Volunteer Center of Bergen County

Welcome Bergen LEADS Class of 2009!

2008-06-26T11:23:00.004-04:00

The Bergen LEADS Class of 2009 was introduced at a reception at Bergen Community College on June 18. All 30 class members were joined by members of the Bergen LEADS Advisory Panel, Selection Committee and Community Panel, as well as friends and well-wishers. Click here for a list of class members: http://www.bergenleads.org/currentclass.html.

Pictured at right, William “Pat” Schuber, former Bergen County Executive and Bergen LEADS Seminar Director talks with Mary Connolly, LEADS Class of 2009 (Gilda’s Club) and Janet Sharma, executive director of the Volunteer Center.

Bergen LEADS is a new community leadership program designed to draw a diverse group of leaders from across Bergen County, then teach them about community issues, develop and strengthen their leadership skills and encourage them to give back to their communities.

The inaugural class will begin with an opening retreat on September 22 and continue until June 2009. For more information, visit our website at www.bergenleads.org or call Amanda Missey at 201-489-9454 x119.

Companies Needed for Summer Food Drives for Children

2008-06-25T10:34:00.003-04:00

Hundreds of children from needy families receive hot breakfast and lunch during the school year through subsidized school meal programs. When schools close for summer vacation, these meals are not available, and low-income families are often unable to fill the void, many having to make the choice between paying rent or going hungry.
Companies are needed to host employee food drives during the summer to help these families. The Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is coordinating a summer food drive with both its member companies and other interested companies, to collect “kid-friendly”, non-perishable breakfast and lunch food items. The food collected during this initiative, entitled “Brown Bag Buddies”, will be delivered to the Center for Food Action and other local food pantries during the months of July and August.

In 2007, $15,085 worth of food and grocery gift cards was distributed through “Brown Bag Buddies”. The goal for 2008 is $20,000. The sponsors for this year’s drive are BD, Rockland Electric, Sealed Air and Compensation Solutions. Pictured here, BD employees Jennifer Farrington, Ellen Rafferty and Lisa Cohen collect kid-friendly food for "Brown Bag Buddies" which will run through August.

Companies can request a free information kit that describes the program and provides “how-to” instructions on running an employee food drive, by calling (201) 489-9454 Ext. 114 or email ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org.

The Volunteer Center goes Web 2.0

2008-06-25T10:02:00.010-04:00

The Volunteer Center has entered a new age. Now you can add us to your Myspace friends or your Facebook page! See you on the web.

"Reflections" take over Mentoring Programs

2008-06-02T10:11:00.010-04:00

Volunteers and their mentees with our Volunteers in Protective Services (VIPS) and Mentoring Moms programs recently enjoyed a fabulous night of improvisational theatre dealing with issues that really hit home. Presented by "Reflections," a teen improvisational group that is run through the Bergen County Department of Human Services-Division of Family Guidance, the performance included true-to-life and thoroughly entertaining skits dealing with such issues as anger displacement, gossip, and communication (or the lack thereof) between parents and kids. Staci Block is director of the improv group, which engages student volunteer actors from all over Bergen County who creatively enacted situations that teens, parents and mentors could readily respond to.

Mentoring Moms Program Director, Cindy Andrake said, “It was funny, entertaining and educational for all in attendance. Everyone laughed some and learned a lot about themselves as well as their family.”

The Volunteer Center’s mentoring programs recruit, screen, train and supervise caring mentors for children who have been abused or neglected (VIPS) or for mothers who are overwhelmed and need some extra guidance and/or are moving from welfare to work (Mentoring Moms).

To be...or not to be....a 501(c)(3)?

2008-05-22T14:34:00.000-04:00

Non-Profit Incorporation Training
Should your group or business file to be an IRS-recognized nonprofit? Do you need to create a charitable agency for your cause? If so, find out about the benefits and challenges of incorporating at the free Neighbor Academy training "Non-Profit Incorporation" on Monday, June 2nd from 7-9 PM at the Volunteer Center. The training will be presented by an attorney from Pro Bono Partners and is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County's Non-Profit Training Institute. This training is free, but pre-registration is required. To register, simply send an email to training@bergenvolunteers.org with the following information:

Name:
Title:
Agency:
Address:
Email Address:
Phone Number:
(Don't forget to let us know that you are registering for Non-Profit Incorporation)

For more information about our training programs, visit us online at http://www.bergenvolunteers.org/agency_services.htm.

Jayantha Fernando Recognized for Volunteering

2008-05-20T11:33:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Volunteer Ventures member Jayantha Fernando for receiving the 2008 Wachovia Northern NJ Volunteer of the Year Award! Volunteer Ventures is a program sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County that provides evening and weekend volunteer projects for busy, working adults. Jayantha volunteered over 300 hours in the past year alone!

She helped set up for functions and assisted frail clients at the Care One facility in Ridgewood, cared for children while their parents attended programs of the Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources and helped at concerts of the Palisades Virtuosi. Jayantha also helped Shelter our Sisters, a domestic violence shelter, by wrapping gifts at the mall to raise funds, helping with family picnics, mentoring victims of domestic violence, and helping in the administrative office. She also helped raise funds for Youth Education in the Arts, regularly visits people with disabilities at homes sponsored by Spectrum for Living, and is a permanent volunteer at Holy Name Hospital’s gift shop.

Congratulations to Jayantha! She is an inspiration to many!

Chore Van Needed

2008-04-29T12:48:00.000-04:00

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County's Chore Service helps senior citizens (age 60 and over) and disabled homeowners of all ages remain safe and secure in their homes by performing minor household repairs that they can neither do themselves nor get anyone else to do. Services are provided by Chore’s crew of 21 volunteer handypersons working as crews with paid drivers. There is no charge for Chore’s services, but clients are expected to pay for the parts necessary to complete the repair.

In 2007 alone, Chore made more than 3,700 home repairs for the elderly and/or disabled throughout Bergen County. Currently, Chore crews utilize two older cargo vans to get to and from each repair job and to transport supplies. There is usually a 3-week wait time for a visit from Chore. The vans are often in need of repair, so unfortunately the wait time is sometimes even longer. In order for Chore to help more elderly and disabled people, we desperately need two new vans plus an additional van. A new van with all the customizations and supplies necessary for Chore costs approximately $40,000. If you know of an individual or company that would like to sponsor a Chore van, please call us at 201-489-9454, ext. 126.

“Nuts and Bolts” of Service Learning – May 12

2008-04-29T08:46:00.002-04:00

Teachers, counselors and administrators will learn first hand about the do’s-and-don’ts, ins-and-outs and nuts-and-bolts of service learning at a special half-day conference on Monday, May 12. The mini-conference will be held in the Technology Center at Bergen Community College from 8:30AM-noon.

Service-learning combines academic work with service to the community; students learn by doing and at the same time help to meet important needs in the school or in the community. When done well, service learning energizes and motivates students, and the result can be improved grades, increased attendance in school and a heightened sense of personal and social responsibility.

Keynote speaker will be Linda V. Rivera, program officer for the Learn and Serve America School Based Program at the N.J. Department of Education, who will be followed by a panel of teachers and administrators at area schools and community organizations discussing their current and highly successful service learning initiatives. A highlight of the conference will be the presentation by students and staff at Teaneck High School of their service learning project that combines study of Homer’s Odyssey with providing assistance to families who have a member serving in the military in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The cost of this unique and informative conference is $50 per person. For more information or to register, contact Debbie Emery at (201) 489-9454, ext. 118, or demery@bergenvolunteers.org.

Celebrating Volunteers in Style!

2008-04-15T14:30:00.011-04:00

Well over 300 volunteers from across Bergen County received a public "pat on the back" at the Volunteer Center's annual "Celebrate Volunteers" event, which was held on Wednesday, April 9. The Grieco Auditorium at the Bergen Academies in Hackensack was filled as representatives of 38 nonprofit and government agencies, schools, and libraries brought with them the dedicated volunteers they wished to honor. Brenda Blackmon, co-anchor of My9News, led the festivities, and County Executive Dennis McNerny conveyed to those present the gratitude of the people of Bergen County and especially of those who are helped by the good work of volunteers. Outstanding entertainment was provided by the Hackensack High School Chorus, which presented selections from the Broadway hit Pippin. The Volunteer Center's executive director, Janet Sharma closed the program with an inspiring poem by Maya Angelou, the last lines of which are:
"...People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Generous corporate sponsors of "Celebrate Vounteers" are Sony Electronics, 201-Best of Bergen Magazine, Bergen County's United Way, Inserra Supermarkets and Lakeland Bank. A wonderful time was had by all!

*Pictured above are our very own Volunteer Ventures honorees, Mary Gray, Earlene Smith, and Joanne Slawenski. To see more photos from the night please click here.

RSVP Web Page - Up and Ready to Go

2008-04-14T15:13:00.005-04:00

Are you age 55+ and looking to volunteer? Click here to get started! RSVP of Bergen County has a new and improved web page, which includes resources for seniors who are new to volunteering as well as useful information for more experienced volunteers. Learn about the many benefits to volunteering, including the health benefits of giving back to your community, and how volunteering can give you experience in a variety of interesting fields. RSVP is a nation-wide program sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service to engage people age 55 and older in meaningful volunteer community service. However, you do not have to be retired to volunteer with RSVP! For more information about RSVP, call 201-489-9399.

Corporate Volunteerism Conference

2008-04-08T13:43:00.001-04:00

Registration is still open for the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council’s conference, Innovations in Corporate Volunteerism: Realizing the Human Capital Potential, on Friday, April 18, 2008 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm at The Hilton Woodcliff Lake. Through the generous sponsorship of PSE&G, this conference will address corporate social responsibility and employee engagement, with industry leaders hosting workshops on various aspects of this fast-emerging field.

Keynote speaker will be Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq., New Jersey Secretary of State, who oversees the Department of State’s diverse operating agencies, including the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism.

Conference workshops include
Creating an Employee Volunteer Program (EVP)
Skills-based Employee Volunteering
Engaging Retirees in your EVP
The Importance of Social Responsibility in Recruiting and Retaining Generation Y
Strategies for Internal EVP Communications

The Salute to Employee Volunteers luncheon, sponsored by BD, will be held immediately following the conference, with free admission for conference participants.

The conference fee ($175 per person; $150 for BVC members) includes printed materials, continental breakfast, workshops, networking, and the Luncheon. Each attendee is asked to bring a box of healthy, non-sugar cereal to support “Brown Bag Buddies”, the BVC’s summer food drive for hungry children.

For more information about the conference or BVC membership, contact Tess Tomasi at (201) 489-9454, x114, or ttomasi@bergenvolunteer.org, or visit our website at www.nnjbvc.org.

Volunteer Narrative - The Simple Things

2008-03-19T11:43:00.004-04:00

“The Simple Things”
By Corry DeMarco, Ventures Member

Most of us complain that our hectic schedules don’t allow us time to enjoy the simple things in life. Stuck on multitasking?

At Spectrum for Living* you can slow down and enjoy the simple things, while also helping your fellow man. A visit to the Maywood group home is a telling example.

When you enter the comfortable home you immediately feel at ease; and when you see the friendly, expectant faces of the residents, you can’t help but grin back!

You’ll feel yourself draw in a deep, relaxing breath for the first time all day. Then its time to bring out the board games, puzzles, drawing paper… even playdoh! You’ll find that the activities that used to bring us so much joy years ago still do the trick! As you concentrate on a puzzle with the residents you’ll feel the stress from your workday slowly recede to the background.

When is the last time you allowed yourself the time to enjoy a good laugh? Typically at work we may allow ourselves a brief half-smile before moving on with business. But the open, playful personalities of the residents always set the stage for sharing a good laugh. These events are also a good opportunity to meet other volunteers you may not have had the opportunity to get to know.

So my advice for handling that stressful, crazy workday? Head right over to a Spectrum event… your tense shoulders (and the Spectrum residents,) will thank you for it!

* Spectrum for Living is a nonprofit organization that provides services and operates group homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

For more information on Volunter Ventures and other programs like this one please call Debbie Emery at 201-489-9454, ext. 118.

Derby Day will be a Winner with Bill Ervolino and Fabulous Foods

2008-03-10T10:10:00.007-04:00

Get your Derby on! The Volunteer Center's fantastic, fun and fabulous Derby Day party is all set for May 3rd at a private garden in Alpine. We are pleased to announce that Record columnist Bill Ervolino (left) has once again signed on to be the auctioneer for the exciting live auction, featuring select items, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, travel opportunities and more.

Fabulous Foods Boutique Caterers (above, right) of Moonachie is creating southern delicacies featuring old and new traditions of Kentucky Derby cuisine - including favorites like sliders with Henry Bain sauce, Kentucky hot browns, pecan tassies, and of course, the perfect Mint Julep. Fabulous Foods' trademark cutting-edge cuisine uses fresh, organic ingredients to create food as beautiful as it is delicious.

Join us for this wonderful event -- great music, dancing, games, prizes, silent and live auctions and, of course, the Kentucky Derby will make it a day to remember!!

Tickets are $100 per person and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please call 201-489-9454, ext. 125. See you at the Derby!

Volunteer Center Updates!

2008-03-04T14:48:00.009-05:00

Bergen Leads News
We’ve officially launched the Bergen LEADS website – www.bergenleads.org. Check out this dynamic new community leadership program – find an information session near you where you can talk to staff and learn more! Applications are due April 18.

Celebrate Volunteers!
Celebrate Volunteers, a community-wide recognition event of the many ways volunteers enhance our community will take place on Wednesday, April 9, at 6:30p. Come and help celebrate those who make a difference in our community. Brenda Blackmon, popular news anchor with My(NY will be our master of ceremonies, and entertainment will be provided by the Hackensack High School Music Program under the direction of John Zisa. Tickets are $10.

For tickets ($10 each) please visit www.bergenvolunteers.org or call Melissa Leibe at 201-489-9454, ext. 127.

Youth Volunteerism
Planning has started for half-day conference on the Nuts and Bolts of Service Learning. The Volunteer Center welcomes middle/high school teachers and faculty advisors to learn about service learning and youth volunteer opportunities in Bergen County. Linda Rivera, Service Learning Advisor, from the NJ State Department of Education will discuss state initiatives and services for schools developing or implementing service learning courses.

For more information on this event or to join the mailing list please contact Debbie Emery at 201-489-9454, ext. 118.

Celebrate Volunteers in Bergen County!

2008-02-27T09:12:00.015-05:00

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County will host its annual Celebrate Volunteers recognition event on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at the Bergen Academies auditorium in Hackensack. Beginning with a 6:30 pm dessert reception, the evening will feature an inspiring program highlighting the ways in which volunteers enhance the community. Brenda Blackmon, popular news anchor for My 9 News, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Entertainment will be provided by the Hackensack High School Music Program, under the direction of John Zisa. John Zisa, who performed himself in 2005, was one of the Top 40 contestants on Season 3 of American Idol.

Public and private non-profit organizations, hospitals, libraries, religious organizations and schools in Bergen County are invited to bring volunteers and staff, to this non-competitive, community-wide event. Each organization can choose to honor its top volunteers based on its own criteria for determining exemplary volunteer achievement, such as impact, dedication and loyalty.

Reservations are on a first come, first served basis, and are due by April 1, 2008. The cost is $10.00 per person. Call (201) 489-9454 ext. 127 to reserve a place.

TD Banknorth Awards Grant to Develop Bergen Leadership Program

2008-02-26T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County has received a grant of $20,000 from TD Banknorth through the TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation to underwrite the cost of developing Bergen LEADS, an exciting new program that will prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle the challenges and embrace the opportunities found in Bergen County.

Bergen LEADS is a year-long community leadership and learning experience for adults who live and/or work in Bergen County. The interactive and experiential curriculum will address critical issues facing the Bergen County community, while offering participants the opportunity to understand and develop their leadership style. A critical component of the curriculum is community trusteeship, in which participants will learn to use their new-found knowledge of the community of affect positive change.

Pictured at left are Amanda Missey, Bergen LEADS Staff Coordinator; David Warshaw, Bergen LEADS Advisory Panel Chairman and member of the Volunteer Center Board of Directors; Janet Sharma, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center; David Yanagisawa, Senior Vice President of TD Banknorth and member of Bergen LEADS Advisory Panel and Volunteer Center Board of Directors; Tara Williams of TD Banknorth.

Volunteer Managers' Roundtable Scheduled

2008-02-26T11:08:00.000-05:00

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is sponsoring a Volunteer Managers' Roundtable on March 12th. Participants are invited to share in a discussion about some of the challenges facing today’s volunteer managers. You’ll have a chance to meet and network with other volunteer management professionals from diverse agencies, and get feedback on challenges unique to your programs. The Roundtable will begin with a presentation by our featured speaker Anne Raftery, Vice President of Human Resources at The Valley Hospital, who’ll lead a discussion on generational differences in volunteering.

Volunteer Managers’ Roundtable: Generational Differences in Volunteering
Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Volunteer Center of Bergen County, 64 Passaic Street, Hackensack
Admission to this event is FREE
Pre-registration is required - Deadline to register is March 7. Please contact Tess Tomasi at 201-489-9454, ext. 114 or ttomasi@bergenvolunteers.org to register.

Candidates Sought for Leadership Program

2008-02-19T11:47:00.008-05:00

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County recently announced the launch of Bergen LEADS, an innovative, 10-month learning and leadership program for adults who live or work in Bergen County.

Applications are now being accepted for the first class of 30 participants. The application form can be downloaded at www.bergenleads.org and is due by April 18. Each candidate must fill in a simple individual profile form and provide essay answers to specific questions.

The tuition to participate in Bergen LEADS is $2,000 per person, and scholarships will be available for those with financial need. A series of Informational Open Houses for potential applicants will be held on the following dates:

· Thurs., February 21, Bergen County’s United Way in Paramus, 8:30am -10:00 am

· Wed., February 27, First Baptist Church in Englewood, 11:30am-1:00pm

· Wed., March 5, Quest Diagnostics in Teterboro, 11:30am- 1:00 pm

· Tues., March 11, Cole Schotz in Hackensack, 8:30am-10:00am

· Wednesday, March 12, Lodi Public Library, 4:30 pm-6:00pm

· Thurs., March 13, Church on the Edge in Edgewater, 11:30am-1:00pm

· Wednesday, March 19, BD in Franklin Lakes, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

· Wednesday, March 19, KPMG in Montvale, 4:30pm – 6:00pm

· Tues., March 25, TD Banknorth in Mahwah, 11:30am-1:00pm

Pre-registration is required; to register to attend one of the sessions, and for directions, call (201) 489-9454 Ext. 219.

Additional information about how to apply for the program, and about financial aid, is available on the website www.bergenleads.org. The first class of 30 participants will be announced in June, and the monthly seminars will begin in September.

Business Volunteers to Kick Off Literacy Initiative

2008-02-13T10:40:00.003-05:00

More than 60 employee volunteers from Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) member companies will kick off a literacy initiative on Monday, March 3, 2008 by reading to children enrolled in Head Start, the YMCA and other pre-school programs. The campaign kickoff is planned to coincide with “Read Across America”, a program sponsored by the National Education Association designed to get kids excited about reading. March 3 is also Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel’s birthday.

The event will mark the beginning of Books in a Bag, an annual campaign sponsored by the BVC. Books in a Bag is a family literacy initiative created by the BVC nine years ago in response to a need identified by Bergen County Head Start, a federally-funded early childhood education program for very low-income families. Because these families are struggling to pay for rent, utilities and food, books are far down on the list of must-have items. Consequently, most children in the program have never owned a book of their own and very few read or are read to at home. To address the problem, employee volunteers at participating companies organize a collection of new children’s books, then deliver bags filled with five books, a bookmark and a reading list to children in Head Start programs throughout the state. In just nine years, more than 38,500 books have been distributed to 7,700 children.

The BVC is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. For further information on membership, call Amanda Missey at 201-489-9454 Ext. 119 or visit www.nnjbvc.org.

Extra! Extra! Read All About Volunteering with our 2008 Guide

2008-02-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

The 2008 Hands-On Guide to Volunteering is now available. The guide lists nearly 300 nonprofit agencies and more than 1000 opportunities for volunteers of all ages to become involved in the community. The book will be especially helpful to anyone looking to get involved in their community and to students seeking ways to fulfill community service requirements for school.

The guide offers tips on how groups can organize their own volunteer projects, including collection drives, ideas for family volunteering and information about great youth volunteer websites. Included are lists of project ideas that volunteers can do alone or with a group.

The guide is indexed and cross-referenced to help prospective volunteers find volunteer opportunities appropriate to their interests, geographic location and availability. Also listed are volunteer positions suitable for high school students, students under age 14, and families who want to volunteer together.

The Volunteer Center’s web site, www.bergenvolunteers.org, features a searchable database of volunteer opportunities in and around Bergen County. Individuals, groups, students and businesses interested in volunteering may look for opportunities by keyword, by area of interest or by geographic location.

Order your free copy of the book by clicking here or call the Volunteer Center at 201-489-9454.

They Came, They Shopped, They Raised Money

2008-02-05T13:20:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, Blue Tulip, a gift shop in Closter, held a sales event to benefit the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Thanks to everyone who came out and shopped for the Volunteer Center - we will receive 10% of those sales. Many thanks to Blue Tulip for their continued support of the Volunteer Center and the Bergen County community.

Bergen LEADS Featured in (201) - Best of Bergen

2008-01-29T13:16:00.000-05:00

Hot off the presses: the February issue of (201) magazine, entitled Best of Bergen 2008, features an article on the Volunteer Center of Bergen County's new program, Bergen LEADS. The article, "Leading Questions", includes a full-page photo of the Bergen LEADS Advisory Panel and describes how the program will address the diverse issues facing Bergen County. David Warshaw, Chair of the Bergen LEADS Advisory Panel stated, "LEADS' aim is to bring emerging leaders together so they can see beyond their own organizations, and see how by working together, we can solve some of Bergen's issues."

A link to the article will be posted here soon. In the meantime, you can request a copy of the article by contacting jhe@bergenvolunteers.org or call 201-489-9454, ext. 125.

Strategic Planning for Non-Profits

2008-01-29T10:34:00.000-05:00

Yogi Berra once said, “You got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, because you might not get there.”

A strategic plan is is something every organization needs to help determine what it is and where it is going. Strategic planning is the process by which an organization identifies its resources, develops goals and implements ways to achieve those goals. It is a road map to ensure the organization’s success in an ever changing environment. In short, strategic planning helps an organization do a better job.

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is presenting a workshop, Strategic Planning for Non-Profits, on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 from 9 am to 12:00 noon at the Volunteer Center’s offices at 64 Passaic Street in Hackensack. The fee is $45.00 and includes all program materials and continental breakfast.

This workshop is part of a series designed specifically for staff and volunteer leaders in non-profit and governmental agencies and is sponsored by the Non-Profit Training and Resource Center of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. For more information or to register, e-mail training@bergenvolunteers.org, or call (201) 489-9454, ext.114.

Business Volunteer Council Celebrates 8 Years of Service

2008-01-23T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Northern NJ Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is celebrating its 8th anniversary on Thursday, February 7 at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome to join the festivities – tickets are $25/person for the cocktail reception.

The BVC is a membership organization of 31 companies whose employee volunteers work year-round to help children and families. Since 2000, the BVC has generated almost $900,000 in resources for low-income children and families. For more information or to reserve tickets for the anniversary celebration, please call 201-489-9454, ext. 114.

Volunteer Ventures

2008-01-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

Did you make a New Year's resolution to get involved and help others? Then check out Volunteer Ventures! Their first meeting of 2008 is on Tuesday, February 5, at 7:15pm at the Volunteer Center, 64 Passaic Street, Hackensack. Volunteer Ventures is a group of more than 100 busy, working adults who provide extra hands for special evening and weekend group projects at area non-profit agencies. It's a great way to get involved in volunteering - you can pick and choose which projects interest you and fit your schedule, have fun, meet new people and help your community! New members are always welcome - so bundle up and come and see what Volunteer Ventures is all about!

As a special project for February, Ventures will be collecting boxed Valentine Cards for both girls and boys so that needy kids in local schools can give valentines to their friends.

For more information on Volunteer Ventures, call 201-489-9454 or email mailto:ventures@bergenvolunteers.org.