Note From Nina

Every day when welcoming us to the neighborhood, the beloved Mr. Rogers always told his audience when he was feeding his fish. In "Dear Mister Rogers, Does it Ever Rain in Your Neighborhood?," a collection of letters received by him from children throughout his career, one letter reads: 

Dear Mister Rogers, Please say when you are feeding your fish, because I worry about them. I can’t see if you are feeding them, so please say you are feeding them out loud. Katie, age 5. (Father’s note: Katie is blind, and she does cry if you don’t say that you have fed the fish.) 

From that day forward, Mr. Rogers always narrated when he fed the fish.

Yogi Berra said, "little things make a big difference." The lesson is all around us, on a daily basis.  A change in how a sentence is structured can change the impact of that statement or give it different meaning. Picking up litter can make a neighborhood beautiful and fill a community with pride. Drinking a little more water each day can improve your health. And a little girl can have the confidence that the fish are well fed and a-okay. 

Never underestimate the power of each of you to do little things and make a big difference. Here's hoping for a year filled with promise, hope, and the joy of making someone's life just a little better, one small moment at a time.

Warmly,

All Wrapped Up

This holiday season, thanks to our generous donors, we were able to give gifts to almost 600 families and over 1,000 individuals. With the families having 3 to 9 people in them, that is thousands of people who received gifts! We cannot tell you enough how appreciative we are of our communities and the way they come together to support those in need. You have brought joy "to kids from 1 to 92" and more!

We want to share with you a message we received from one gift recipient. She received her gifts last week.

"They gave me a bag filled with goodies, and I just wanted to tell you thank you. I am going to be 75 and I am all by myself, and I don't have any family to support me. Fortunately, I am a positive person with a good outlook, but you still feel bad at times. Not really getting any presents at Christmas from my family and being alone on Christmas day can be hard. I wanted to tell you thank you very much for the gifts, and the handmade card. It means so much to me. Thank you very much. I hope we all have a healthy and safe New Year."

We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

If you would like to volunteer for CHORE, contact Michele at 201.489.9456 or email mogden@bergenvolunteers.org.

CHORE

Changing a light bulb might seem like a simple task. In fact, it is probably a task most of us take for granted. However, for some seniors and individuals with disabilities, climbing up on a ladder or chair to change a bulb in a ceiling light is a far too dangerous risk. Our CHORE teams complete a variety of tasks for our clients, including changing light bulbs. No one should be sitting in the dark every night, especially during the winter months when darkness comes at an early hour. The tasks our volunteers perform, both big and small, improve the quality of life for our clients.

For more information on the services provided by CHORE click here.

Questions? Contact Michele at mogden@bergnvolunteers.org or call 201.489.9456.

Our CHORE teams make repairs and installations 5 days a week for seniors and individuals with disabilities, helping them to remain safely in their homes. The labor is free, but the clients cover the cost of materials. Sometimes clients are unable to afford the materials, including:

• Batteries for smoke detectors
• Locks for front doors
• Plumbing supplies
• ...and more.

Money raised for the Rainy Day Fund will be used to buy materials for those who cannot afford them.

To contribute to the Rainy Day Fund click the button below and select Rainy Day Fund for the designation.

Thank you for your support!

CHEER

Thank you to everyone who brought joy to our CHEER clients throughout the holiday season. From All Wrapped Up gifts to handmade cards from the students in the Garfield School District, our clients felt the caring and support from hundreds of people. The holiday season can be a challenging time of year. Thank you for making it brighter.

"It's like they really knew me and what gifts would make me so happy. I received so much, including items for my two dogs which I think is just so special, that a total stranger would think of me and my dogs during the holidays."

~Paula, CHEER Client

For more information on CHEER, or to volunteer, click here.

Mentoring

In December, we celebrated our annual holiday party for mentors, mentees, and mentees’ families. All food and dessert was prepared, donated, and delivered by our friends at Care One Ridgewood Avenue of Paramus. The fabulous entertainment was provided by our friend Scott Reddin. And all of our mentees left with tons of generous gifts from donors through the All Wrapped Up program. We are so grateful to everyone who made our event a success.

January is National Mentoring Month! It is a great time to recognize the impact mentoring has on other people’s lives. Our mentors help to support, engage, and inspire their mentees and we are so very grateful for all that they do for our program. This month, and all year long, we celebrate our amazing mentors! Thank you for making a difference!  

Would you like to make a difference in someone else’s life? Our next Mentor Training will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 9am - 3pm. To be considered for the program, please click the button below.

To learn more about our mentoring program, please visit our website at www.bergenvolunteers.org/mentoring. Questions? Contact Lisa Tredici at ltredici@bergenvolunteers.org.

Do you need support and help getting back into the swing of things? Are you a single parent, first generation college student, foster parent, student, senior, or caring for a senior? Our mentors are here to help you. Sign up for a mentor today. It is free and open to the public.

Bergen READS

We are thrilled to welcome 24 new volunteers for the Bergen READS program to help students in the Hackensack and Teaneck Elementary schools with literacy and COVID learning loss. Thank you for your generosity of time and spirit!

To learn more about Bergen READS, please reach out to Lisa Tredici at ltredici@bergenvolunteers.org.

Redefining Retirement Information Session

January 19, 2022

10am-11am via Zoom



Are you looking for ways to repurpose your skills and life experiences?

During our information session, liaisons will offer attendees insight into the nonprofit community, showing how new retirees can utilize their expertise and skills towards volunteer service.

Volunteers are needed for many roles across our member agencies. We will help you find the right opportunity for an enjoyable and worthwhile volunteer experience.

For more information on Redefining Retirement email retirement@bergenvolunteers.org.

Would you like to share your retirement volunteering story? Contact Melissa at melissal@bergenvolunteers.org or 201.221.4705.

Meet Mentoring Volunteer Dennis

In honor of National Mentoring Month, we are pleased to spotlight a very special Mentor this month.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a married father of two adult children, 29 and 27. I recently retired from 40 years working in corporate America.

Why did you want to become a volunteer?

I have served on NGO’s in a board capacity in the past. Serving on a board is a wonderful and satisfying experience, though I always felt too far removed from the clients or mission we were serving. Volunteering to be a mentor closes that gap. The one to one relationship enables me to see the positive impact I can make on a much more personal level. 

What led you to Bergen Volunteers?

I did some research and discovered that Bergen Volunteers is a leader in developing innovative volunteer programs. 

How has your volunteer experience been so far?

It has been incredible. The staff is supportive, inspiring, and helpful. The training I received in the beginning helped set me up for success. I was fortunate to be matched with a mentee rather quickly. 

Has there been a moment, while volunteering for Bergen Volunteers, that has inspired you or moved you?

One day during a check-in my coach shared with me a conversation she had with my mentee’s parent. The update from my mentee’s mom was how much her child has grown since becoming a mentee. He was more attentive in school, more cooperative at home, and more positive about the future. His mom credits the mentee program for the positive changes she sees in her son. I was floored. 

Would you recommend volunteering with Bergen Volunteers to others?

Absolutely! It is a life enriching experience. 

Are you interested in being featured in an upcoming Volunteer Spotlight?

Click the button below to complete the form. All submission will be considered for upcoming spotlights.

At Bergen Volunteers we are committed to becoming a strategic partner to all nonprofits by helping each organization to fulfill its mission.

Benefits of Agency Membership include:

• Get Connected Database Access
• List an unlimited number of volunteer opportunities
• Personalized landing page
• Report access
• Easy connectivity to volunteers and those who have viewed listings
• Access to the Community Calendar, post events and volunteer needs
• Support for volunteer recruitment
• Matching services supported by Redefining Retirement
• Volunteer fair opportunities
• One hour consultation on volunteer management
• Quarterly Volunteer Managers' Roundtables
• Highlighted in our monthly e-newsletter
• Social media sharing
• Opportunities to utilize meeting space
• Opportunities for marketing assistance

To learn more about Agency Membership click here or contact Melissa at melissal@bergenvolunteers.org or 201.221.4705.

Stryker takes great pride in supporting the community.

In December, Stryker participated in both our Warm A Heart drive and our holiday gift giving program. The generosity of the team at Stryker is incredible! They collected more than 200 toys and 20 Warm A Heart bags filled with cold weather comforts for the seniors in our CHEER and CHORE programs. These donations mean so much to those who we serve.

We are grateful for Stryker's partnership.

To collaborate with Bergen Volunteers, email Jodi Murphy at jmurphy@bergenvolunteers.org.

Donor Spotlight 

We are grateful for all of the donations we receive throughout the year. While we don't expect any donations from our clients, it warms our hearts to know that they appreciate our volunteers and all that we do to help them remain safely in their homes.

Giving Opportunities

Planned gifts are a wonderful way to carry on your legacy and commitment to Bergen Volunteers and our mission. Planned gifts, including major and legacy gifts, involve creative and flexible strategies for your estate and charitable planning. Some terms of planned giving even provide you with income - and many can reduce your taxes.

For more information contact Jodi at jmurphy@bergenvolunteers.org.

Thank you for supporting the work of Bergen Volunteers!

The work we do at Bergen Volunteers would not be possible without the support of our generous donors. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and everyone of you for helping us to make a difference.

This January, please consider donating to Bergen Volunteers. Your donations have a direct impact on the lives of others.

Your contribution of…

• $150 supports one grocery gift card for a CHEER client in need.
• $250 provides training materials for Mentoring to recruit and onboard new mentors to connect with at risk individuals.
• $500 supports a Bergen READS class for one full school year.
• $1,000 supplies grab bars, banisters, and other safety equipment for our CHORE volunteers to do installations and repairs in the community.

Your donation helps us provide critical services to the Bergen County community.