Governor Murphy has declared April 15 - April 21 as Volunteer Week.
On November 15, 2017, the NJ Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism held its quarterly meeting at the National Guard Armory in West Orange, NJ.
While there, the National Guard members presented to the council on the sorting, packing and distribution of the donations received for the Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Recovery Program.
National Guard Pablo Chavez presents to members of the council on the efforts.
The Governor’s Office of Volunteerism and the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development have established a Call Center at
1(833) NJHELPS to receive information on donations and to schedule deliveries to the two designated National Guard Armories,
in West Orange and Mt. Holly. The first deliveries are arriving and are being processed by National Guard members.
Eldridge Hawkins, Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism is managing the donations in West Orange and is seen in the picture with
Brigadier General Edward Chrystal and the troops. Cathy McCann, former Director of Operations at the NJ Community FoodBank, is managing donations at the
Mt. Holly Armory.
For more information contact
Rowena.madden@sos.nj.gov
Veterans Day 2017
This Veterans day we celebrate our veterans and their service to our country. The freedoms and liberties that we enjoy today are a direct result of the commitment of our veterans.
Today's American military is the finest fighting force the world has ever seen which is the best deterrent to those world actors that have thoughts of testing our capabilities.
Our HEART 9/11 members especially honor the great work of our young military men and women who took the fight to our enemies overseas following the attacks of 9/11/2001.
Their sacrifices and those of their families suffering through multiple deployments of nine months or more can not be forgotten.
HEART 9/11 is honored to try to pay back those sacrifices in a small way by building or renovating homes of our veterans.
Our initiative of including veterans in our work crews has had phenomenal results as 9/11 first responder and veteran bond while working on a brother or sister's home.
God Bless our veterans and their families. God Bless America.
Click here and watch the HEART 9/11 Veteran Build Team build this home in 30 hours over 3.5 days.
Send a touch of home!
A simple card can have a profound impact. Show your support with an encouraging note for
the holidays to the brave men and women who serve our country.
Information Line Open for New Jerseyans Affected by Hurricane Maria
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and in deference to the half million New Jersey residents of Puerto
Rican ancestry, Governor Chris Christie today announced the opening of a toll-free information line. Residents who are searching for friends and
loved ones, or are interested in volunteering and/or donating to reputable relief organizations can call the help line to request free
information and referral assistance at 833-NJ-HELPS (833-654-3577).
The Department of State’s Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development and Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, together with the
state Office of Emergency Management and Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness have teamed up with the Puerto Rican Congress of New
Jersey and New Jersey For Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief to provide help to residents.
“Hurricane Maria has disrupted every aspect of life in Puerto Rico, and New Jerseyans are ready to help in any way they can,” said Governor
Christie. “We send our thoughts and prayers to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, as the tragic toll this storm has taken on our fellow
Americans is fully understood. We extend our condolences to those who lost loved ones and encourage New Jersey residents to get involved in
the relief effort. We are confident we will be able to help this island that is, in so many ways, connected to the Garden State.”
The hotline is open to residents who need help related to the disaster. Assistance will be available in both English and Spanish.
The hotline will be staffed during normal business hours, but messages can be left at any time.
Residents interested in learning how they can get involved with disaster relief efforts are encouraged to visit:
www.HelpNJNow.org
“As they have in other disasters, our volunteers are ready to help people whose lives have been forever altered by this storm,” said Rowena
Madden, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism.
NEW JERSEY FOR PUERTO RICO HURRICANE RELIEF
Did you know there are nearly a half million New Jerseyans of Puerto Rican ancestry that have been directly or indirectly affected by Hurricane Maria
and need our help. The Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development is joining forces with the New Jersey Governor's Office of Volunteerism,
New Jersey Office Emergnecy Management and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to support the disaster relief efforts of New Jersey
For Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief and the Puerto Rican Congress of NJ, Inc.
We have setup a call center to provide residents with up to date information and answer questions. Affected residents are encouraged to call:
1-833-NJ-HELPS (1-833-654-3577). Help and information are only a phone call away.
New Jerseyans’ heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the people of Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and with those in Louisiana who brace for the
storm’s impact.
New Jersey stands ready to assist Harvey victims in need by offering valuable resources and raising awareness of how to help.
Harvey Donations Guidance
letter from New Jersey Office of Emergency Management on donations for Hurricane Harvey.
TRENTON - The New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service (NJ Commission) announced today that it has
received a Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant of $283,333 from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that oversees
AmeriCorps and the nation’s volunteer initiatives. This funding will allow the NJ Commission to better support local organizations in recruiting, managing, and
retaining volunteers to address some of New Jersey’s most pressing challenges.
New Jersey is proud to have volunteers of diverse
backgrounds – and species.
The Tri-State K-9 Crisis Response Team provides registered therapy dogs who attended this year’s conference of the NJ Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disasters, which brought together nearly 200 disaster volunteers (mostly human) on April 13. The K-9s visit children and adults who have been affected
by disasters to offer kindness and to bring smiles to those who have lost so much. Their email address is
info@tri-statecanineresponse.org
Donations and Volunteers Needed
The Trenton Digital Initiative (TDI) empowers families and individuals by distributing free computers and providing low-cost, high-speed Internet access to
Trenton residents in need. Computer training, and other important skills, are also provided.
Approximately 10,000 Trenton families either do not own a computer or do not have access to one.
To date, over 600 computers have been delivered to individuals and families in Trenton and more
are on their way.
Scholarships for students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to volunteerism are available from a variety of sources.
These tips will help students at all levels of their education locate and apply for scholarships and awards
dedicated to students actively engaged in community service.
