Family Friendly Volunteer Opportunities

During this season of giving, you might want to think about volunteering your family's help to those in need in and near our area. Volunteering is a rewarding experience that offers numerous benefits for both individuals and the community. Whether you volunteer for a few hours a month or more frequently, your contributions can make a significant difference in the lives of others.

Personal fulfillment: 

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and satisfaction as individuals work to help others and make a positive impact in their community.

Skill development: 

Volunteering can help individuals develop new skills, such as leadership, communication, and organizational abilities.

Networking opportunities: 

Volunteering can provide opportunities to meet new people, develop new relationships, and connect with others who share similar interests.

Improved mental and physical health: 

Studies have shown that volunteering can have a positive impact on mental and physical health, reducing stress, depression, and loneliness.

Resume building: 

Volunteering can help individuals build their resumes and develop a stronger skill set, making them more competitive in the job market.

Community improvement: 

Volunteering helps to improve the community by providing support and resources to those in need.

Increased understanding and empathy: 

By working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, volunteers can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for others and develop greater empathy for their struggles.

1. Woodbridge Community Garden: Get involved with the Woodbridge Community Garden and help plant, care for, and harvest fruits and vegetables for the local community.
2. Woodbridge Animal Shelter: The Woodbridge Animal Shelter is always in need of volunteers to help care for the animals, walk dogs, clean cages, and more.
3. Woodbridge Library: The Woodbridge Library often needs volunteers to assist with children's programs, book sales, and other events.
4. Woodbridge Food Pantry: The Woodbridge Food Pantry provides food and resources to those in need and often needs volunteers to assist with food drives, sorting, and distribution.
5. Woodbridge Township Parks and Recreation: Help maintain the local parks and recreation areas by volunteering with Woodbridge Township Parks and Recreation. Activities may include litter cleanup, trail maintenance, and special event support.
6. Woodbridge Health Department: The Woodbridge Health Department provides a variety of health services to the community and often needs volunteers to assist with special events and outreach programs.
7. Woodbridge Senior Center: The Woodbridge Senior Center provides a variety of activities and services for seniors and often needs volunteers to assist with events, transportation, and other programs.
8. Woodbridge Public Schools: The Woodbridge Public Schools often need volunteers to assist with events, mentor students, and support educational programs.
9. American Red Cross of Woodbridge: The American Red Cross of Woodbridge provides emergency services and disaster relief and often needs volunteers to assist with disaster response, blood drives, and other programs.
10. Women Aware of New Brunswick: For those with Legal experience, Woman Aware needs pro-bono representation for orders of protection, and free training seminars for survivors on legal topics such as child custody, divorce, relocation, immigration, child support, and more. Also looking for general volunteer assistance for families affected by domestic violence in Middlesex County
11. New Beginnings Animal Rescue of East Brunswick: Looking for volunteers to assist with the morning crew at our cat adoption room. Duties include cleaning the cat cages/scooping litter,  feeding cats, and sweeping/mopping floors. You will be trained on the cleaning and feeding protocol. 
12. Angel PAWS of Colonia: Volunteers are needed to help out at our Colonia Pet Adoption Center. Must be cat-friendly. A few hours once a week with cleaning also.
13. Friends of Linden Animal Shelter: Looking for responsible people willing to help with am/pm cleaning shelter shifts.
14. The Green Cause Union County: The Green Cause strives to provide environmental education to youth by creating social media content or classroom-targeted lesson plans. Based on your interests and talents, you can join one of 4 teams.
    Environmental Education Team: Creates lesson plans for elementary and middle schools. Join this team if you’re interested in environmental research, lesson creation, or presenting to classrooms.
15. Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside: Multiple opportunities to help children and children programs at this hospital.
16. International Girls Academy in Newark: Multiple opportunities to volunteer to unite, uplift, and empower girls. Many projects that require assistance throughout the year such as collecting items for families in need, and writing thank you cards to name only a few.
17. All Stars Program in Newark: The All Stars Project, Inc. (ASP) is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting human development through the use of an innovative performance-based model. Often in need of volunteers for special events.
18. North Jersey Pride of Maplewood: Nonprofit organization that promotes equality, community and family in the upper Garden State. Often in need of volunteers for festivals, fairs, and other special events.
19. Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County: Habitat for Humanity in Monmouth County (HFHMC), an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, seeks to eliminate sub-standard housing and help low-income families achieve the dream of homeownership. Always in need of assistance at their ReStore as well as in home construction.
20. NJ Clean Communities: A non-profit organization that organizes town clean-ups with volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

These are just a few of the many organizations in the Woodbridge area that offer volunteer opportunities.
Contact them to learn more about their needs and how you can get involved.

Be sure to tell local businesses and events you found them 
on Macaroni Kid Greater Woodbridge 
and make sure to tell all your friends!