As a response to all of the amazing volunteer work being done across New Jersey, the Jersey Cares City Spotlight will showcase exceptional civic engagement weekly in a specific New Jersey community.

Jersey Cares volunteers sorting and distributing food at Mobile Meals in Paterson.

Jersey Cares mobilizes volunteers in the City of Paterson four days every week in addition to corporate service and additional events. During the week, Monday-Thursday, there are opportunities for volunteers to give back on multiple hunger programs including collecting, sorting and packing food outdoors on Mobile Meals and organizing donations for distribution on Market Place projects.

Last year, Jersey Cares distributed over 5,600 coats to 17 different agencies in the City of Paterson. Over 130 children received holiday gifts and two corporate volunteer groups provided more than 50 hours of service on team building activities. These volunteers prepared and served 20 hot meals, planted flowers and served nearly 100 kids on two separate days of service.

If you’d like to give back in Paterson, there are opportunities throughout the month on the Volunteer Opportunity Calendar or you can join us on Saturday, May 3 for Jersey Cares Day to paint classrooms in a local community center. For more information, see www.jerseycaresday.org.