www.dosomething.org
Through videos and step-by-step instructions, this website helps teens focus in on a cause, plan a project and take action.
Check with your local United Way, Red Cross or Y, favorite museum, park or conservation organization for a variety of volunteer opportunities. See Teen Camps for summer volunteer programs.
New Jersey Office of Volunteerism
The State of New Jersey Office of Volunteerism provides links to community service-based organizations, volunteer groups and volunteer centers in all New Jersey counties. Submit the online form and applicable volunteer opportunities will be emailed to you.
Bergen County Volunteer Center
64 Passaic St., Hackensack, 201-489-9454
Search website by age and zipcode to locate volunteer opportunities at agencies that have requested help.
Bridges Outreach
908-273-0176
Volunteers deliver bagged lunches, breakfast bags, clothing, toiletries and other necessities weekly to the homeless in New York City, Newark and Irvington and Summit.
Color-A-Smile Program
P.O. Box 1516, Morristown, NJ 07962-1516, 973-540-9222
Organization collects & distributes children's drawings to nursing homes, hospitals & meals-on-wheels programs. Volunteers needed to supply drawings.
Community FoodBank of New Jersey
31 Evans Terminal Rd., Hillside, 908-355-3663, x221
Open for volunteers to help sort food or work on bulk mailings. Kids Closet distributes new children's clothing and Kids in Need Resource Center provides free school supplies to teachers and children in low-income school districts. Call for information on volunteer opportunities or to schedule a group tour.
The Connection
79 Maple St., Summit, 908-273-4242
Volunteers, ages 15 and up, needed to help run special needs classes or tutor newcomers to the U.S. in English as a second language.
Essex and West Hudson United Way
60 Park Place, Suite 1400, Newark, 973-624-8300
The United Way of Essex and West Hudson Counties posts volunteer opportunities online.
Fresh Air Fund
800-367-0003
Become a host family to a New York City youngster ages 6-12 for a 2-week summer vacation.
Idealist Volunteer Resource Center
Action Without Borders, 646-786-6886
Search database for jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities around the globe for youth, students, families and adults.
Jersey Cares
290 West Mount Pleasant Ave. Suite 1320, Livingston, 973-533-1993
Partners with non-profit agencies to provide volunteer opportunities for individuals, families and corporate and community groups. Search website for volunteer opportunities by zipcode, age and interest.
Kids to Kids
Email: kidstokids.us@gmail.com
Mentoring program for special needs kids was developed and is run by Morris County high school students. Donations and volunteers welcome. Programs include swimming, art, drama and sports.
Moms Helping Moms Foundation
Warehouse: 22 Howard St., North Plainfield
Community-based not-for-profit organization that distributes diapers to babies living in low-wage families in the New Jersey area holds "Volunteer Saturdays" on the second Saturday of every month.
New Jersey Animeals
P.O. Box 12, Stanton, NJ 08885, 908-752-1927
Provides monthly deliveries of dry and wet food and cat litter to pet owners in need. Volunteers, donations of food, collection locations, and dollar donations are needed.
Pedals for Progress
P.O. Box 312, High Bridge, NJ 08829, 908-638-4811
A non-profit New Jersey-based organization collects donated bicycles and sewing machines and ships them to developing nations and economically disadvantaged American children. Donations and collection and processing volunteers welcome.
Quixote Quest
Center for Family Services, 108 Somerdale Rd., Voorhees, 609-220-2186
Teen volunteers, ages 14-18, work together to make a difference in their community through volunteering. Five chapters in South and Central New Jersey service Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Middlesex Counties.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Ave., Summit, 908-273-8787
The Arboretum is always looking for volunteers (ages 12 and up) to help with planting, weeding, trail maintenance and other activities.
Santa Claus Shop
Complimentary holiday shopping is provided in early December to low-income families and seniors from Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights referred by local social service agencies. Visit website to donate.
SHIP Summit Helping Its People
908-829-0515 • Email: info@shipofsummit.org
Volunteers always needed to help prepare meals; pick up and deliver food donations; provide baked goods, left over party platters or banquet foods; sponsor food collections; donate produce; and help with events.
Somerset County Park Commission Volunteer Opportunities
P.O. Box 5327, North Branch, 908-722-1200
Diverse opportunities for volunteers include work on wildlife and resource conservation projects; gardens, grounds, facilities management; instruction and special events.
Trail Maintenance
• Union County Parks & Recreation
Watchung Reservation, 452 New Providence Rd., Mountainside, 908-789-3670. Volunteers help monthly.
• Morris County Park Commission:
973-631-5136
TryCan
Summit Recreation: 908-277-2932
Berkeley Heights Recreation: 908-464-0550 x13
New Providence Recreation: 908-464-4430
Other participating Recreation Departments include: Maplewood, Millburn, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, South Orange, Springfield, and Union.
TryCan trains volunteer teen mentors to provide one-on-one supervision to children with special needs participating in sports, leisure and social development programs.
Union County Parks and Recreation
908-527-4900
Individuals and groups are always needed to help maintain Union County Parks. Adopt-A-Park volunteers assist with after-school programs, summer programs and special events.
United Way of Northern New Jersey
Visit website for volunteer opportunities and job openings in Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren and Essex Counties.
Volunteer Center of Burlington County
c/o Burlington County College, Parker Center, Rm 221, 601 Pemberton Browns Mills Rd., Pemberton, NJ 08068, 609-894-9311 x1492.
Call or visit online directory for volunteer opportunities for youth to adults.
Volunteermatch.org
Enter zipcode and browse a database of local volunteer opportunites.