In Jersey City, many diverse organizations rely on volunteers to help carry out the vital work within the community. When volunteering, not only are you giving back to the community, but volunteering also has many mental and physical benefits. In my opinion, the greatest is having a sense of purpose and contributing to a cause bigger than ourselves. When we share our passion and skills with others, it provides a greater understanding of meaning to one’s life. So, think about what you enjoy the most and where you can add value to an organization’s mission that aligns with you.
To help you get started, I have listed organizations that can use your help, organized by their different causes. So, whether you are passionate about helping homeless animals, empowering women or getting involved in mutual aid efforts, there is something for everyone. And remember, volunteering does not need to take up too much of your time. With everyone’s busy schedules, there is always a way you can get involved that works best for you.
Animal Welfare
Liberty Humane Society – 235 Jersey City Blvd.
LHS’s mission is to foster a community of compassion and respect and provide animals in need with a chance at a lifelong, loving home. Currently, the shelter offers remote opportunities due to taking precautions with COVID. If interested in exploring the remote options, click here.
The Lucky Cat Rescue (TLC) – Foster Based
The Lucky Cat Rescue (TLC Rescue) works to help reduce the homeless cat and kitten populations of Hudson County, NJ through owner education, TNR (trap-neuter-return of feral cats), and rehabilitation/adoption. In addition, the rescue looks for volunteer help, raising donations, creating flyers for events, and promoting awareness. They are always looking for foster homes as well! To explore volunteering opportunities, click here.
Jersey Cats – Foster Based
JerseyCats strives to find homes for friendly, adoptable cats in need. The nonprofit rescues homeless cats and kittens from unsafe or undesirable situations, mainly in Jersey City, Hoboken Union City and Weehawken.
Environmental
Sustainable Jersey City is a collaborative network of green community groups and individuals within Jersey City who have come together to advance efforts to move the city toward a more sustainable and resilient future. There are many ways you can get involved at a capacity that works best for you. From fundraising, heat watch index to tree census projects, check out the different volunteering opportunities here.
Greener JC is a non-profit environmental action organization committed to supporting a more sustainable future in Jersey City. The organization’s actions include promoting waste and energy reduction through community outreach and educational activities, supporting sustainable development efforts, and facilitating partnerships to help the community be resilient in the face of global climate change. To learn more, click here.
Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance
Although the reservoir is currently closed for public access until further notice due to the City of Jersey City’s Site Safety Improvements Project, volunteers can contribute in numerous ways. The Alliance will continue to offer programming and events off-site and online. Click here if interested in helping.
If you’re interested in learning how to make a difference in your local park, then you should check out the Jersey City Parks Coalition. The organization’s mission is to empower residents to develop, renovate, use and maintain their community parks and public spaces of Jersey City. For more information, click here.
Food Waste/Food Insecurity
Coalition Food & Health Equity
Coalition Equity is an outgrowth of the Hudson County Hunger Project (HCHP), a hunger program serving Hudson County, NJ residents. The organization focuses on placing hunger within the larger context of racial health equity, working to end hunger, improve health, and advance economic equity within Black and brown communities. To explore ways to get involved, click here.
SALT Foundation gathers healthy and quality food that would be thrown away from generous grocery stores. It then distributes it to homeless shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, community groups, churches, community fridges, and special events. To explore ways to get involved, click here.
Community Fridges in Jersey City
Find the nearest community fridge near you if you are interested in fighting food waste and bringing resources to the community. Community Fridges need volunteers to do shopping, pick up donations, and clean the fridge. Jersey City has several community fridges: Greenville Community Fridge, Westside Community Fridge, and JC Heights Community Fridge.
Mutual Aid
Jersey City Mutual Aid Society
JCMAS is an entirely volunteer-run organization consisting of a group of neighbors who are working together to support fellow neighbors. The organization collects donations and connects them to groups in the community helping people in need of assistance. There are many ways to get involved with this group. They look for volunteers to help pick up contributions, sorting through donations and soliciting. Click here to get involved.
Triangle Park Community Center
Located in the heart of Jersey City’s Greenville neighborhood is the Triangle Park Community Center, a ministry of Episcopal Jersey City. They have a very simple mission to improve the lives of our neighbors. They do this by feeding the hungry, putting diapers on babies, educating and encouraging the community to get involved. For more information, click here.
Sheltering/Support System
Welcome Home Jersey City is a community-based nonprofit organization that provides educational, employment and material support for refugees, asylees and asylum-seekers in the Jersey City area. They welcome volunteers to help out with their fun club, tutoring, translation, client employment support and have many other ways to use your skills to help refugees. Click here for how you can get involved.
AngelaCARES serve as an advocate and support system for senior citizens, a support system for senior caregivers, and a mentor to the youth by educating and empowering them to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of ways for you to help make a difference in our community. Your volunteer commitment can be project-based, short-term, or long-term. Click here for more information on how to volunteer.
York Street Project provides an environment to shelter, feed, educate and promote the healing of persons in need, especially women, children, and families. Their programs give nearly 400 people in need the tools needed to begin their journey toward a life of self-sufficiency. If interested in joining to assist York Street Project with their work, click here for more information.
We Care Movement’s mission is to provide support, assistance, and guidance to the homeless or less fortunate. The organization has various campaigns that directly support the community’s needs. From providing the homeless with gently worn or new clothes to assisting mothers with furniture and children’s clothes, you can help affect real change in the community. To learn more on how you can get involved, click here.
Youth Services/Development
The organization engages young people with arts-based programs that connect creativity with critical thinking to stimulate personal growth and academic achievement by making their learning experience meaningful. They have plenty of volunteer opportunities. You can help out in their camp gardens, help run the fun at one of their special events, assist with easy office tasks, and more! For more information on how to get involved click here.
New City Kids offers after-school programming for local low-income youth. The organization provides children and teens a chance to explore music and academics in a creative and fun environment. To explore ways to volunteer, click here.
Boys & Girls Club of Hudson County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County has been at the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances. The organization strives together to help boys and girls, kindergarten-12th grade, develop the academic, emotional, behavioral, and social skills needed to succeed in school and life. To explore volunteering opportunities, click here.
Women’s Empowerment/Services
Jersey City Women is a grassroots organization that seeks to elevate women in Jersey City by creating a municipal Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. All Women, of all colors, from all socio-economic backgrounds come together to provoke change and greater gender equality. Stay updated by following them on social media here.
The Flow Initiative has identified a need to educate the Jersey City community about period poverty, a lack of access to period products, and providing period products to the most vulnerable. The organization aims to eradicate period poverty and the lack of period products in all of Jersey City while fighting to ensure that all girls, women, and menstruators have access to period products in schools, public/private spaces, and government buildings. To learn more, click here.
Dress for Success offers long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is more than providing professional attire to women to secure employment but providing women with confidence that they will carry forever and equipping them with the knowledge to define their life, the direction they take and what Success means to them. For more information on volunteering, click here.
Women Rising assists women and their families achieve self-sufficiency and live safe, productive, and fulfilling lives through social services, economic development, and advocacy services. To get involved, click here.
