Make Lasting Holiday Memories With These 5 Volunteer Opportunities In Berkeley

BERKELEY, NJ — Volunteering is a meaningful way to connect with neighbors in Berkeley 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 Berkeley depend on volunteers, including food banks, animal shelters, child mentoring services and others.

Here are five ways to volunteer in Berkeley:

• Potter's Pantry, a food bank located at Cedar Creek Community Church (370 Nixon Ave., Bayville) always welcomes volunteers. They're open every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All you need to do is show up.
• The Ocean County Library needs teen and adult volunteers for a variety of things including delivering books to homebound people, "adopting" a section of shelves to keep tidy and cleaning disks. For more information, visit their website.
• The Ocean County Mentoring Program invites you to meet with local children at their school once a week and support them in any way they need. If you're interested, contact Barry Steinmetz, School Mentoring Coordinator at 732-288-7723.
• Popcorn Park needs volunteers for both their shelter and animal refuge, though the shelter will soon be closing temporarily as it is being rebuilt. For details, click here.
• County parks are in need of volunteers to help cut vegetation and prepare trail surfaces. For more information, click here.