Improving Lives
CHORE
CHORE is a dual impact program, helping Bergen County senior and disabled residents remain safe in their homes, as well as providing a satisfying experience for the programs talented volunteers.
All CHORE Service labor is performed for free by our volunteers; clients only cover the cost of materials.
FOR VOLUNTEERS
CHORE keeps active seniors engaged in community service.
FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED CLIENTS
CHORE ensures that senior citizens and the those with disabilities remain independent and safe in their homes.
CHORE Jobs Include:
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Installing grab bars and wooden banisters
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Replacing outlets and switches
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Repairing leaky faucets
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Installing door bells and locks
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Changing light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries
CHORE does not service emergencies.
CHEER
"I used to worry about how I was going to stay here. I was unable to shop for food and do errands…I have a heart condition… CHEER makes all the difference."
"If it wasn't for CHEER, I would have no clean clothes, no food, and no one would care...Without Janet's help, her sunny disposition, my cupboard would be bare."
CHEER provides a helping hand to seniors and those with disabilities to enable them to live safely and independently in their homes.
Volunteers and clients forge lasting relationships by offering companionship and whenever possible, create opportunities for their CHEER clients to be engaged in their communities.
FOR VOLUNTEERS
CHEER volunteers visit weekly to help home-bound seniors. CHEER volunteers visit weekly to help with tasks such as grocery shopping and light errands such as prescription pick-up, library book returns, or the post office.
Michele Ogden and Jessica Leibe
Successful Aging Team
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 203/214
Successful Aging
The Successful Families mentoring programs serve youth and parents in Bergen County. Our team enlists, trains, matches and supports volunteer mentors to provide supportive relationships with mothers and other parental figures involved with the Department of Children and Families or other community support agencies. Our volunteers are also trained to partner with youth who need a trusted adult who can be a positive role model in their lives. The Successful Families team understands that anyone can become distracted or overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. Our staff and volunteers offer support without judgement and resources to help mentees tap into their strengths to identify and strive towards specific personal improvement goals.
Lisa Tredici
Manager, Successful Families
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 208
Successful Families
Strengthening Community
We promote the importance of locally knowledgeable leaders through Bergen LEADS, College LEADS and Teen LEADS; civic engagement through our online database linked to hundreds of nonprofits to a community network; and volunteerism through our direct programs.
College LEADS
Teen
LEADS
Bergen LEADS
Bergen LEADS has gained a reputation as a “think tank” for challenges facing our County. Each class focuses on a specific topic and in June of each year, the graduating class presents their findings and recommendations at a Public Forum. If the results of the class project have the potential for a long-term solution, then Bergen LEADS will seek out an appropriate agency to apply the solution.
College LEADS is a program for students to learn about local government and public policy. Students analyze community issues and develop new approaches to problem solving. The students take a deep look into a compelling issue. They look at the many facets of the issues figuring out where their generation can take a stand and make an impact.
Teen LEADS is a program for high school students to learn about local government and public policy. Students analyze community issues and develop new approaches to problem solving. The program is designed to get students involved in their community to become effective community leaders.
LEADS
Volunteerism and Civic Engagement
Bergen Volunteers believe in the power of volunteers. We connect individuals with volunteer opportunities in an effort to create a thriving Bergen County where inhabitants are civically active. Check out our Volunteer Database where our nonprofit partners are posting opportunities in your area based on your interests!
Melissa LaRobardier
Program Assistant,
Strengthening Community
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 206
Community Volunteering
All Wrapped Up is the Bergen Volunteers holiday giving program for low income individuals and families.
The Holiday Hotline officially opens Friday, November 2, 2020.
Debbie Emery
Manager,
Strengthening Community
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 202
All Wrapped Up
Bergen READS combats illiteracy in Bergen County by training Reading Buddies to work one on one with students in grades K-4. Reading Buddies serve as tutors, advocates, friends and mentors, meeting individually students one half hour per week, every week from November through June. Buddies help elementary public schools students enjoy and improve their reading skills in a comfortable and friendly environment.
Our Reading Buddies serve as tutors, advocates, friends and mentors in eight Teaneck and Hackensack public schools.
Join a group of over 150 volunteers working one-on-one with more than 350 students each week. You’ll need one hour a week between October and June. No prior experience is necessary as we will provide you the training you need. If you can read, you can help a child who can’t.
Melissa LaRobardier
Program Assistant,
Strengthening Community
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 206
Bergen READS
Making-It-Home brings furniture to formerly homeless veterans, victims of domestic violence, seniors, and disabled people who are moving from emergency shelter into unfurnished apartments. Clients are referred by partner agencies including Bergen County’s Housing, Health and Human Services Center (the shelter); the County’s Division of Veteran Services; Catholic Charities; the Center for Hope and Safety; and many more.
Each week we coordinate with donors to pick up their gently-used furniture and we organize teams of volunteers to transport the furniture. Making-It-Home keeps thousands of pounds of quality pieces out of our landfills.
This free service enables our clients to live in safe and comfortable environments that improve their quality of life and ability to achieve greater self-sufficiency and a brighter future. We “make their house a home.”
Making-It-Home
Redefining Retirement is designed to help Bergen County understand and benefit from the asset and valuable resource older adults are and will continue to be. By engaging this population locally in meaningful volunteer work, Bergen Volunteers hope to encourage and support retirees who want to age in place — in towns where they have lived for many years. Redefining Retirement works with interested nonprofits to identify their volunteer needs and connect them with retired volunteers who have the specific skills needed
Redefining Retirement Volunteers are interviewed by liaisons who recommend them to the appropriate nonprofits, based on coordinating individuals’ skills, experience, and interests with the nonprofits’ requirements. All final volunteer engagement decisions are made by the nonprofits.
Melissa LaRobardier
Program Assistant,
Strengthening Community
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 206
Redefining Retirement
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is an IRS-certified program to provide free tax assistance to low-to-moderate income individuals and families, the disabled, the elderly and English Language Learners, who might need assistance with the forms. All VITA volunteers must complete the IRS training program and take an Ethics and Code of Conduct Exam. Those volunteers who will assist in preparing tax returns must also score 80 or above on six tax law exams for Basic level certification or 12 tax law exams for Advanced level certification.
Each VITA client has a prearranged appointment scheduled through Bergen Volunteers and is met at their appointment by a greeter, who makes sure that they qualify for VITA help and have all the documents they need to complete their return. A VITA volunteer, trained at the Basic or Advanced level, then prepares the tax return through the web-based portal. Each tax return is then reviewed by an additional volunteer certified at the Advanced level. One of the focal points of the VITA program is to raise awareness and receipt of the Earned Income Tax Credit and other anti-poverty measures.
Debbie Emery
Manager,
Strengthening Community
(201) 489-9454 - ext. 202