Key to a Great Summer is Volunteering

There are lots of ways that local residents can can lend a hand, as there’s no such thing as summer vacation for such critical needs as housing, health care and hunger.

Thousands of people —families, the elderly, veterans, kids and more—rely on non-profit agencies to provide basic needs all year round. Other non-profits work to improve the quality of life for all, such as those supporting the arts, animal rescue or the environment. Volunteers can offer their unique skills to help deliver vital services, as non-profit agencies find their resources stretched by declining revenue and increased demand.

To help those who want to volunteer get started, the Volunteer Center of Bergen County offers HandsOn Connect, a powerful database that helps prospective volunteers find volunteer jobs and helps agencies engage volunteers. It can be accessed by visitingwww.bergenvolunteers.org.

Volunteers can search for opportunities that fit their skills, interests and schedules at dozens of non-profit agencies.  They can sign up, and then share their experiences via Facebook, Twitter or any of the social networking tools linked directly to the site.

By calling 201-489-9454, prospective volunteers can speak with a Volunteer Connection Specialist at theVolunteer Center, who can guide them to the right volunteer position, based on their skills.  An on-line calendar gives up to the minute information on upcoming volunteer activities all summer long.

Founded by the Junior League in 1966, the mission of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County is to strengthen the community by connecting people with opportunities to serve, operating direct service volunteer programs, building capacity for effective volunteering, and participating in strategic partnerships that meet community needs.