Resolution 2016

The following towns in Bergen County have passed a proclamation in Honor of Bergen Volunteer Center’s 50^th Anniversary. These towns include Alpine, Bogota, Cliffside Park, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Edgewater, Fort Lee, Hillsdale, Ho Ho Kus, Little Ferry, Norwood, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, Rutherford, Saddle River, Tenafly, Upper Saddle River, and Woodcliff Lake. More towns have put this resolution in their agenda and Bergen Volunteer Center is expected to receive them by November of 2016.

 Bergen Volunteer Center has been a champion of volunteerism, community service and civic engagement. It’s commitment to community engagement is longstanding, dating back to 1966 when it was established to meet community needs through the  power of volunteers. It’s direct service programs organize volunteers to provide invaluable support to some of Bergen’s County’s most vulnerable citizens.

Today, Bergen Volunteer Center is addressing critical challenges ranging from at risk youth, overwhelmed moms, and seniors. The Mentoring Youth program has recruited, trained and supervised volunteer mentors for children who have been abused or neglected. Since 1978 Mentoring Youth has provided a trusted mentor to more than 3,700 children. The Mentoring Moms program recruits, trains and supervises mentors for mothers whose children are at-risk for abuse or neglect. Since 1995 more than 500 mothers have been matched with a mentor. The Chore Service provides home safety repairs for senior citizens and the disabled free of charge through the volunteer efforts of senior citizens. The Business Volunteer Council organizes corporations to help eliminate hunger and illiteracy.

This resolution demonstrates the power of volunteerism in promoting community and civic engagement and promulgating the idea that at 50, Bergen Volunteer Center is not getting old; it is just getting started.