Bergen Volunteers Buzz
January 2020
What is the Buzz?
Bergen Volunteers Buzz is our monthly newsletter highlighting organizational news, events, updates, and volunteer opportunities. Look out for our newsletter at the beginning of every month to stay connected with your friends at
Bergen Volunteers!
It's National Mentoring Month!

Mentoring relationships have always been known to have positive results for mentees, but research also indicates these relationships have lasting positive outcomes for mentors as well.  As we celebrate National Mentoring Month here are some ways that you can participate:

On January 8, mentors and mentees are invited to reflect on ways their mentoring relationship enhanced their world by emailing testimonials to us here !

On January 20, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, mentors are encouraged to participate in service activities with their mentees. One suggestion for 5th-8th graders is an event called, We the People !

Upcoming Events
It's a Wrap!
January 14, 2020

All Wrapped Up donors join us to be recognized for your holiday giving and to meet your friends at Bergen Volunteers!
Register here .
Friday Forum:
Bergen County Update
January 31, 2020

Stay tuned for the name of our special guest speaker from the Bergen County Clerk's office!

Register here.

Exciting Volunteer Opportunities
Census 2020: An opportunity available once every 10 years!
Bergen Volunteers has teamed up with community partners in an effort to spread the word and move towards a complete count on the 2020 census. Data collected from the census is used to allocate more than $675 billion annually to support state, county, and community programs. These programs impact housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy initiatives in your community! Volunteer here to be on a Complete Count Committee!
Mentoring Opportunities
If you are interested in training to become a mentor we have a new mentor training on Saturday, January 25, 2020. We are especially seeking bilingual mentors to work alongside a mother, a father, a grandparent or a youth towards specific goals. Click here for more information and to submit and application to participate. 

Volunteers in Tax Assistance (VITA)
Learn to prepare income taxes and make a difference at the same time! Tax preparation will take place four Saturdays between February and April. Volunteers are asked to commit to help with a minimum of two sessions. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Volunteers are required to go through a 14-hour training program which can be a mix of in person and online sessions. The mandatory, in-person training sessions will be held on January 25 and February 1, 2020, at the Bergen Volunteer Center in Hackensack. Spanish or Korean speaking volunteers a plus. For further information about training or requirements, please contact us here.
Program Updates
All Wrapped Up
Thank you to all of our All Wrapped Up donors! This holiday season 25 Bergen County agencies submitted requests for 970 “hearts” (individuals) and 596 families. Over 3,000 total people including children, teens, adults and seniors received holiday support. More than 650 donors provided holiday cheer this season!
Successful Aging
Everyday our CHORE volunteers travel into the community to complete repairs that help seniors age safely in their homes. Our volunteers are trustworthy, reliable, and knowledgeable. In 2019 our CHORE volunteers completed 5,481 repairs! Our volunteers installed 823 grab bars and 177 railings! Thanks to our dedicated volunteers CHORE was able to help over 1,500 clients!
Bergen Volunteers bergenvolunteers.org