Ways you can donate and volunteer in New Jersey this holiday season
Various foundations around New Jersey are doing everything they can to provide families and individuals in need this holiday season. Below are seven different organizations that are doing all they can to help our fellow New Jerseyans. If you have information about a charity or volunteer opportunities that we have missed, please let us know in the comment section below.
Family Adoption
You can assist needy families throughout New Jersey with New Jersey 101.5's annual Family Adoption Program, which helps various families from transitional and battered family shelters. The families who need your help are listed anonymously, along with what they need.
For more information, including drop off locations, contact information and more, click here.
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County
Between Friday, December 11th and Thursday, December 24th, you can volunteer to wrap gifts in front of Whole Foods Market on the upper level and next to the escalator on the lower level of Bergen Town Center. Volunteers will also be available to wrap your gifts outside of Pottery Barn on the first floor of The Shops at Riverside.
For more information, click here.
Jersey Cares
Jersey Cares plans to collect and distribute more than 30,000 “gently used” winter coats to men, women and children in need throughout New Jersey through The 20th Annual Jersey Cares Coat Drive. There are drop off locations throughout New Jersey and they are accepting these donations until December 9th.
For more information, including drop off locations and times, click here.. You can also donate money here.
Carlstadt Public Works
The borough of Carlstadt in Bergen County is sponsoring a toy drive by Tomorrows Children's Fund. The toy drive is ongoing until December 11th.
For drop off information, click here.
AngelaCares
AngelaCares wants to provide a great holiday season to Senior Citizens. They're accepting tons of gifts ranging from sweaters and gloves to coffee mugs. Gifts can be dropped off at AngelaCARES, 696 Ocean Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305.
For more information, click here.
The Volunteer Center of Bergen County
The All Wrapped Up Holiday Giving Program sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County matches individuals and families in need with willing donors from the community. Last year, 734 families and 850 individuals, referred by 33 Bergen County non-profit agencies, were "adopted" by other families, individuals, community groups and companies. Over 990 donors responded with contributions of gifts, gift certificates, toys, clothing and household items, totaling more than $270,000. Almost 3,400 people coping with illness, unemployment, isolation, domestic abuse and poverty were helped by these generous donors. You can adopt a family or a single person, or donate with money or a gift card.
For more information, click here.
HomeFront
This is an opportunity for you to sponsor individual families or children who provide Christmas wish lists with specific gift requests (of under $50). You can deliver these gifts to HomeFront between December 4th and December 11th, and the gifts will be distributed before Christmas.
For more information, click here.