5 Wayne Nonprofits To Support This Holiday Season

WAYNE, NJ — If you’re like many of your Wayne 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 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 Wayne area.

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

Wayne Interfaith Network Food Pantry: The food pantry serves more than 300 households in Wayne Township including working families, disabled people, and seniors.

Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Passaic and Union Counties : These volunteers are trained to advocate for abused and neglected children in court, and support them during their time in foster care.

FOWA Animal Rescue: This Wayne-based nonprofit is dedicated to caring for homeless pets and promoting animal welfare.

The Rocco Sivolella Foundation: Named in honor of a Wayne Valley High School student who died of cancer, this foundation gives two scholarships to Wayne student-athletes every year.

Found Abilities: After Foundation For the Handicapped shut its doors, several residents sought to bring back a place where adults with special needs could socialize and feel included. Found Abilities clients also volunteer to help local community agencies with tasks they may need done, and take donations in exchange to support programming.