Opportunities From: Bergen Volunteers

Key Responsibilities:

Skills and Requirements:

Location: Hawthorne Boys & Girls Club, 1 Downes Way, Hawthorne NJ

Time Commitment:

October 10 – November 21, no session on 10/31

10am – 11am

Mike Simmel, CEO Bounce Out the Stigma  bounceoutthestigma.org

201 - 725 - 7224

mike@mightymikebasketball.com

Key Responsibilities:

Skills and Requirements:

Location: Pascack Community Center Gym, 87 New Clarkstown Road, Nanuet, NY

Time Commitment:

October 1 – November 5

5pm– 6:30pm

Mike Simmel, CEO Bounce Out the Stigma  bounceoutthestigma.org

201 - 725 - 7224

mike@mightymikebasketball.com

Key Responsibilities:

Skills and Requirements:

Location: St. Marks Syrian Orthodox Church

Time Commitment:

October 17 - November 18, no clinic on 11/11

4:30pm – 6:00pm

Mike Simmel, CEO Bounce Out the Stigma  bounceoutthestigma.org

201 - 725 - 7224

mike@mightymikebasketball.com

Key Responsibilities:

Skills and Requirements:

Location: West Orange High School - 51 Conforti Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052

Time Commitment:

October 11 - November 15

11:00am - 12:00pm

Mike Simmel, CEO Bounce Out the Stigma  bounceoutthestigma.org

201 - 725 - 7224

mike@mightymikebasketball.com

Pony Power Therapies is looking for volunteers to assist with our therapeutic riding lessons. Volunteers with and without horse experience are welcome. 

***We are looking for lead walkers (handle horses during lessons; previous horse experience required) and side walkers (support rider's during lessons; no horse experience required)  

What kinds of tasks will I be doing? 
Our lesson volunteers assist during therapeutic riding sessions for people with disabilities or life challenges.

Lead walker volunteers must have previous horse experience, but no horse experience is required for side walkers.

How long is a shift? 
1.5-2 hours, once a week (or more, if you'd like!)

Can my teenager volunteer? 
Yes! We welcome volunteers ages 14 years and up.
 

Apply & see available shifts

Visit ponypowernj.org/lessons

Have questions?
Call 201-934-1001

Our Forest Defenders are important volunteers who help us maintain our preserve. Training will be provided.

The TNC Preserve is under invasion and we need your help! Non-native plants have been encroaching into our forest, causing harm to native plants and reducing our biodiversity. Unchecked, these” invasive species” can toxify the soil and shade out native plants. Help remove these pesky plants twice a month with the Forest Defenders!

Learn to identify different invasive species and work with our Land Manager to implement various removal techniques. Forest Defenders is open to adults, teenagers and families. Kids 15 and under must be accompanied by a guardian.

You Can Make a Difference

Volunteers are a valued part of the Spectrum Family. By sharing your time, talents, and compassion, you help enhance the lives of Spectrum clients and create meaningful connections throughout the community. Whether you're looking to give back, grow personally, or gain new experiences, volunteering offers rewarding opportunities for everyone 

Share your unique talents and make a positive impact

Locations

Make an impact in your local community by volunteering at one of Spectrum’s many locations. Opportunities are available at our Intermediate Care Facility in Closter, Residential Group Homes and Apartments throughout Northern New Jersey, and Adult Training Centers in Edison, North Haledon, Ringwood, Teaneck, and Westwood. 

Volunteer Requirements
Minimum Age:

Minimum Commitment:

Other Requirements:

There Are Many Ways to Make a Difference

Friendly Visitor – Visit as an individual, with your family, or as part of a group to spend quality time with our residents. Play a favorite game, lead a small craft activity, share your musical talents, or simply enjoy meaningful conversation. We encourage volunteers to use their unique interests and skills to create memorable experiences.

Please note: Friendly Visitors are asked to commit to a minimum of 25 hours per year. Consistent visits help build lasting relationships and ensure a rewarding experience for both volunteers and the individuals we support.

Adopt a Garden – Help plant, cultivate, and maintain flower and vegetable gardens at Spectrum's residential and training facilities.

Recreation Programs – Assist with a variety of recreational activities, including bowling, arts and crafts, cooking, woodworking, talent shows, canteens, and special events.

Therapy Dog Program – Share the comfort and companionship of your certified therapy dog by visiting our residential and training facilities.

Skill-Based Volunteering – Put your expertise to work by teaching music, art, computers, cooking, or woodworking. Skilled volunteers may also assist with special projects such as painting, carpentry, and facility improvements.

Clerical Support – Administrative and office-based volunteer opportunities are often available at Spectrum's Corporate Office in River Vale.

How Do I Become a Volunteer?

Getting started is easy. Simply complete a volunteer application, and if you meet the program requirements, a member of our team will contact you to schedule a personal interview. For more information about individual or group volunteer opportunities, please contact:

Claudia Waterman
Phone: (201) 358-8000  ext. 3041
Email: cwaterman@spectrumforliving.org

For information about corporate volunteer programs, employee engagement opportunities, or community service days, please contact:

Elizabeth Boyajian 
Phone: (201) 358-8081
Email: eboyajian@spectrumforliving.org

Submit Volunteer Application

For students age 16 and older.

High school volunteers support various non-clinical areas within the medical center. Examples of responsibilities may include:

A volunteer is needed to assist with light physical labor. Nothing hard or taxing just able to do yard work, assist with simple maintenance tasks and cleanup chores. Their efforts would be directed/coordinated by our experienced staff.

Museum hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.  

To register to volunteer please call Ralph directly at 201-288-6344.

Family Promise Youth Council - Teen Volunteer Opportunities

Family Promise of Bergen County's Youth Council for the Homeless provides teen volunteer opportunities designed for high school students in Bergen County who are looking to make a difference in the lives of families with children facing homelessness and hunger in our community. Throughout the school year, the Youth Council meets monthly and participates in various volunteer and service opportunities that support Family Promise.

The first Family Promise Youth Council meeting for the 2025-26 school year will be held in September.

For more information, questions, and to learn about getting involved, please email Youth Council Director Alina Albano at familypromiseyouthcouncil@gmail.com.

Teen Volunteering Opportunities include:

Assist the Operating Room staff with room turnover, transporting items, stocking supplies and clerical duties.

Attention TEENS! **PLEASE NOTE** Since the teens are the ones who will be volunteering with this program, I need to hear from them directly, not from the parents/guardians.  The teens are the ones who need to reach out to me to request an application. 

Applications for the RISE program are almost ready ; please have teens who are interested in volunteering this Summer, reach out to me directly to request an application.  The teens need to do this themselves, not parents or guardians.

RISE (Reflections InterACTive Summer Experience)  is the spinoff of the Reflections school year program, which addresses a variety of issues through the use of improvisational theatre.

This is a FREE program, funded by the County of Bergen.

Teens can earn volunteer hours and acquire leadership skills and have fun, all at the same time.

This Summer,  RISE 2026 will be on Tuesday nights, starting  on July 7th and will run until August 25th.

TIME: 5:45pm-7:45pm

WHERE: 1 Bergen County Plaza – Hackensack, NJ

THIS IS A DROP IN PROGRAM – THIS MEANS THAT RISE CAST MEMBERS ATTEND WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND EACH WEEK.

We  will also have other opportunities for RISE participants to earn volunteer hours by attending workshops that we will be leading. This will be explained to them once they are part of the RISE program. Again, this is on a “drop in“ basis, in that cast members attend the events that meet their availability.

To be part of RISE 2026, one needs to have just finished 8th grade, all the way to just graduating high school.

They also must be Bergen County residents.

Flat Rock Brook hosts several annual events. Our annual Recognition Dinner honors outstanding individuals and companies. The Great Fall Festival brings hundreds of families to the Nature Center for outdoor fun. We seek individuals to assist with a variety of efforts to help ensure our success at these events.

There are no specific requirements for becoming a special event volunteer; however, as events come closer, there will be specific jobs that need to be filled.

A way of giving back to the community

Helping raise money and ensure successful events

Bringing fun to the families of the area

Here are some examples of jobs from the Great Fall Festival:

Setting up tables and decorations

Food distribution

Facilitating Crafts and Games

Assist the Recreational Therapy staff in engaging our long-term care residents with fun activities that enhance their quality of life and support their health and wellness.

Assist with the transportation of residents to and from the chapel for services.

Catholic Service: Sunday-1:45pm to 4:15pm

Assist residents with daily activities and light chores, engage them in conversation and support staff during recreation and patient rounding.

Assist Emergency Department staff with patient care rounding and the transporting of items to and from the Lab and Pharmacy.

Assist BHS staff with preventing falls of our high-risk clients and engaging those clients with conversation and companionship.

Assist Ambulatory Care staff with patient room turnover between appointments.

Assist with welcoming incoming patients and visitors and directing them to their desired locations in the Medical Center.

Volunteer musicians are needed to play any time during the day especially during meals on Christian Health's Wyckoff campus. Hours are typically between 10:00am to noon, 1:30 to 3:30pm and 5:00pm to 7:00pm. 

Requirements: All Christian Health volunteers must complete an application, annual training, background screening. If volunteering in resident/patient areas, Christian Health requires at least a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service throughout the calendar year and to be fully vaccinated (boosted) against COVID-19 and influenza for the current flu season (November - April). 

If you love crafts and would like to spend time with older adults sharing your talents, we promise you a rewarding experience.  Residents love to cut, paste, and color.  Come alone, or organize a group.

You have to be fully vaccinated in order to come to Bright Side Manor.