Make Lasting Holiday Memories With These 5 Volunteer Opportunities In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Volunteering is a meaningful way to connect with neighbors in Basking Ridge and make lasting holiday memories for both yourself and the people you help.

Volunteering also fosters a sense of shared responsibility and purpose, leading to a more vibrant, resilient, and engaged community with a higher quality of life.

Many of the organizations that make life better in Basking Ridge depend on volunteers, including food banks, animal shelters, fire departments, and others.

Here are five ways to volunteer in Basking Ridge:

Food Bank Network of Somerset County

Located at 7E Easy St., Bound Brook has a wide range of volunteer options. Some come in at regular times each week, others just once in a while; some work behind the scenes, others in the pantry areas with our clients; some are as young as 16, others are retired; some work alone, others in teams. Some of the things volunteers do are:

• Sorting and inspecting donated items
• Stocking and culling the pantry shelves
• Greeting clients and aiding their shopping
• Driving our van for store pickups
• Operating the forklift and other warehouse equipment
• Preparing the Backpack Program bundles
• Prepping and driving shipments to the Saturday pantries

Contact the food bank at 732-560-1813 to see how you can help or use the volunteer sign-up sheet at somersetfoodbank.org/need-help/volunteering

Liberty Corner Fire Company

Comprised of over 65 volunteers, the Liberty Corner Fire Company is responsible for providing fire and rescue service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township. In fact, they have been providing free volunteer fire and rescue service to the Liberty Corner community since 1910.

They welcome new firefighters regularly. Full Members must be at least 18 years old. No experience is necessary. All training and equipment will be provided. Membership requires a significant time commitment and is not intended for those looking for temporary volunteer opportunities.

The Junior Membership program is for those individuals between the ages of 16 and 18 interested in becoming a firefighter. This program is intended for individuals who will transition to becoming a full member firefighter once 18 years old. Junior Membership requires a significant time commitment and is not intended for those looking for temporary volunteer opportunities.

For more information on memberships, email membership@libertycornerfire.org.

Basking Ridge Fire Company

Basking Ridge Fire Co. No. 1 (BRFCo) is an all-volunteer agency, established in 1904. Our services include both firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS). They are looking for individuals who want to experience the fulfilling rewards of giving back to neighbors and making a real difference in people’s lives. They will provide all the training needed at absolutely no cost.

EMS volunteers are also needed. The volunteer squad provides EMS services on weekends and overnight on all weekdays to the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township. They rely on donations and volunteers to continue providing this service to our community.

For more information, visit brfco.com.

God’s Co-op Food Pantry — The food pantry, a 501c non-profit organization, was founded in 2011 by 10 women from the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Its mission is to feed hungry neighbors in Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, and Peapack-Gladstone. Volunteers operate every aspect of the food pantry: organizing donations, stocking shelves, filling grocery bags, completing paperwork. Individuals, families, and groups are welcome to serve. Learn more at brpc.org/mission/gods-co-op-pantry.

The Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, at 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, has a number of volunteer opportunities, including:

• Daily Shelter Cleaning
• Daily Dog Walking
• Cat Enrichment
• Offsite Adoption Events
• Fundraising Events
• Socializing Shy Cats in Our Connect with the Dots Program

Visit srasnj.org/get-involved.

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