You can never start volunteering too young – All ages welcome and encouraged at Jersey Cares Day!
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Photo of the Day
For this tree pun, Jersey Cares had to go out on a limb and branch out to some other sources!
City Spotlight: Plainfield
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.
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey and has experienced exponential growth according to the United States Census. As of 2010, the city’s population increased to 49,808 – supposedly the highest ever recorded population in any decennial census! While Plainfield continues to grow in population, its citizens also grow in the number of places and ways they volunteer!
Last winter, Plainfield civic groups and businesses collected as many as 680 gently used and new coats and distributed them among four 
non-profit agencies through the Jersey Cares Coat Drive. Additionally, 183 children received holiday gifts through Frosty’s Friends, the Jersey Cares winter gift giving program. Nearly 80 corporate volunteers from Boston Consulting Group braved the chilly winter months and gave back over 300 hours to a Plainfield public middle school. These dedicated volunteers painted murals, planted flower pots, built four picnic tables and five bookshelves, totaling 308 hours of service that will benefit almost 750 students for years to come!
The warm spring temperatures brought even more eager volunteers to Plainfield! During the 16th Annual Jersey Cares Day, volunteers revitalized a Plainfield charter school by painting line games, walls and planter murals. Volunteers also gardened and assembled picnic tables, benches and bookshelves. This hard work totaled 326 hours of service and assisted about 750 children.
Not only is Plainfield dedicated to volunteering, but all Union County residents dedicate their time to others! Through the Volunteer Opportunity Calendar, Union County volunteers leverage their strengths to meet the needs of four non-profit agencies. On a weekly basis, you can find Jersey Cares volunteers socializing with seniors at Bingo Time in Berkeley Heights or sorting and packing food donations at Mobile Meals in Elizabeth and Marketplace in Hillside. Twice a month, our tech savvy volunteers teach computer skills to adults at Computer Essentials in Elizabeth.
Plainfield’s numbers have seen a steady increase in the recent years and we hope that along with more citizens comes even more enthusiasm for volunteering! For fun and exciting volunteer opportunities 365 days of the year, visit our website!
Photo of the Day
Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart. – Winnie the Pooh
We know our volunteers have big hearts full of giving!
Photo of the Day
This volunteer beet the others to the garden by pre-seeding them!
Photo of the Day
Don’t habanero-minded view – Jersey Cares has TONS of volunteer options for YOU!
Photo of the Day
These Jersey Cares volunteers win the blue ribbon for their great work!
City Spotlight: Newark
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.
Newark, NJ! Home to the Jersey Cares office and the entertainment district! Newark now hosts the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Newark Symphony and the Riverfront Stadium! Newark sees many talented individuals on these stages. In addition to these super star performers, Newark is also home to almost 100 of our super star agencies!
Last winter, Newark’s volunteers distributed around 8,000 coats and donated them to 39 agencies for the Jersey Cares Coat Drive. In addition, more than 800 children received holiday gifts through Frosty’s Friends, a winter gift-giving campaign.
Volunteers painting Newark community center on Jersey Cares Day 2014!
On the 16th Annual Jersey Cares Day, five non-profit partner agencies were revitalized by 350 volunteers! Volunteers painted classrooms, gymnasiums, murals and planted gardens and landscapes. In total, Newark’s volunteers served nearly 140 hours which benefited almost 1,000 children– outstanding results! The Jersey Cares Volunteer Opportunity Calendar partners with nine Newark non-profits to host more than 40 volunteer events monthly!
Not only do individual volunteers prove to be stars while giving their time in Newark, but corporate volunteers also leave a tremendous impact! Last month, ADP dedicated their time to the city of Newark. ADP volunteers contributed close to 300 hours of service with over 80 volunteers at two Newark schools. Newark certainly benefitted from their generosity!
Jersey Cares continually posts fun and exciting volunteer opportunities in the city of Newark. Join us in continuing our efforts of volunteerism with Hunger Helpers, a monthly meal service volunteer opportunity, Plant it Forward, a community garden revitalization project, and Literacy Leaders, a weekly education initiative for children and youth.
Photo of the Day
As Aristotle said, “What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.” Thank you to all of our volunteers who serve others!
City Spotlight: Jersey City
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 City is a great destination for the whole family. There are endless activities filled with educational value and fun! Jersey City hosts the Liberty Science Center, eight local farmers markets, the LeFrak Lighthouse, Newport Centre Mall, Liberty State Park and the breath-taking Hudson River Waterfront Walkway. The fun doesn’t stop there– Jersey Cares hosts many volunteer projects in New Jersey’s second largest city, Jersey City.
Jersey Cares volunteers at Liberty State Park on The 16th Annual Jersey Cares Day.
Jersey Cares volunteers continually contribute to the Jersey City community. In the last year, nearly 530 corporate volunteers served 14 different non-profits and over 300 volunteers served four agencies on The 16th Annual Jersey Cares Day. Volunteers have assembled 30 picnic tables and benches, over 15 line games, and almost 70 murals that are enjoyed by over 5,300 Jersey City children. Last winter, Jersey City was also warmed with the spirit of volunteers and 8 non-profits received more than 1,600 new and gently used coats through The Jersey Cares Coat Drive.
Join us through the Volunteer Opportunity Calendar for three reoccurring events in Jersey City. Hunger Helpers, a weekly meal service volunteer opportunity, Earth Keepers, an environmental stewardship project, and Marketplace, a donation sorting opportunity in Jersey City this month.
Jersey Cares Blog 