Great Volunteer and Giving Ideas in Hoboken, New Jersey

Hoboken is a diverse town of old-time families, young professionals, and elderly residents, and it encompasses the wealthy and the poor. There are plenty of great opportunities in the city to contribute to the community, whether you make donations of money and material items, or want to volunteer your time and expertise. Here are a few of the most worthwhile opportunities for donations.

Hoboken Boys & Girls Clubs: The club provides after-school activities for children of all school ages. To fund these activities it gets funding from the state, the national Boys & Girls Club of America, and citizen and corporate donations. The club offers youth achievement centers, a "young enterprisers" program to encourage focus on emerging careers, basketball programs, a chess clinic, educational and technology programs, and more. To encourage reading, the club is seeking to start a book club and reading groups to encourage kids to read more.

Donations can be made to the club, or by purchasing one of more than 300 books on the club's wishlist at Amazon.com.

The Friends of the Hoboken Library: Though not affiliated with the LIbrary, this volunteer group is dedicated to supporting the library and its services to residents. The Friends publicize the Library's programs, raise funds for the Library though book sales and sale of LIbrary-related merchandise, and sponsor special events such as a College Bowl-type quiz content, with books offered as prizes.

The Friends also offer regular classes in English as a second language. Membership in the group can cost as little as $10 a year, and the Friends welcome donations of books for its periodic book sales. People are also needed to volunteer to staff the book sales and the Friends' table at the twice-yearly Hoboken Arts & Music Festival. You can also volunteer at events such as the holiday gift wrap and English-language classes.

The Hoboken Shelter: For 25 years the Shelter has provided a safe haven for the homeless of Hoboken and surrounding communities. The Shelter serves dinner seven nights a week and lunch twice during the week-a total of 200 meals a day-and houses 50 people each night. The Shelter relies on the support of donations from individuals and organizations in the community; people are always needed to volunteer for preparing and serving dinner, making brown-bag lunches, and more. Donations of money are needed as well, and donations of food, toiletries, books, movies, and clothing are also accepted.

The Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps: The Corps is always looking for new members, and a new volunteer can begin riding during his or her training, once certified in CPR. The Corps offers CPR courses regularly and also provides free EMT training for those who choose to volunteer. People can also volunteer to help with clerical work. The Corps accepts cash donations of any size.

Friends of the Hoboken Charter School: The Hoboken Charter School has moved into its new building, and needs donations of supplies of all kinds: bookshelves, furniture, computers, books, CDs, art supplies, and office equipment. The non-profit Friends arranges for donations to the School and will give donors a letter acknowledging their tax-deductible donations of furniture, equipment, etc. and will even arrange pick-up.

The Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA: Besides being a hub of activity where adults and children can work out, take aerobics classes, and swim, the Y is one of the largest contributors to the Hoboken community. In 2004 it provided more than $20,000 in scholarships to children, teens, and adults who qualified for financial assistance. In November 2006 it began offering a teen center on Saturday nights where young people can take advantage of an open gym, fitness equipment and classes, a game room, and more.

Money is always needed to keep the Y operating, and it accepts cash donations any time. The Y sometimes needs people to volunteer with the summer camp and other youth programs.