Social Concerns Ministry: Volunteer Opportunities
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STEPPING OUT AND VOLUNTEERING

Do you have a desire to step out of your comfort zone and volunteer for a cause, a group of people, for your faith or any other heartfelt reason in your soul? Well, here is a good place to start. Listed below are web sites that could use your help in assisting with their organizations. Tap in, explore your heart and see where the spirit may lead you. If you have any questions, please contact the Social Concerns office here at St.Jos and speak to Michelle Laffoon. All conversations are held in confidence. If you cannot find something or are unsure about any issue, contacting the Social Concerns Director may lead you to a path that helps you confidently and fully move out of your comfort zone!

Places to Check-Out...
Big Brother Big Sister Agency
What if every child fulfilled their potential? Make a positive impact on a child and improve your community at the same time. Give a young person the invaluable gift of a few hours of your friendship and start changing their lives.
www.northjerseybigs.org

Catholic Charities Connections Program
Is looking for volunteers, men and women, to participate in one-to-one activities and become a mentor for youth. Make a difference in a young person’s life.
Somerset County, Bridgewater, NJ
908-722-1881
Or
Middlesex County, Edison NJ
Contact: Sabrina Perez at 732-738-1323.
Or e-mail sperez@ccdom.org for more information.

Catholic Charities Therapeutic Foster Care Program – Diocese of Metuchen
Is seeking warm, supportive individuals and families to serve as resource families to children in need; offering loving, nurturing homes.
Call 1-866-247-HOME (4663)

Catholic Relief Services
A U.S. and global volunteer network committed to working in other countries, as well as the U.S., through the efforts of many volunteers with varied talents and backgrounds. Catholic Relief Services helps educate, fight hunger, build, offer medical and therapeutic time, and hope. Volunteers needed span all ages, types of families and individuals, educational and trade backgrounds as well as various times to give (weekends to a full year in the field). Go to www.crs.org and find out more!

Compassionate Care Hospice
You can help make a difference. Do you enjoy visiting people in need, running errands, sharing a special skill? Free training provided to become a hospice volunteer. For more info call:
973-402-4712 or www.compassionate-care.com

Elijah’s Soup Kitchen
Volunteer jobs include feeding dinner to the needy at one of two soup kitchens, making lunches, helping at the restaurant, sorting clothes for the needy population, cleaning the kitchen and gardening. This web-site is very organized: go to it, check out the time slots and job opportunities and match to when you are available.
www.Elijahspromise.net

The New Jersey Food Bank
Volunteer opportunities to help at the food bank located in Union, NJ. This center handles food collections and deliveries, clothes donations, school supply collections as well as other volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, children and families.
www.njfoodbank.org


Friendship Ministries
A program to share God's love with people who have intellectual disabilities and to enable them to become an active part of God's family. If you would like to help start this program in our church, please contact the Social Concerns office. The format for this ministry is sucessfully up and running across the United States in many congregations of many faiths.
To gain a further perspective and more information, click onto: www.friendship.org

Contact the Social Concerns Office for more information.


The Greater Newark Clean-Air Fund
Suburban Visitation Program
Open your family’s heart and home for one week of the summer to a child from Newark.
www.newarkdaycenter.com/freshair_fund.html

Habitat for Humanity – The New Jersey Raritan Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity
Many opportunities from building homes, landscaping new homes, painting, office work and other volunteer efforts that help families get into a home of their own; Opportunities available for men and women, as well as families with children 11-17.
www.rvchabitat.org

Interfaith Hospitality Network – Homeless Shelter Program - Flynn Center, Somerville
Volunteer opportunities available through our church and other churches that sponsor the homeless shelters throughout the year. In addition, contact the Flynn Center for other opportunities.
www.ihnsomconj.org

Jewish Family Services Center
Help a family, help a mom, help a dad by giving time weekly or monthly. This program mentors individuals to help them gain self-esteem and move forward. Training provided.
West High Street, Somerville, NJ
908-725-7799
www.Jewishfamilysvc.org

New Jersey Volunteer Program
To find volunteer opportunities for every age and ability within the state of New Jersey during times of disaster as well as normal daily needs, go to: www.volunteernewjersey.org Maybe someone down the street or in the next town could use YOUR help!


Red Cross
The Red Cross has many opportunities to volunteer for youth and adults. Opportunities include Student Internships, Youth Council, Bood Drives, office work and disaster education, to name a few. Go to www.RedCross.org for information about the Red Cross, or http://greatersomerset.redcross.org for local chapter info.
The Greater Somerset County Chapter located on Cliff Street, Somerville.
Call Suzanne Anderson at 908-7215-2217 to inquire or sign-up.

Resource Center of Somerset
The Resource Center is a refuge for abused woman and children, as well as men. Programs are offered to help individuals and families regain their lives and dignity and offer a safe haven. Volunteer assignments, which require training, are available in the following areas:

Domestic Violence Response Team
Court Legal Advocates
Hotline Advocates
Community Educators & Agency Representatives
Shelter Support

Contact the Resource Center for other opportunities:
Outreach Office
427 Homestead Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 359-0003
www.resourcecenterofsomerset.org

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Put your life experiences to work as a volunteer. This is the umbrella group for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the country’s largest network of volunteers who are 55 or older. The website offers one-stop shopping for volunteer activities, organized by interest areas. Local RSVP offices can be found in all 50 states.
www.seniorcorps.gov

The Society of St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry for Middlesex County residents in New Brunswick:
Go on-line to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul to find other towns in central New Jersey that offer other opportunities to serve in this organization.
www.mciauth.com

Special Olympics of New Jersey:
To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children amd adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

All ages of volunteers help make this program run successfully. To volunteer your time for a variety of jobs both on and off the fields, contact: www.sonj.org

For further information about Special Olympics International, go to: www.specialolympics.org

St. Huberts Animal Welfare Center:
St. Hubert's Giralda is dedicated to the humane treatment of companion animals. The organization believes in and provides services that support the human-animal bond and seeks to foster an environment in which people respect all living creatures. To work or volunteer at the welfare centers, visit: www.StHuberts.org.
St. Huberts has two locations: the Madison Shelter in Madison, NJ and North Branch Shelter in North Branch, NJ.
The volunteer office can be reached at 973-514-5920.

Volunteer Match – Virtual Opportunities
This organization currently lists more that 2,900 “virtual opportunities” – these can all be completed at home, either on the computer or by doing activities such as craft projects. On their web site, click the “Search for Virtual Opportunities” button and you’re on your way to finding a match that is right for you.
www.volunteermatch.org

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