Community Corner

MLK Day of Service 2014 Volunteer Opportunities

Start the year off right by making an impact.

Do something good for someone else and be part of a national movement. 

As the organizers of the MLK Day of Service point out, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'" 

In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a "day on, not a day off." 

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In our region, the Volunteer Center of United Way has a list of opportunities to do just that on or around MLK Day. 

One important note: the opportunities below are all on Monday, Jan. 20 and there are more to be found at JerseryCares.com. Although there are no volunteer options listed for Parsippany, there are plenty nearby. Act fast, they're filling up!

Senior Socialization in Hanover Township with Care One at Hanover Township

  • Where: Whippany
  • Time: 3 p.m. for 1.5 hours
  • Description: CareOne at Hanover Township strives to lead the industry by delivering superior clinical outcomes and exceptional care in exceptional settings. Since its founding more than 45 years ago, CareOne has defined excellence in sub-acute care, skilled rehabilitation and long-term care. A family owned company, CareOne serves thousands of patients every day and admits/discharges more than 20,000 patients every year.Volunteers are needed to socialize with the residents. 

Sort It Out in Morristown with Jersey Cares

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  • Where: Morristown
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: Jersey Cares volunteers will gather at individual Container Sites across New Jersey. Together they will sort and distribute coats to partner agencies in the surrounding community. This event represents the continued endeavor of uniting individuals, companies and agencies throughout the state to keep our neighbors warm. Volunteers are needed to sort thousands of coats from collection sites across the state and prepare to distribute donations to agencies upon their arrival. Please wear comfortable and warm clothing

Fashion Forward in Madison with Dress for Success - Madison

  • Where: Madison
  • Time: 10 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Volunteers are needed to sort donated clothing items in the agency's thrift store. 

Sort It Out in West Caldwell with Jersey Cares

  • Where: West Caldwell
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: Jersey Cares volunteers will gather at individual Container Sites across New Jersey. Together they will sort and distribute coats to partner agencies in the surrounding community. This event represents the continued endeavor of uniting individuals, companies and agencies throughout the state to keep our neighbors warm. Volunteers are needed to sort thousands of coats from collection sites across the state and prepare to distribute donations to agencies upon their arrival. Please wear comfortable and warm clothing

Sort It Out in Livingston with Jersey Cares

  • Where: Livingston
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: Jersey Cares volunteers will gather at individual Container Sites across New Jersey. Together they will sort and distribute coats to partner agencies in the surrounding community. This event represents the continued endeavor of uniting individuals, companies and agencies throughout the state to keep our neighbors warm. Volunteers are needed to sort thousands of coats from collection sites across the state and prepare to distribute donations to agencies upon their arrival. Please wear comfortable and warm clothing

Sort It Out in Chatham with Jersey Cares

  • Where: Chatham
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: Jersey Cares volunteers will gather at individual Container Sites across New Jersey. Together they will sort and distribute coats to partner agencies in the surrounding community. This event represents the continued endeavor of uniting individuals, companies and agencies throughout the state to keep our neighbors warm. Volunteers are needed to sort thousands of coats from collection sites across the state and prepare to distribute donations to agencies upon their arrival. Please wear comfortable and warm clothing

Sorting for Sight in Short Hills with New Eyes

  • Where: Short Hills
  • Time: 9 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: The mission of New Eyes is focused: to improve the vision of poor children and adults by purchasing new eyeglasses in the United States, and recycling donated glasses for distribution in developing nations worldwide. Since their founding in 1932, New Eyes has improved the eyesight of more than 7,500,000 people in the U.S. and around the world. Volunteers are needed to sort donated eye glasses. 
Sort It Out in Springfield with Jersey Cares
  • Where: Springfield Township
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. for 2 hours
  • Description: Jersey Cares volunteers will gather at individual Container Sites across New Jersey. Together they will sort and distribute coats to partner agencies in the surrounding community. This event represents the continued endeavor of uniting individuals, companies and agencies throughout the state to keep our neighbors warm. Volunteers are needed to sort thousands of coats from collection sites across the state and prepare to distribute donations to agencies upon their arrival. Please wear comfortable and warm clothing 

Moving on Up in Newark with Jersey Cares

  • Where: Newark
  • Time: 9 a.m. for 3 hours
  • Description: Volunteers are needed to assist Jersey Cares in organizing our supplies, which have been used across the state of New Jersey for Hurricane Sandy relief and other volunteer projects, in our new warehouse space. Please dress in comfortable and warm clothing. 

Jersey Cares Coat Couriers with Jersey Cares

  • Where: Newark
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. for 6.5 hours
  • Description: n/a

It’s Fun to Paint at the YMCA in Garfield

  • Where: Garfield YMCA
  • Time: 9 a.m. for 3 hours
  • Description: The Garfield YMCA is a non-profit association of members voluntarily banded together for the purpose of growing spiritually, intellectually and physically. The association is a character builder and personally developing organization, which welcomes all who wish to participate.


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