5 Bergen County Nonprofits To Support This Holiday Season

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — If you’re like many of your Bergen County neighbors, you may spend a good part of the holiday season with your credit card in hand buying gifts for family and friends. Coming up soon is a special chance to give back to the local community.

Giving Tuesday, which in 2024 falls on Dec. 3, is a day dedicated to supporting nonprofit and community groups. Since 2012, nonprofits worldwide have used the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to galvanize fundraising, rally volunteers and add momentum to their causes.

Maintaining funding is a constant challenge for many nonprofits that fill gaps and meet other needs in the area.

Here are five local nonprofits to consider getting behind on Giving Tuesday:

1. Center for Hope And Safety, Bergen County —According to the Center for Hope and Safety, a Bergen County-based agency that supports people dealing with domestic violence, 12,680 people were experiencing homelessness in New Jersey this year according to the Point In Time Count. Among them, 1,466 were victims of domestic violence. Those feeling DV were often subject to financial abuse. Want to help the center or find out more? Click here.
2. Bergen Volunteers helps seniors age with dignity, provides support for at-risk youth, gives families and individuals support, and more. Find out about them and donate here.
3. Bergen CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for children, is participating in Giving Tuesday. Their volunteers help advocate for foster kids so they don't fall through the cracks in the court system. Find out more and donate here.
4. The New Jersey Tenants Organization, based in Fort Lee, is among many advocacy groups in the state that provides support and resources for tenants in the state. Facing eviction or want to undrestand rent increase and eviction laws? Look them up here.
5. Family Promise of Bergen County: Since 1986, Family Promise of Bergen County has empowered families facing homelessness to become self-sufficient. They've also addressed hunger since 1991. You can support them through their Holiday Giving Fund.

Bonus: Fair Lawn Police Toy Drive: Many local groups and police departments are holding toy drives. Among them, the Fair Lawn Police Department is running its drive through Dec. 8. You can drop off a wrapped or unwrapped toy and police headquarters 24 hours a day, at Radburn Exxon from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., or at Ness Pizza, Lucas Deli, Beyond Hair, or Retro Fitness during business hours. Find out more about the department here.

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