It may be hard to believe, but 2018 is quickly coming to an end. However, the opportunity to give back to the community is just ramping up. As the holidays approach, organizations around Hudson County need support. Check out the list of volunteer opportunities to lend a helping hand in your community.
Thursday, November 1st —The Rotary Club of Hoboken Gift of Life Dinner {33-41 Newark Street, Hoboken}
Hosted by the Hoboken Rotary Club, this event will provide an evening of music, food and drink. The event will run from 6:30PM-9:30PM and will benefit Gift of Life International. The mission of Gift of Life International is to provide life-saving medical treatment to children from emerging countries. Purchase tickets here.
Friday, November 2nd — Spaghetti Dinner by Coming Alongside: A Community Relief {14 Washington Street, Hoboken}
Paralysis is one of the many medical complications that plague the veteran community. This month, Hoboken is coming together to help a local, paralyzed veteran by selling spaghetti dinners from 4:30-7:00PM at St. Johnsonville Community House. Dinners are $8 and the proceeds will be used to purchase a handicapped wet room for showering.
Saturday, November 3rd — Liberty Humane Society Craft Beer & Whiskey Festival {1005 Washington Street, Hoboken}
Join Sphere Technology Solutions and the Liberty Humane Society for an evening of tasty food and an extensive tasting of beer and whiskey at the Hoboken Elks Lodge. Tickets are $40 in advanced and $50 at the door with all proceeds benefitting the homeless animals at the Liberty Humane Society. $5 plates will be available for purchase and the price of admission allows access to taste over 30 beers and spirits. Tickets can be purchased here.
Monday, November 5th — Broadway Night at Mile Square Theatre {1400 Clinton Street, Hoboken}
Head to the Mile Square Theatre for its Annual Fundraising Evening. Enjoy a night of food, drinks and singing of Broadway starts on the Mile Square Theatre stage. The doors will open at 7:00PM for guests to enjoy refreshments and the show will begin at 8:00PM. Tickets are $99 {$79 is tax-deductible} and can be purchased here. All proceeds will support MST’s professional productions and community programming.
Tuesday, November 6th — Moving Families from Thriving to Surviving {76 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City}
RENEW Life Center’s goal is to provide life strategies and skills to single mothers and young families. Join in on this great cause at the Liberty House Restaurant for an evening of fundraising and support this worthy cause. Business attire is the dress code for the evening. Cocktails will begin at 6:00PM followed by dinner and the program at 7:00pm. Purchase tickets here.
Wednesday, November 7th—Hoboken Historical Museum Fall Film Showcase {1301 Hudson Street, Hoboken}
Hoboken Historial Museum is hosting the third in a series of Fall Film Showcases from the Black Maria Film Festival global collection. Theme, films and special guests will be announced at a later date. Now in its 37th consecutive year, the Black Maria Film Festival focuses on diverse short films – narrative, experimental, animation, and documentary – including those, which address issues and struggles within contemporary society such as the environment, public health, race and class, family, sustainability, and more. The Black Maria Film Festival’s Hudson County Movie Tour is made possible through the generous support of The Hudson County Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs & Tourism, Gina Hulings, Director/Administrator. The film will start at 7:00PM.
Thursday, November 8th — Cheers to a Cure {1422 Grand Street, Hoboken}
Head to Kolo Klub to drink for an excellent cause. Together with the Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research, attendees will be able to socialize and mingle while supporting cancer research. Food, drinks, raffles and silent auction will be available throughout the evening. Tickets are $21.72 and can be purchased on here through Eventbrite.
See More: A Day of Volunteering at Goats of Anarchy {+ How You Can, Too}
Thursday, November 8th — 2018 RISE Celebration {210 Hudson Street, Jersey City}
Rising Tide Capital will be taking over the Harborside Atrium for the 2018 Rise Celebration to highlight leaders in the community through entrepreneurship. The evening will begin at 4:00PM with the celebration filled with music, food and drinks kicking-off at 7:00PM. Tickets for the Midnight Market reception are $75. For tickets and more information check out the website here.
Sunday, November 11th — Hoboken Historical Museum Veteran’s Day Event {1301 Hudson Street, Hoboken}
The Hoboken Historial Museum will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day in 1918 with a special Veterans Day event, “An American Soldier’s Journey Home,” a one-man show by local actor and creator Douglas Taurel based on an archive of letters by a doughboy, drawn from the Library of Congress. The show will begin at 4:00PM. For more information, check out the blog post here. Tickets are $20 for non-members $15 for Museum members. Be sure to purchase tickets quickly as there is a chance this event will sell-out.
Sunday November 11th — Hoboken Historical Museum Upper Gallery Art Show & Reception {1301 Hudson Street, Hoboken}
The Hoboken Historical Museum is opening a new art show in its Upper Gallery for artist James Fallon, with a free reception from 6:30PM-8:30PM. Fallon is a Hoboken resident and Vietnam Vet who who references WWI in many of his works and makes his art on paper from recycled military uniforms, which is called combat paper. His show is on view until Dec. 23, and is called Hudson County Then and Now. The show will use an augmented reality app and dozens of vintage postcards to show how much and how little our community has changed over the past 100+ years. This is a free event and is open to the public.
Monday, November 12th — Hoboken Housing Authority Family & Community Dinner {400 Harrison Street, Hoboken}
The second Monday of each month is Family & Community Dinner night at the Hoboken Housing Authority. Come to meet and celebrate residents of The Mile Square over a delicious meal. Head to their website to learn more about volunteer opportunities for this event as well.
Tuesday, November 13th – Hudson County Administration Building {595 Newark Avenue Rm# 901, Jersey City}
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures. For further information, visit the website.
Wednesday, November 14th — Join A Sustainability Team with SJC {280 Grove Street, Jersey City}
Join SJC—Jersey City’s Community Green Effort—in existing projects to help the city become more sustainable and energy efficient. The organization initiates collaborative neighborhood projects and allows those who want to be involved, become a part of a group that interests them most. Each meeting will begin with a quick overview and then attendees can break into smaller groups. The meeting will begin at 6:30PM and attendees are asked to register here.
Thursday, November 15th — Connect the Waterfront Fundraising Part {1422 Grand Street, Hoboken}
Every year the Fund for a Better Waterfront hosts a fundraising event to continue to make an impact on the community. Enjoy open bar, hors d’oeuvres, music by The Swingadelic Trio and a chance to win raffle prizes at Koko Klub. The 6th Annual Riparian Award will be given to The Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse and Noelle Thurlow or Resilience Paddle Sport for their great work in introducing recreational sports to thousands and for fostering the education of residents to uphold the beauty of the Hoboken Cove waterfront. The event will begin at 7:00PM and tickets can be purchased here.
Thursday, November 15th — A Decade of Decanting {1314 Washington Street, Hoboken}
Drinking for a good cause is something we can always get behind. Bin14 is celebrating its 10th Anniversary and is inviting you to take part. Head to the Hoboken hot spot for a wine tasting from over 20 wineries along with small plates. Portions of the Wine Bottle Raffle will benefit Hudson County CASA, which is a local non-profit committed to advocating for the best interest of foster children. The event will begin at 6:00PM and tickets are $50. For more information, check out the event Facebook page.
Friday, November 16th — Tomorrows with Soul {700 1st Street, Hoboken}
Northern Soul Kitchen & Bar is serving as the back-drop for tomorrow’s leaders making strides in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. The night will be filled with food, drinks, networking and live music. The event is hosted by and will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Hurry, because space is limited. Only 150 tickets are available. Tickets cost $60 and can be purchased here.
Friday, November 16th — Best Buddies Champion Gala {351 West Broadway, Paterson}
Best Buddies is an international organization whose mission is to create a global volunteer movement to create one-on-one friends, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Join the organization for their Annual Champion Gala to support the mission and hear more about the work they are doing. The event will take place at The Brownstone in Paterson and will begin at 7:00PM. Celebrate the impact Best Buddies has made in New Jersey. Tickets can be purchased here.
Saturday, November 17th — 5th Annual Turkey Trot 5K {Pier A Park — 100 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken}
Burn a few extra calories before carving the turkey with Hoboken’s Annual Turkey Trot 5K. The morning will start with a 1-mile fun-run at 9:30AM and will be followed by the 5K at 10:00AM. A portion of the proceeds will benefit various local charities in the area. Check out the registration page to sign up.
Sunday, November 18th—Hoboken Historical Museum Oral History Chapter Book Celebration {1301 Hudson Street, Hoboken}
Hoboken Historial Museum invites everyone to join in the celebration of its latest oral history chapbook featuring long-time resident Rose Orozco, who served as a nurse with an NGO during the Vietnam War, and who volunteers tirelessly for several organizations in town, including the local VFW hall. Check the museum’s site for additional information.
Wednesday, November 21st — AngelaCARES 8th Annual Thanksgiving Feed the Seniors {3044 Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City}
Every year, AngelaCARES is able to provide hundreds of home-bound seniors with a Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers are needed to help make Thanksgiving a happy one for the elderly community of Jersey City. Last year, this group was able to provide dinners for over 1,100 seniors. Volunteers are asked to register, and shifts will be assigned from 9:30AM to 8:00PM to assist with setting-up the food, packaging meals, making deliveries and cleaning up. Click here to register for the day. Volunteers will be contacted about their shifts. AngelaCARES is also in need of about 10 individuals to assist in preparing food the night before.
Thursday, November 27th — The Jubilee Center of Hoboken Giving Tuesday Cocktail Reception {601 Jackson Street, Hoboken}
The Jubliee Center of Hoboken is hosting a cocktail reception in honor of Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a designated moment to step back from the madness of Black Friday and remember one of the true reasons for the season, philanthropy. Take a visit to not only see their space, but to also enjoy complimentary beer, sparkling wine, soda, water, and light snacks. The Jubliee Center is an after school and summer program which supports the children of Hoboken’s Public Housing community. Donations are appreciated.
Wednesday, November 28th — Hudson CASA Volunteer Meeting Little City Books {100 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken}
Hudson County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA works through trained community volunteers to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes. Hudson County CASA volunteers are everyday people who make a direct impact in foster children’s lives. They are trusted, dedicated adults who seek to improve children’s well-being. CASA volunteers get to know their assigned child and his or her circumstances and provide valuable information to the court. Judges rely on the volunteers’ recommendations to make the best decisions about the children’s futures. For further information, visit the website.
Friday, November 30th–Act Now Foundation 2nd Annual Music & Memories Gala {3167 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen}
The Act Now Foundation Dementia Center presents its 2nd Annual Music & Memories Gala Fundraising Event. Since 2012, Act Now Foundation, a grass roots not-for profit, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, advocate and educate New Jersey about Alzheimer’s disease, prevention, and early detection. The Gala will provide an evening of dinner, cocktails and dancing. The evening will go from 7:00PM-11:00PM and will be held at The Boulevard in North Bergen. Cocktail attire is the dress code for the evening. Tickets can be purchased here.
Ongoing Opportunities:
St. Mathew’s Trinity Lutheran Church — Stop in to help serve lunch Monday through Thursday 8:00AM – 12:00PM
TRUEMentors—Join Jersey Cares in Mentoring & Enrichment in Hoboken every Tuesday from 6:00PM-8:00PM. Volunteers are asked to spend time with, mentor and manage children ages 7-17 on a weekly basis.
Hunger Helpers in Hoboken —Join JerseyCare at the Hoboken Shelter every Thursday to serve dinner. Volunteers are asked to dress casually and come excited to serve and engage in conversation with dinner guests. All volunteers must bring one of the following items for donation: garbage bags, coffee, hot/cold cups, paper/plastic plates, toilet paper, napkins, utensils {especially forks} and/or laundry detergent. Volunteers are needed from 11:00AM-3:00PM daily.
Big Brothers Big Sisters — If you have interest in fostering an on-going relationship with a local student, Big Brothers Big Sisters has the perfect opportunity. To start, head to their site to fill out an application before the interview process to ensure that you are a good fit. Time commitment is at least 1 year.
Have a new volunteer opportunity or know of one we missed? Let us know at hobokengirlhelps@gmail.com!
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