most scenic views while cycling.

 

More than 200  bikers are expected to ride and another 100 non-cyclists will participate in the day. The MM&B Bergen Bike Tour will also feature breakfast, a post-ride barbeque, music and prizes.  The event includes  a Kids’ Event sponsored by TD Bank, which features a ride for kids 10 and under, as well as entertainment, fire trucks, face painting, crafts and games.  Children are invited to bring their bikes, trikes, scooters and big wheels.

 

Registration for adults age 16 and up: $35 ($45 on site); youth age 10-16: $15; non-cyclists for picnic only: $5; children age 9 and under are free. Register online here!

 

The Bergen Bike Tour was created in 1995 as a fun way to bring people together and fund-raise for two area non-profit organizations aimed at helping Bergen residents in need.  Over the past 19 years, the tour has raised over $1 million  with funding going directly to the Volunteer Center of Bergen County and Tomorrows Children’s Fund, a nonprofit providing services to families affected by pediatric cancer and serious blood disorders.  This year, the MM&B Bergen Bike Tour has targeted $200,000  in fundraising efforts and hopes to meet that goal.      

 

Registration and Sponsorship Information:

• Riders can pre-register in one of three ways - 1) Register online at www.bergenbiketour.org; 2) Download and print a registration form at www.bergenbiketour.org and submit by mail; 3) Call 1-877-BER-BIKE.   All registered riders are expected to raise $100 or more in pledges, or $200 per registered family, and  each will receive a free MM&B Bergen Bike Tour t-shirt. Participants are eligible to win prizes up to $1,000 in value. 
• Sponsorship opportunities begin at $500.  Corporate sponsors at the level of $1,000 or more may register an unlimited number of employees at no extra charge

 

For further information about corporate sponsorship or about riding in the Bike Tour, call 877-BER-BIKE, visit the website at www.bergenbiketour.org and “LIKE” us on Facebook.

“Lunch and Learn” for Volunteer Managers

The Non Profit Training and Resource Center of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County will present a Volunteer Managers’ “Lunch and Learn” Roundtable on Thursday, September 25, 2014, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Volunteer Center’s office.

 

The Roundtables are free, but all attendees must be pre-registered to attend. To RSVP, call 201-489-9454 Ext. 118 or e-mail demery@bergenvolunteers.org by September 22^nd.

 

Participants must bring their own lunches; soft drinks will be provided. Driving directions and parking instructions will be e-mailed to registered attendees before each session.

 

All professionals who work with or manage volunteers in non-profit, corporate, community, governmental or faith-based settings are invited to attend this seminar—part of a series of bi-monthly meetings that are informal yet interactive, with time for networking and group problem solving activities.

 

Each Roundtable will provide an opportunity for professional growth and interaction with colleagues as well as a forum for sharing ideas and best practices in the field. Additionally, attendees will get updates on new programs and services that the Volunteer Center has available to enhance agencies’ volunteer programs.

 

“These meetings have proven to be informational as well as inspirational”, says Debbie Emery, Community Volunteer Services Director for the Volunteer Center. “The lively exchanges have helped participants keep their skills sharp, find out about new ideas, and get answers to questions about making the most of their volunteer workforces.”

Chore Handyman Service Receives Grant from Provident Bank Foundation

The Provident Bank Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the Volunteer Center of Bergen County’s Chore Handyman Service, for its work in providing home repairs that keep senior citizen and disabled homeowners safe in their Bergen County homes.  The volunteer handypersons provide this service at no cost to the clients who live in every Bergen County town;  the only charge is for the parts necessary  in the repairs.

Thank you Provident Bank Foundation!

Remembeing 9-11 Through Service

As the 13th anniversary of September 11th draws closer, many people are wondering what they can do to commemorate the tragic events of that day.

 

The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is a coast-to-coast initiative that seeks to observe September 11th as a national day of service, charity and compassion. The 9/11 Day of Service encourages individuals, businesses, schools and other groups to perform acts of service to the community to honor the victims, family members, and survivors of the September 11th attacks on America, as well as the rescue and recovery workers and the thousands of volunteers who gave so much on and following that fateful day.  The goal is to use this day to commit to doing something good for someone else.

 

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County can help match individuals with opportunities to volunteer; we provide a multitude of choices at hundreds of community agencies.  A comprehensive data base of hundreds of volunteer jobs in and around Bergen County can be found at the Center’s website.

 

Volunteer Center of Bergen County can be of assistance to those who wish to organize their own projects.   Here are ideas of other simple ways to help:

• Give blood
• Donate children’s books to a Head Start center or library
• Begin collecting money or toys for holiday giving programs
• Pick up litter in a park or along a sidewalk or roadway
• Pull weeds in a park or along a sidewalk
• Paint over graffiti (ask the building owner first!)
• Offer to run errands for someone who is frail or who is not feeling well
• Write letters of support to our men and women in the military
• Donate pet food to a pet shelter
• Become a mentor to a child, teen or adult through the Volunteer Center’s Mentoring Programs
• Make tray favors to be distributed to those who receive meals on wheels
• Offer to sweep a sidewalk or do some gardening for someone who is infirm
• Donate socks, underwear, and other new items of clothing to a shelter

“We encourage residents of all ages and abilities to mark this day of remembrance with acts of service, helping the less fortunate or a cause in which they are interested,” says Janet Sharma, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center.   “Monetary donations to worthy causes are also needed.  It’s all about recreating the spirit of unity and compassion that arose from the 9/11 tragedy. ”

 

For more information about the above activities, contact the Volunteer Center of Bergen County at (201) 489-9454.  

Volunteers Needed to Mentor Mothers and their Families

Women are needed to volunteer with the Mentoring Moms program of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  These volunteers are trained to work with mothers who are overwhelmed by the responsibilities of children and life.  Fall training begins October 6, 2014.

 

Raising children is one of the toughest and most important jobs parents face.  It can be a struggle even when the parents have access to resources and social support.

 

But consider for a moment a single mom.  She has financial worries and few family members to depend upon nearby.  Maybe she, or a member of her family, is facing emotional, behavioral or physical challenges.

 

She’s living paycheck to paycheck, or maybe just lost her job in the recession.  How can she afford a place to live and food on the table for her family?  She is overwhelmed and doesn’t know how to get the help she needs—food stamps, affordable child care, tips on job searching and resume writing.  She has no one to talk with, to share her ups and downs, and relieve the stress she faces each day trying to keep it together for her family.  In situations like this, the children can be suffering, as well.

 

The statistics can feel overwhelming, too.   According to 2010 figures from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, an estimated 800,000 children in the United States were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect.  However, child abuse and neglect can be prevented. 

 

Research has shown that parents who have support from family, friends and the community are more likely to provide safe and healthy homes for their children.  When parents lack this support or feel isolated, they may be more likely to make poor decisions that can lead to neglect or abuse.

 

Registration is now open for the 4 week Mentoring Moms Fall training, which begins Monday, October 6, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Call (201) 489-9454, ext. 123, or visit www.bergenvolunteers.org to learn how to become a Mentoring Moms volunteer.

 

There is an especially great need for bi-lingual Spanish speaking women to become mentors.

TD Bank to Sponsor Children’s Activities at Bergen Bike Tour

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®, will sponsor the Bergen Bike Tour Kids’ Event, which includes a Kids’ Ride for children 10 and under, and all children’s activities at the 19th annual Bergen Bike Tour, to be held on Sunday September 28 at Darlington County Park in Mahwah, NJ.  The proceeds from the Bergen Bike Tour will benefit Tomorrows Children’s Fund at Hackensack University Medical Center and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, both of which have been the beneficiaries of this event since its inception.

 

"We are proud to support the Bergen Bike Tour and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County,” said Joanne Westphal, Retail Market Manager for TD Bank. “The Kids’ Ride not only supports a great cause, but also helps promote a fun and healthy lifestyle.” 

 

“TD Bank has supported the Bergen Bike Tour for many years.  We are thrilled that they will once again sponsor our Kids’ Event, which is always a favorite with the families,” says Phil Murphy, chairman of the event.  “The enthusiastic support of their employees makes the Bergen Bike Tour the fun and successful event that it is.”

 

The Bergen Bike Tour will feature 50-, 25- and 10- mile routes for cyclists of every level. The Kid’s Ride is held on a special course, where the youngsters ride their Big Wheels, tricycles, and training wheel bikes in a safe and entertaining environment. Fire trucks will be on site for children to explore, and clowns will cheer on our young riders.  After the Kids’ Ride, there will be face painting, pumpkin painting, crafts, games and prizes. The day is capped off with a fun- filled barbeque, DJ music and other entertainment, which is typically enjoyed by more than 300 participants every year.

 

“This is an amazing event in that it is entirely local.  We are very proud that during the past decade we have been able to turn over an average of 80 percent of the Bergen Bike Tour’s proceeds to our two charities.  This rate far surpasses many events of its kind.  We are confident that with the help of the community and other corporations like TD Bank, we can exceed that in 2014,”   continues Murphy.  “Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 28^th." 

 

Registration is now open. 

 

For further information about becoming a corporate sponsor, or organizing a group to participate in the Bike Tour call 1-877-BER-BIKE, or visit the website at www.bergenbiketour.org and register on-line.

Summer Program Planned for 6th, 7th and 8th Graders

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County will be offering a one-week summer service and leadership experience for teens this August.  The program, scheduled for August 25-29, will be held at the Volunteer Center in Hackensack from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily.

 

Ready, Set, Serve is an exciting and challenging summer program for Bergen County students who will be entering the 6th, 7^th or 8^th grades in September.  Teens will be immersed in a week of interactive, interesting and fun activities, learning leadership skills that will help them make a difference in their schools and communities.

 

The focus of Ready, Set, Serve is community service.  Through a state-of –the-art curriculum that includes both classroom instruction and experiential training, teens will participate in challenging exercises including community needs analysis, goal setting, team building, project planning, decision making and other dynamic leadership skills.

 

The Ready, Set, Serve experience continues beyond the one week in summer.   Participants will continue to meet monthly from September through March to discuss and work on individual or group service projects.  A graduation and project presentation will be held in conjunction with the Volunteer Center’s Celebrate Volunteers recognition event in April 2015.

 

“The ultimate purpose of  Ready, Set, Serve is to help create stronger communities - and a stronger nation - by igniting in young people the ability and desire to make meaningful, lifelong contributions to their communities,” says Debbie Emery, Community Volunteer Services Director at the Volunteer Center.  “Students participating in this program will have a great activity to add to their college applications and resumes, as well as service hours they can use to meet requirements of schools and religious institutions.

 

The fee to attend this program is $350 per student, which includes all class materials, snacks, beverages and lunch on the Friday, June 27 closing session.  Students provide their own lunch the other days.  The deadline for application is May 27^th.   Tuition can be paid online at www.bergenvolunteers.org.  Call 201-489-9454 Ext. 118  or email demery@bergenvolunteers.org for more information.

Attention: Heros Wanted!

Two of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County’s programs, Mentoring Youth and Mentoring Moms, are looking for mentors who are willing to help local families.

For more than 30 years, our Mentoring Youth program has helped children with emotional, behavioral, or social issues. A study by Big Brothers/Big Sisters has shown that a child with a mentor in his or her life is 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to experiment with drugs, and 33% less likely to hit someone or start drinking. With a solid mentoring match, youth experience a positive atmosphere that not only improves their academic performance, but also their sociability.

The next four-week Mentoring Youth training program begins on Wednesday, September 17^th. Training is held on Wednesdays from 7:00-9:30 pm at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, in Hackensack, and there is no charge. Trainees will learn communication skills, about child and adolescent development, and about issues regarding child maltreatment.

Yet, it is not only the children who are in need. Mentors are also needed to help overwhelmed mothers. Mentoring Moms, another program sponsored by the Volunteer Center, helps mothers cope with the myriad daily challenges of raising a family.

Being a mother is hard work; every day there are anxieties, and mothers with no support system may be leading themselves into isolation, resulting in neglect of their children. A mentor can become the mother’s support system and be an encouraging friend, helping the mom break overwhelming challenges into smaller, solvable steps. 

Fall training for the Mentoring Moms program starts on Monday, October 6, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Trainees will develop communication and listening skills and learn from previous mentors’ experiences.

For more information about the Mentoring Youth program contact Eva Tobias at 201-489-9454 ext. 121.

For more information about the Mentoring Moms program contact Cindy Andrake at 201-489-9454 ext. 123.  

July “Lunch and Learn” for Volunteer Managers

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County will present a Volunteer Managers’ “Lunch and Learn” Roundtable on Thursday, July 22, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Volunteer Center’s offices at 64 Passaic Street in Hackensack. The Roundtables are free, but all attendees must be pre-registered to attend. To RSVP, call 201-489-9454 Ext. 118 or e-mail demery@bergenvolunteers.org by July 22nd.

Participants must bring their own lunches; soft drinks will be provided. Driving directions and parking instructions will be e-mailed to registered attendees before each session.

All professionals who work with or manage volunteers in non-profit, corporate, community, governmental or faith-based settings are invited to attend this seminar—part of a series of bi-monthly meetings that are informal yet interactive, with time for networking and group problem solving activities.

Each Roundtable will provide an opportunity for professional growth and interaction with colleagues as well as a forum for sharing ideas and best practices in the field. Additionally, attendees will get updates on new programs and services that the Volunteer Center has available to enhance agencies’ volunteer programs.

“These meetings have proven to be informational as well as inspirational,” says Debbie Emery, Community Volunteer Services Director for the Volunteer Center. “The lively exchanges have helped participants keep their skills sharp, find out about new ideas, and get answers to questions about making the most of their volunteer workforces.”

Community Service Was Never So Fun

 

17 High School Students came together during the week of June 23 - 27 to participate in the Volunteer Center’s brand new teen leadership experience, Ready, Set, Serve.

 

Their five day experience provided each teen a glimpse into his or her personal leadership style and strengths, as well as the opportunity to be part of a team and work together for a common good. 

Ready Set Serve (RSS) is a unique training program designed to help prepare the next generation for leadership roles in their communities.  Through a state-of-the-art curriculum that includes both classroom instruction and experiential training, RSS teaches middle- and high-school-age youth a broad array of leadership skills applicable to community service.  The ultimate purpose of RSS is to help create stronger communities - and a stronger nation - by igniting in young people the ability and the desire to make meaningful, lifelong contributions to their communities. 

Kayla, 10^th grader at Hackensack high School, shares her perspective, “I have participated in many leadership programs through my school, church and camp but this experience with the Volunteer Center of Bergen County has been one of a kind.”

What’s so unique about Ready, Set, Serve is that it is not just a 5-day program.  The teens are now beginning to embark upon service projects designed during the program which they will work on throughout the upcoming school year. 

Watch to see what happens in August when Middle Schoolers put their talents and enthusiasm to the test during the next RSS session!
 
Click here to link to Ready, Set, Serve.

Summer Program Planned for 6th, 7th and 8th Graders

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County will be offering a one-week summer service and leadership experience for teens this August.  The program, scheduled for August 25-29, will be held at the Volunteer Center in Hackensack from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily.

 

Ready, Set, Serve is an exciting and challenging summer program for Bergen County students who will be entering the 6th, 7^th or 8^th grades in September.  Teens will be immersed in a week of interactive, interesting and fun activities, learning leadership skills that will help them make a difference in their schools and communities.

 

The focus of Ready, Set, Serve is community service.  Through a state-of –the-art curriculum that includes both classroom instruction and experiential training, teens will participate in challenging exercises including community needs analysis, goal setting, team building, project planning, decision making and other dynamic leadership skills.

 

The Ready, Set, Serve experience continues beyond the one week in summer.   Participants will continue to meet monthly from September through March to discuss and work on individual or group service projects.  A graduation and project presentation will be held in conjunction with the Volunteer Center’s Celebrate Volunteers recognition event in April 2015.

 

“The ultimate purpose of  Ready, Set, Serve is to help create stronger communities - and a stronger nation - by igniting in young people the ability and desire to make meaningful, lifelong contributions to their communities,” says Debbie Emery, Community Volunteer Services Director at the Volunteer Center.  “Students participating in this program will have a great activity to add to their college applications and resumes, as well as service hours they can use to meet requirements of schools and religious institutions.

 

The fee to attend this program is $350 per student, which includes all class materials, snacks, beverages and lunch on the Friday, August 29th closing session.  Students provide their own lunch the other days.  The deadline for application is July 25th.   Tuition can be paid online at www.bergenvolunteers.org.  Call 201-489-9454 Ext. 118  or email demery@bergenvolunteers.org for more information.