Office of Community Engagement and Diversity

 

Initiatives

 

Volunteer Registration

 

Community Events

 

Bulletin Board

 

Volunteer Directory

 

Food Pantries

 

Gallery

 

Union County Office

of Community

Engagement & Diversity

[meteor_slideshow slideshow=”community-engagement”]

Contact

Nathalie Hernandez, Coordinator
10 Elizabethtown Plaza, 3rd Floor Elizabeth NJ 07207
908-527-4880 nahernandez@ucnj.org

Mission

To identify volunteer opportunities, coordinate events, and create a network of organizations to build relationships with the County’s diverse communities.

InitiativesVolunteer RegistrationCommunity EventsBulletin BoardVolunteer DirectoryFind FoodGallery

Initiatives

Provide outreach to local community based groups and volunteer organizations to create a network and directory of same.
Coordinate countywide community events and programs which foster and promote volunteerism in Union County.
Reinforce strategies for building relationships with the County’s diverse communities to include culture, lifestyle, ethnicity, and race.
Bring communities together on issues important to them and find creative & innovative solutions to ensure inclusion and collaboration on a multi-faceted vision for the County’s diverse communities.

194
Volunteers

4,594 Volunteer
Hours Served

$115,197.01 Volunteer
Time Value

2,748 Pounds of Food Donated to Community Food Bank

355 Families we Delivered Toys to across the County

Volunteer Registration Be Part of our Growing Network of Volunteers

Individuals
[contact-form-7 id=”54647″ title=”Volunteer Form”]
Groups

Prerequisites to Filling out this Form – Please have every person sign our Group Member Sign-In Sheet. After it is filled out, please attach it to the form below.

[contact-form-7 id=”54853″ title=”Volunteer Form – Group”]

Community Events

Check back for updates

Bulletin Board

Scroll down to view all local opportunities. Click each flyer to print out.

Volunteer Directory

Elizabeth

Elizabeth

Brand New Day
176 First Street
908-282-0781
Jacqueline Jenkins
http://www.brandnewdaycdc.org/about_us/how_can_i_help.shtml

CASA Union County
The Albender Building
1143-1145 E. Jersey Street
908-293-8131
Courtney Green cgreen@casaofunioncounty.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Union County recruits, trains, supervises, and supports community volunteers to advocate for abused, neglected, and abandoned children placed in foster homes or residential facilities. CASA volunteers ensure children’s best interests remain the priority while working towards establishing a safe, stable and permanent home for each child served.
http://www.casaofunioncounty.org/information-sessions

Christ Fellowship of Elizabeth Food Pantry
1121 Elizabeth Avenue
908-289-6322
Fridays from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Elizabethport Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
154 First Street
908-351-4850
James Carey
Every Friday from 8am-2p, Second and Third Saturday of every month, and the last week of every month from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm for food distribution.

MT. TEMAN Church
160 Madison Avenue
908-351-2625
Food Pantry is every 4th Thursday of the month from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and Soup Kitchen is every 4th Saturday of the month from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

JFS Central NJ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
655 Westfield Avenue
908-352-8375
Volunteer@JFSCentralNJ.org
Food Programs, Education/Literacy and Help Seniors
http://jfscentralnj.org/retired-and-senior-volunteer-program.php

St. Joseph’s Social Service Center
118 Division Street
908-352-2989
Volunteer Coordinator, E-newsletter Editor, E-newsletter writers, Media Coordinator, Photographers, Project Ready Instructors, Drivers, and Giving Tree Coordinators & Helpers.
https://www.sjeliz.org/volunteer.html

The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless
118 Division Street
908-355-2060
Organize a collection; volunteer to help children with homework; volunteer for events like Operation Warm Heart, Family Fun Day, Hoops to End Homelessness, and More!
https://theelizabethcoalition.org/take-action-volunteer/

Trinitas Regional Medical Center
225 Williamson Street
908-994-5164
Patient Care, Elder Life Program (HELP), Patients’ Families, Clerical/Computer, Senior Citizen Services, Support Services, Community Outreach.
https://trinitasrmc.org/volunteer_services.htm

YWCA Union County
1131 East Jersey Street
908-355-2010
Administrative, Child Care, Court Advocacy, 24 Hour Crisis Response Team, STEP Mentor, & 24-Hour Hotline.
http://www.ywcaunioncounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Volunteer-Opportunities-2017.pdf

Cranford

Cranford

Catholic Charities
505 South Avenue East # 1
908-497-4013
Sharon Reilly-Tobin stobin@ccannj.org
Catholic Charities has many volunteer opportunities available within our service areas.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1gdehdTWEjRH3Zr6DU9ZwllSHuyKxNQtIeATui4Y_G6Md7g/viewform?c=0&w=1

Cerebral Palsy League, Inc.
61 Myrtle Street
908-709-1800 Ext. 1113
Sharing a special talent like art, gardening, photography, & music. Assisting staff during special program events. Assisting with special fundraising events. Assisting with facility care.
http://www.thecplinc.org/volunteersupport.html

Linden

Linden

LPC Mission Project Food Pantry
1506 Orchard Terrace
908-486-9026
Every 10th, 11th, & 12th of every month to load and unload food products. Package and distribution included.

Sisters & Brothers Outreach Food Pantry
1318 East St Georges Ave
908-994-9797
Every 2nd and last Thursday of every month from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Haitian Pentecostal Church & Home of Hope Worldwide Food Pantry
431 Maple Avenue
732-934-0947
Every 2nd and last Saturday of every month from 7:00 am – 10:00 am

Mountainside

Mountainside

Children’s Specialized Hospital
150 New Providence Road
908-389-5642
Recreational Therapy Programs (Patient Cuddler, Patient Pal, Room Buddy, Open Playroom, and Evening Recreation); Therapy Observation (Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Language Pathology); Activity Connection-Social Programs (Adaptive Aquatics, Friday Night Fever, Martial Arts, Supportive Swim, Teen Night, and Yoga)
https://www.childrensspecialized.org/Content/Uploads/Childrens%20Specialized/files/1%20CSH%20Volunteer%20Programs%20(2).pdf

Rahway

Rahway

Rahway Food for Friends Food Pantry
1221 New Brunswick Avenue
Nadine Burns
732-381-7201
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am until 2:00pm.  Every Second Saturday of every month from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. This volunteer opportunity includes stock, loading, unloading, packing bags of food for the disadvantaged and distributing food.

Rahway Food for Friends Soup Kitchen
1731 Church Street
Joanne Padavano
732-381-7201
Every Saturday from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. This volunteer opportunity includes serving food to those in need via buffet style lunch, cleaning, setting up hall, breaking down tables and chairs.

Roselle

Roselle

Heard AME Church Food Pantry
310 East 8th Ave
908-358-9030
Yvonne Goyins
Call for availability

New Destiny Community Development Food Pantry
129 Chestnut St
908-884-4928
Every 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Literacy Volunteers – Union County
121 Chestnut Street #1
908-445-8212
Barbara Hathaway, Program Director
https://literacynj.org/become-tutor

Prevention Links
121-125 Chestnut Street, Suite 301
908-793-9800 Ext. 5
Dan Fishbein, dfishbein@preventionlinks.org
Recovery Mentor (Individuals who can serve as positive role models of a healthy, recovery supportive lifestyle), Recovery Coach (Individuals who receive specialized training in helping individuals to initiate and sustain recovery), Outreach, Education, & Annual Fundraisers.
http://preventionlinks.org/volunteers/

Plainfield

Plainfield

El Centro Hispano Americano Food Pantry
525 East Front St
908-753-8730
Every Tuesday from 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Saint Vincent Society of North Plainfield Food Pantry
99 Westervelt Avenue
908-963-1211 or 908-448-6105
Every 4th Tuesday of the month from 9am-11am and every 4th Saturday of the month from 7:30 am-10:00 am

BIANCA F.L.O.W.E.R.S, Inc. Food Pantry
Food pantry is located within the Boys & Girls Club
145 Park Ave
908-507-4118 or 908-548-5338
Every Monday from 11am-1pm and every Tuesday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

The Lord’s Kitchen
Shiloh Annex
525 West Fourth Street
908-754-9334
Lauren Lawson Leaston
Serving food to families in need on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Premier Community Development Corp Food Pantry
543 West 3rd Street
908-279-9779
Tiana Knight
Call for availability

Scotch Plains

Scotch Plains

Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc
1900 Raritan Rd
908-889-7780
Stacy Kaplan
Patient/Family Care Volunteers, Bereavement/Spiritual Volunteers, Bilingual Volunteers, Pet Therapy, Music Therapy, Recreation and Office Volunteers.
http://www.cfhh.org/center-volunteer.html

2019 NJ Mighty Ducks Sports Swim Season
JCC in Scotch Plains
1319 Martine Ave
908-418-7444
Marla Napurano – njmightyduckssports@gmail.com
NJ Mighty Ducks is a sports program for individuals age 6 and older with developmental disabilities. We are seeking volunteers for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30pm-9pm. All volunteers must be at least high school age. No swim experience is necessary. Volunteers commitment is one night a week minimum.

Springfield

Springfield

The Arc of Union County
70 Diamond Road
973-315-0000
Carolyn Scott (cscott@arcunion.org) or Shamida Coney (sconey@arcunion.org)
High School & College Internships, Civic Groups, Companies-A Day of Sharing Time, Girl & Boy Scouts-Projects, Committee Memberships and Board of Directors
https://arcunion.org/volunteering/

Summit

Summit

Overlook Hospital
99 Beauvoir Avenue
908-522-2099
Pediatric Patient Activities, Messenger, Emergency Department, Gift Shop, Healing Arts Ambassador Program, Information Desk, Musicians, Pet Therapy.
https://www.atlantichealth.org/patients-visitors/donate-volunteer/volunteer/volunteering-overlook-medical-center/volunteer-opportunities.html

Sage Eldercare
290 Broad Street
908-273-5554
astuart@sageeldercare.org
SAGE Eldercare volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels to individuals age 60 and older who are frail, homebound, or disabled.  We deliver meals Monday through Friday at 11:00am; we do not deliver on weekends or evenings.  We are located in Summit NJ and deliver meals to Summit, Berkeley Heights, Chatham, Millburn, Mountainside, New Providence, Short Hills and Springfield residents.

The Connection
79 Maple Street
908-273-4242
Volunteers needed for special needs activities, English as a second language tutors, and drivers & cooks for pathway cooks program.
https://www.theconnectiononline.org/uncategorized/volunteer-opportunities.html

Union

Union

Boys and Girls Club of Union County
1050 Jeanette Avenue
908-687-7976
If you are interested in working directly with the youth, please note that program hours are typically 2:30pm-6:30pm at most locations. Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County welcomes individuals and groups of volunteers to help us inspire and enable young people. Volunteers act as adult role models and can contribute on many levels. The gift of a volunteer’s time and talents is very much appreciated.
Individual – Participate in individual volunteer activities / Assist with a special event at a club. Each individual volunteer applicant will need to fill out an application/background check. Applications available.
Small Groups of Volunteers (2 – 10) – Small groups of volunteers for various activities / Assist with a club’s special event (depending on event) / Implement a volunteer event (with the input of Club Branch Director) to help maintain and improve club facilities: clean, landscape, paint, construct, etc.
Larger Groups of Volunteers (over 15) – Implement a volunteer event (with the input of Club Branch Director) to help maintain and improve club facilities: clean, landscape, paint, construct, etc. Outside of the Club – Create a fundraising activity or event to benefit club members or a specific club site.
https://www.bgcuc.org/volunteer/

Westfield

Westfield

JFS Central NJ Westfield Area Youth Volunteer Experience
655 Westfield Avenue
908-352-8375
Education/Tutoring, Social Service Advocacy, Nutrition/Food Pantry, Teen Philanthropy, & Peer Volunteer Leadership
www.jfscentralnj.org/WAYVE

Caring Contact
P.O. Box 2376
908-307-1899
Volunteer Crisis Listener, volunteer for the marketing committee, fundraising efforts, or the quality assurance committee.
https://caringcontact.org/give-support/volunteer/

Food Pantries

Click logo below to find your local food pantries & soup kitchens

Interactive Data from Feeding America

The Healthcare Costs of Food Insecurity – Many families experiencing food insecurity face multiple hardships that exacerbate the challenges to maintaining good health. Research using data from Map the Meal Gap and other national datasets indicate that food-insecure households face additional healthcare costs in every county in the U.S., totaling $52.9 billion in healthcare costs in 2016 – but this varies substantially around the country. July 2019, Feeding America, DataBlick, Dr. Hilary Seligman, and Dr. Seth Berkowitz

Children are food insecure in every state of the U.S. – Child food insecurity remains prevalent across the U.S. While federal nutrition programs are one solution to the problem, the number of children eligible and served varies drastically across state lines. September 2018, Feeding America and DataBlick 

Poverty and unemployment impact food insecurity – Food insecurity is driven by poverty and financial resources at both the national and local levels. When underlying economic factors change, data visualization tools can predict how food insecurity rates will react. November 2018, Feeding America and DataBlick 

Walk in the shoes of a person living with hunger – Hunger does not discriminate. While food insecurity is often boiled down to a single number, there are many faces and stories that live behind the data point. 2015, Feeding America and Nice & Serious