VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

"The magnitude of our social problems will require that all citizens and institutions make a commitment to volunteering as a way of life and as a primary opportunity to create needed change." - The Late Governor George Romney
Updated January 2006

If you can't find something here, please take a look at Hands On Helpers for a complete database listing of volunteer opportunities in the greater Princeton area. In addition, another new online resource is the Mercer County Chapter of Single Volunteers, established to bring together single people of all ages to participate in volunteer activities.

Positions are subject to change and volunteer jobs may be filled at any given time. Please check with the organization to confirm availability of listed volunteer opportunities. The date after the opportunity indicates when it was posted. Please contact us at pgibson@princetonol.com or call (609) 737-7901 to add an opportunity to this listing.
Reference:

D = Daytime
E = Evening
SS = Weekend
F = Family (children w/parental supervision)
G = Group (projects that may utilize groups)
Y = Youth (thru 17 years)

Volunteer Coordinator - The museum seeks a volunteer to work with the development manager and museum staff in creating and coordinating a volunteer corps. Volunteers are needed to help in the museum on a regular and special-event basis. The volunteer coordinator would make phone calls/e-mails to a volunteer list and garner commitments from the volunteer corps for these activities. Follow-up would then be required to thank people, solicit their impressions, etc. Much of the work could be done from home, with some time spent in the office. Some weekend commitment on your part would be needed to organize the volunteers during the activities, which usually take place on Saturdays or Sundays. Record keeping, phone skills, letter writing, event planning, diplomacy are some of the practical skills needed. For more information contact Cate Crown at 609-396-1776 or ccrown@voicenet.com ; refer to volunteer position.

 

Friendly Receptionist & Light Sales - We are looking for volunteers who like interacting with people to work at our front desk and museum store. Hours are flexible. We ask you to greet people in a friendly manner, answer phones, use a cash register and credit card machine, help stock shelves (no heavy lifting), wrap purchases and help visitors to select their purchases. It helps if you are good with math and do not get flustered easily (school groups are frequent visitors). A love of history is helpful but not necessary. For more information contact Cate Crown at 609-396-1776 or ccrown@voicenet.com ; refer to volunteer position.

Heads Up Special Riders - 9/20/05

Experience the joy of helping children and adults with special needs build self-confidence, strength and coordination. Volunteers are needed for Heads Up Special Riders, a small therapeutic horseback-riding program located at Hasty Acres Farm in Kingston. Volunteers are the backbone of the Heads Up program, providing support to students and instructors. They greet students, assist with mounting and dismounting, lead horses, and help with horse care and preparation. Volunteers should have some experience around horses, and be 14 years or older (adults are welcome!) Training is provided. Heads Up meets Monday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m., and late mornings some weekdays. Please call Cathie at 609-688-1001 or Mrs. Higgins at 609-921-8389 for more information.

CASA of Mercer County is a non-profit organization that trains volunteers (they can not be minors) to acquire information for Family Court to assist in timely and appropriate long term placement for abused and neglected children in Mercer County. The Executive Director is Lori V. Morris. The address is 3131 Princeton Pike, Bldg 4, Suite 113, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. The tel # is 609-637-4910. The fax # is 609-895-1245. Anyone that wants information on how to be a CASA volunteer or on how to offer administrative help simply needs to contact Lori by phone or email (staff@casamercer.org).

The 1860 House is actively seeking seasoned and new volunteers for our one-of-a-kind fundraiser, the Starry Night Gala, coming up on June 30th. We are seeking help in many different areas, including: advertising, ticket and program ad sales, silent and live auction help, and more. We encourage any and all interested in becoming affiliated with this vital, multifaceted arts organization to call Maureen Daniels, Volunteer Chair, at 609.431.9375, or call the 1860 House at 609.921.3272.

Animal Allies is looking for foster homes for homeless dogs and cats who are awaiting adoption. Foster caregivers care for the fostered animal(s) as if they are their own pets, giving them time and love. We provide food and crates or cages, etc., and we pay for all medical care which is done with our veterinarians. We bring our pets to adoption days on Sundays and also post photos of them online on Petfinder. All adopters are carefully screened so that good matches are made for permanent, loving homes for all pets. Fostering an animal can take days, weeks or months depending on the needs of the animal and length of time it takes to find a suitable home.

We can be contacted by phone at 609-737-2380--just ask for Animal Allies--or by email at AnimalAlly@aol.com. Helping a homeless dog or puppy, cat or kitten find a loving home in an unforgettable and rewarding experience!

Better Beginnings Day Care Center needs volunteers:

Nurturing Assistants who can give at least one morning a week to give extra attention little ones need for preschool program.

Literacy Mentors from 4:00 - 5:30 on Wednesdays (Book Day) for after-school children. Must love reading. Some children learning to read in their second language need your enthusiasm.

Computer Mentors from 4:00 - 5:30 on Mondays and Tuesdays for supervised access to the internet for after-school children. Help close the digital divide.

Peacemakers: Do you have time in a summer afternoon to pass along conflict resolution skills and kind ideas to Peacemakers and Counselors in Training? (PACT) or for Thursdays during the school year from 4:00 - 5:30 for after school program?

Substance Abuse Prevention Mentors: Are you willing to encourage children to use constructive and creative ideas instead of using drugs? Do you have some materials you want to share with young children or after-school children?

Touch the future. Encourage a child. Call Better Beginnings 6099-448-6226 to sign up!

Habitat for Humanity Trenton Affiliate

Habitat for Humanity Trenton Affiliate has the folowing opportunities for volunteers:

HOUSE CLOSING COORDINATOR:

ARCHITECTS and LAWYERS:

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, New Jersey Unit

There are many volunteer opportunities at RFB&D's New Jersey Unit. Studio volunteers support production by doing a variety of tasks. All of them are critical to helping the organization provide textbooks to print disabled students. Volunteers give at least an hour and half to two hours a week toward the production of recorded textbooks by:

Preparing books for readers
Reading textbooks and describing visuals
Directing recording sessions
Checking recordings for accuracy
We especially need volunteers with backgrounds in education, math, science, and computers. Those who are available to volunteer during the late afternoons and evenings are also needed. Other opportunities include volunteering in our Educational Outreach department or Development department. Volunteers must be computer literate and and least a junior in high school (or a rising junior).  We are located in Plainsboro at 69 Mapleton Rd., just north of Princeton.  For more information or to schedule a studio tour, call 609-750-1830.  (10/06)

Young Audiences of New Jersey

Young Audiences of New Jersey, the state's leading provider of arts education programs for children, seeks a volunteer or volunteers in our Nassau Street office to: Call Miriam Tucker or Kris Golden at 683-7966 or email yanj@aol.com

United Way of Greater Mercer County

The United Way of Greater Mercer County is seeking volunteers to work as receptionists. Become "the voice" of the United Way. We need volunteers with professionalism and people skills to assist support staff in our busy nonprofit organization in Lawrenceville. No clerical experience needed to volunteer in our friendly work environment. Flexible hours between 9am and 5pm. Monday-Friday. Call (609) 637-4915.

The Children's Home Society of New Jersey

 The Children's Home Society of New Jersey has been building healthy families and saving children’s lives since 1894. There are many ways you can make a difference in the life of a child. The following options are for individuals, families, friends, employee groups (or an entire company), students of all ages, and members of churches and community organizations. We offer options that fit your schedule, interests, and objectives – and all of them help children.

Baby Bottle Formula for Hope. This fundraiser has captured the enthusiasm and energy of many area churches, companies, civic clubs, and classrooms. By filling up a baby bottle with loose change you are helping our infant foster program. These donations help us pay for diapers, formula, upfront medical costs, pediatric care, clothing, medical equipment, and birth parent counseling. It’s an easy and fun project for children and adults - all while making a true difference in the life of a child.

Volunteer Choices. The choices include collecting critically needed supplies for children and families, providing your talents in our Fun with Books and Music Program, throwing a baby shower for our CUNA parents, running a Back-to-School backpack drive, and most importantly, helping us spread the word about us to those who might be in a position to help through their job or community connections.

Special Event Opportunities. These range from many different CHS of NJ events each year such as our Annual Gala Celebration and Golf Outing to smaller activities that businesses and community organizations can create. For example, a Car Wash or a Walk-A-Thon!

For Information on How to Help. To find out more about how individuals, businesses, and community organizations can help children or for more information on any of the above, please visit our website at www.chsofnj.org or feel free to call Valerie at (609) 695-6274 x 141.

We are building community partnerships of caring with those who can help us help children. Care to join us?

Contact CHS at www.chsofnj.org.

Catholic Charities

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP PREVENT CHILD ABUSE. To help relieve the stresses that can lead to abuse, Family Growth, a division of Catholic Charities, is looking for volunteers to assist Mercer County families affected by child abuse. Volunteers are needed to work as Family Friends with selected families in the community. These Family Friends extend their friendship and support to troubled families by spending approximately two hours a week in various activities with the family member with whom they are matched, usually a parent. Hours are flexible and training is provided. The next 8-hour training session begins in mid-September. Since 1975, Family Growth has provided intensive counseling to abused children, spouses, adult survivors of child abuse, and the abusers themselves. For more information, call Mea Kaemmerlen at (609) 394-5157.

Medical Center at Princeton

Volunteer assignments are based on individual interests, skills and availablility, as well as on the needs of the Medical Center. Most assignments require a commitment of three hours given on a regular basis. Morning, afternoon and evening assignments are available.

THE FOLLOWING ARE PRIORITY NEEDS:

Courier - Deliver medicines, laboratory specimens, medical records, and supplies among nursing stations and various departments. Hours - 9am - 9pm Monday through Sunday.

Gift Shop - Facilitate sales and provide personalized service to customers. Hours open - 9am-9pm seven days a week.

Guest Relations - Greet and direct all people entering hospital. Guest Relations Representative will assist incoming patients by providing a wheelchair and a personal escort, if necessary. He/she will notify Security when a situation warrents immediate staff intervention. Hours - 8:30am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday.

Surgical Area - Assist with varied patient-related tasks in two areas. Hours - 8:30am to 3pm. Monday Through Friday.

  • PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) - Assist staff in recovery area by transporting patients, maintaining supplies, processing charges, answering telephone and "running" errands.
  • Operating Room - Assist staff with general clerical duties, "running" errands, transporting patients and answering the telephone.

    Transportation - Transport discharged patients by wheelchair to the front door. Hours - 7am to 7pm. Monday through Friday.

    Clerical - Performs various office duties for:

  • Home Care - The department that provides medical care for the patients at home. Hours 9am to 3pm Monday through Friday.
  • Outpatient Clinic - The department that provides medical care to patients (many of whom do not speak english) who meet specific criteria invloving financial need. This may include reading to children and translating. Hours - 9am to 3pm Monday through Friday.
  • Pain Management - The department that provides a variety of medical options and procedures to manage chronic or acute pain. Hours 9am to 3pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

    Please call Susan Kozo, Volunteer Services, (609) 497-4273, for more information.

    The Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad

    Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad is a volunteer organization providing emergency services to the community. The Squad has a fleet of three ambulances, a large rescue truck, a utility vehicle and a Zodiac boat. The Squad provides the community with rescue services and has never charged for its services.

    An applicant musty be enrolled in a state EMT course and have CPR. If you are interested in joining our team, contact our voice mail at (609) 924-3338 or look us up on the Web.

    Occupational Training Center of Burlington County

    We are a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals with handicaps to reach their maximum potential. Our main priority is to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities by providing them with opportunities to develop skills through an various vocational and rehabilitative services.

    We are currently seeking mature and caring volunteers to work with disabled individuals in any of our four adult training centers located in the South Jersey area. The centers are located in Cherry Hill, Burlington, Mt. Holly and Marlton. We are looking for volunteers who could commit to a minimum of five hours per week, and who would enjoy working along side our professional staff in some of our program areas such as cooking, arts and crafts and wood working. Volunteers would also assist staff in helping individuals develop their social and interpersonal skills.

    Interested parties should contact Gregory Lineham, Coodinator of Adult Training Services at 609 267-6677.

    Historical Society of Princeton

    The Historical Society of Princeton seeks volunteers to help in the preservation and interpretation of Princeton's history through the following activities:
  • Rose Photograph Collection - Clean, identify, and accession glass plate negatives from an unique collection of photographic images of Princeton dating from 1880 through 1940.
  • Bainbridge House Guide - Greet visitors to Bainbridge House, give tours of changing exhibitions, and handle sales in the museum shop.
  • Walking Tour/Bus Tour Guide - Lead two-hour walking or bus tours of architectural monuments and historic neighborhoods.
  • Archives and Research - Assist researchers in the Society's library, answer mail and telephone inquiries, and process incoming library materials.

    No experience is needed. For furhter information, call Patricia Bruttomesso at (609) 921-6748. D, SS.

    MERCER COUNTY GERIATRIC CENTER

    - The Center is one of the most modern long-term care facilities in Central New Jersey. Owned and operated by Mercer County, the 240-bed facility was opened in 1986, to serve the County's elderly and handicapped residents. A full description of all volunteer opportunities will be available soon. Volunteers play an important part in helping the Center provide the best possiible care for its residents in a warm, home-like atmosphere. Some work directly with the residents and others provide support services to the staff. In the mean time, please call (609) 588-5845 for more information.
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