Princeton University employees interested in volunteer opportunities sponsored by Princeton University groups or local community organizations can send their name and email address to Melissa Mercuro at [email protected] to be added to the Community Volunteer Listserv. Community volunteer emails will provide descriptions of events, number of volunteers needed, amount of time required, and contact information. Employees can commit to activities of interest and these opportunities will be on the their own time and require permission from their supervisor if during work hours.
A sample of local community organizations who are in need of volunteers on a regular basis are listed below.
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Arm in Arm
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Arm in Arm serves some 1,400 families and individuals each month from two accessible locations. The organization’s core program areas are: Homelessness Prevention, Hunger Prevention, and Workforce Development.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Make home food deliveries
- Coordinate a Food Drive, Personal Care Products Drive, or Household Products Drive
- Help unload the Arm in Arm delivery truck
- Help Stock shelves after a donation drive
- Assist in the food bank
Contact Becca Jensen Compton at (609) 396-9355 x35 or [email protected]
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Center for Modern Aging Princeton
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Center for Modern Aging Princeton is a community nonprofit organization that exists to help older adults thrive. This mission is carried out by offering support and guidance to older adults and their families, compassionate social services, dynamic lifelong learning, and meaningful volunteer opportunities that promote active, healthy, and engaged aging for adults aged fifty-five and above.
Volunteer opportunities:
- HomeFriends: Volunteers visit with homebound adults
- Grandpals: Read to kindergarten children
- Front desk & Events: Greet our participants, answer phones, set up and clean up
- Evergreen Forum: Technology Assistants for courses taught by college professors
- Vaccine Navigators: Assist the aged 55+ population with accessing vaccine appointments
- Tech Lab: Technology assistance for older adults
Contact Z Zubsutz, at (609) 751-9699 or [email protected]. More information is available on their website.
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Community Housing Services of America
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CHSA Inc is a non-profit housing counseling agency based in Trenton, NJ. Our organization aims to provide affordable and sustainable housing solutions to low and moderate-income families. We started our operations in Trenton to address the significant gap in homeownership rates compared to the national average. Our mission is to help families in our target market who are currently renting or are first-time homebuyers.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Community outreach
- Making phone calls to local organizations to foster partnerships
- Promote upcoming events
- Donate professional expertise
Contact Edwin Botchway at 856-857-7027 or [email protected]
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Cornerstone Community Kitchen
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Cornerstone Community Kitchen, located at 7 Vandeventer Ave., offers weekly free and nutritious meals in a friendly atmosphere. In addition to providing meals, Cornerstone Community Kitchen also has a free "clothing store".
Volunteer opportunity:
- Serve meals
- Assist in free clothing store
For more information, visit princetoncornerstone.com. Contact 609-924-2613 or [email protected]
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D & R Greenway Land Trust
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D&R Greenway Land Trust works to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic in central New Jersey.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Volunteers are needed to assist projects like Capital City Farm, Citizen Scientists, New Jersey Trails. Native Plant Nursery and Willing Hands.
- Further opportunities at drgreenway.org/volunteer
Contact Karen Freundlich at 609-924-4646 or [email protected]
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Friends of Princeton Open Space
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Friends of Princeton Open Space has established parkland and created a network of trails since 1969. FOPOS is headquartered in the house at Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Create and maintain hiking trails (weekends)
- Schedule a Community Service Day for your group
- Help with fieldwork:
- Monday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 8: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 9: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 15: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 17: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 22: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 29: 1:30-3:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Dec 1: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Contact 609-921-2772 or [email protected]
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Greenwood House Hospice
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Greenwood House provides senior and health care services that includes nursing care, rehabilitation services, assisted living, homecare services and hospice care.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Patient contact volunteers
- Administrative volunteers
- Bereavement services volunteers
Contact Lisa Cox at 609-883-6026 or [email protected].
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Habitat for Humanity
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Habitat for Humanity believes everyone, everywhere, should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. More than building homes, they build communities, hope, and the opportunity for families to help themselves.
Volunteer opportunity:
- Construction. Volunteers do not have to have any construction experience and are provided all the tools and safety gear needed for the day. Water and sun screen is available at the construction site.
Contact Rebecca Nichols at 856-439-6717 x 2 or [email protected]
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Historical Society of Princeton
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This Historical Society of Princeton is dedicated to the preservation of Princeton's history. HSP develops programs that build connections to the past. It is headquartered at Updike Farmstead.
Volunteer Opportunity:
- Unity Garden: Volunteers tend the organic garden at Updike Farms, including watering and picking produce. Produce is donated to the Cornerstone Community Kitchen at Princeton United Methodist Church.
Contact Kristen Lombardo at 609-921-6748 x106 or [email protected]
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HomeFront
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HomeFront is dedicated to ending homelessness in Central New Jersey. The organization's FreeStore is a store where clients can go to shop for clothing, professional attire, household items, toys and more at no cost to them.
Volunteer opportunities:
- FreeStore: Sort incoming donations and organizing the store (maximum: 10 volunteers).
- Food Pantry: Prepare food bags, sort donations, check expiration dates
- SewingSpace: Cut fabric, organize sewing materials, and help clients prep their projects
Contact 609-989-9417 or [email protected]
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HomeWorks Trenton
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HomeWorks Trenton runs a free, community-based, after-school residential program for Black and Brown high school girls in Trenton, New Jersey. HomeWorks' mission is to inspire and equip young women from marginalized communities to achieve their potential and positively transform the world around them by providing a supportive and educational residential environment.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Tutoring
- Individual Volunteer
- Corporate Volunteer
If interested, please contact [email protected] or visit https://www.homeworkstrenton.org/volunteer.
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Jewish Family and Children's Service
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The Jewish Family and Children's Service strengthens individuals and families by empowering people to care for themselves and others through a wide range of high-quality social services and programs.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Food Pantry: Prepare food bags, shop for groceries for seniors
- Mobile Food Pantry: Assist with distributions and deliver meals to homebound seniors
- Coordinate a food drive
Contact Eden Aaronson at 609-987-8100 or [email protected].
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Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund
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LALDEF focuses on the root causes of immigrant marginalization. They seek to empower immigrants to reach self-sufficiency and thrive, by showing them how to navigate the system and find the resources they need.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Legal intake volunteers assist clients with filling out forms and collecting documents. No legal experience is required.
- Client advocates assist clients in filing wage theft claims, applying for health insurance, enrolling children in school, and more.
- ID card volunteers help staff to process and distribute the Mercer County Area Community ID Card.
- Tutors and mentors for our FUTURO college preparation program support and guide first and second-generation high school students in their pursuit of higher education.
- Tutors may also support a variety of adult education initiatives.
Complete the Volunteer Interest Form or contact [email protected].
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LifeTies
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LifeTies, Inc. is a supportive network of professional staff and trained volunteers dedicated to creating programs for youth to overcome the effects of abuse, neglect or homelessness. Our programs offer a nurturing, safe environment to heal, learn and become equipped with the tools to work towards a brighter future.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Skilled volunteers in college and career counseling, tutoring, life skills, and health and wellness
Contact Loren Greene at 609-414-2083 or [email protected]
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Meals on Wheels of Mercer County
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Meals on Wheels of Mercer County works to assist individuals to maintain independence, dignity, health and well-being by providing comprehensive nutrition services and helping ease social isolation. Most of their participants are seniors and homebound. Their service area is Ewing, Trenton, Lawrenceville, Hamilton, Princeton, East Windsor, West Windsor and Hightstown.
Volunteer opportunity:
- Meal delivery - Volunteers deliver over 250 meals every day, Monday through Friday between 10am-12:00pm. Volunteers pick up meals at Rider University in Lawrenceville and follow a route that takes about 1-1/2 hours to complete. Volunteers enjoy getting to know the participants, and the participants appreciate the meal and the daily conversation.
Contact Lisa Kasabach, Director of Volunteer Services at 609.695.3483, ext. 103 or visit www.mealsonwheelsmercer.org.
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Mercer Street Friends
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Mercer Street Friends is a multi-faceted human service agency that assists Mercer County residents who face the challenges and impacts of poverty. Their programs target food insecurity, family wellness, youth enrichment and community building. Mercer Street friends also operate a preschool and food bank.
Volunteer opportunities:
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Preschool (1201 West State St., Trenton): Volunteers groups are welcome to spend a morning at the center assisting with classroom and outdoor activities. (maximum of 10; unless supervised in a group, volunteers must be 18 years of age.)
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Food Bank (824 Silvia St, Ewing): Assemble, sort, and pack
Preschool: contact Lisa Banks at 609-656-5220 or
[email protected]
Food Bank: contact Brian Peterson at 609-406-0503 or
[email protected] -
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Morven Museum & Garden
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A National Historic Landmark, Morven is situated on five pristine acres in the heart of Princeton, New Jersey. This former New Jersey Governor’s Mansion showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Garden State through regular exhibitions, educational programs and special events.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Gardening
- Administrative tasks
- Assisting education programs and special events
Contact 609-924-8144 or [email protected]
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One Simple Wish
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One Simple Wish was founded by a foster/adoptive parent who wanted to empower more people to support children who've been victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment in very simple yet meaningful ways. The organization's website hosts a list of hundreds of wishes posted on behalf of foster children and at-risk youth all over the United States. All wishes are under $500 with most ranging from $10-$100.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Write thank you notes
- organize Wish parties
- participate in Wish-A-Thons
Contact 609-883-8484 or [email protected]
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Princeton Mobile Food Pantry
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Princeton Mobile Food Pantry (PMFP) provides deliveries of fresh, culturally relevant groceries, essentials, and support to Princeton Public School families.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Assist with packing deliveries
- Assist with deliveries
- Assist with the promotion of PMFP
- Assist with connecting with potential partners
- Donate professional services or products: grant writing, photography, editing, etc.
Contact Amanda Arshan at [email protected] or complete the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry Volunteer Sign up Form.
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Princeton Nursery School
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Princeton Nursery School is a small, nonprofit childcare and preschool center providing low to moderate income working parents with affordable tuition rates for needed childcare services. The school's staff works to assure that each child regardless of race or first language has a quality preschool education.
Volunteer opportunity:
- Serve as classroom or office assistant
Contact Rosonda Wong at 609-921-8606
or [email protected] -
Princeton Young Achievers
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An aftercare program run by the Princeton YMCA (A Branch of the Greater Somerset YMCA) The Princeton Young Achievers program is Princeton’s only afterschool that provides homework help and academic enrichment for children from low-to-moderate income families. The program is based in Princeton public elementary schools and the Marcy T. Crimmins Learning Center.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Childcare
- Tutoring/Mentoring
- Literacy skills
Contact Claudia Orostizaga at 609-497-9622 x210 or [email protected]
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Rescue Mission of Trenton
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The Rescue Mission operates an emergency shelter and provides addiction services and housing for those in need in Trenton.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Assist with serving meals
- Organize a clothing drive, Food Drive, or Hygiene Kit Drive
- Donate professional expertise
Contact Niki Graham at (609) 695-1436 ext. 129 or [email protected]
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SAVE
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SAVE operates as a limited admission shelter with contracts to serve Princeton Township, Princeton Borough and Lawrence Township animal control centers.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Cage cleaning
- Socialization
- Dog walking/training
- Off-site adoption events
New volunteers must attend an orientation, which is hosted host twice a month. Call the shelter to schedule an orientation at 609-309-5214
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Senior Care Services of Greater Princeton
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Senior Care Services of Greater Princeton engages volunteers to assist home-bound seniors to age gracefully in place and to preserve their independence by providing transportation, food shopping and friendly visits.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Assisting with transportation to health and medical-related appointments within a ten-mile radius of Princeton.
- Food shopping services for the elderly who live within a ten-mile radius of Princeton
- Friendly visits with a home-bound elderly person
Contact 609-921-8888 or [email protected]
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Special Olympics New Jersey
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Special Olympics New Jersey is a non-profit organization that provides sports training and athletic competition to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. SONJ host free sporting events at its sports complex located in Lawrenceville.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Special Olympics New Jersey needs volunteers at athletic competitions throughout the year. Check the website for upcoming competitions. Sign-ups can be done through their website: sonj.org
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Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
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TASK provides more than 3,000 free meals per week to people in need in the Trenton area. The organization directs its activities toward helping patrons achieve healthier lifestyles, increased self-esteem, and self-sufficiency.
Volunteer Opportunity:
- Help serve a meal for the South Trenton Soup Kitchen. Volunteer slots are available daily, Monday through Saturday from 9:45 am-12:45 pm, Monday-Thursday from 3-4:45 pm, and Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am-1:00 pm. All volunteers must be fully vaccinated and at least thirteen years old.
To volunteer, please register through their website: trentonareasoupkitchen.org
Contact [email protected]
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United Way of Greater Mercer County
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The United Way works everyday to advance the common good by focusing on children, families, seniors, and individuals in three areas: education, income, and health.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Host a book drive
- Build literacy kits
- Build S.T.E.A.M. kits
- Build anti-bullying kits
Contact Denise Daniels at 609-896-1912 or
[email protected] -
University Volunteer Firefighters
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Princeton University’s Volunteer Fire program partners with the local municipality volunteer firefighter program to assure round the clock fire protection to the community.
Volunteer opportunity:
- University employees participate and provide service to Princeton during daytime hours. Certified fire fighters are welcome as are those with interest in serving but no experience.
Contact [email protected]
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UrbanPromise Trenton
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UrbanPromise Trenton believes in the power of opportunity. Through our afterschool program we provide urban youth and teens with a chance to believe and build a positive future. Providing Trenton’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, growth, and leadership.
Volunteer opportunity:
- Volunteers are an integral part of our students' success. We are looking for individuals who would like to help the students in the Trenton community gain equity in their education. Whether you have a few hours to help tutor or volunteer each week, your help is invaluable.
To volunteer complete the online volunteer interest form or email [email protected]
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Womanspace
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Womanspace works to decrease the isolation and increase the safety for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Clients present a diversity of needs - from the emergency need for safety to the long-term need for housing and counseling.
Volunteer opportunity:
- Volunteers are needed to assist victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence in their time of crisis. Hybrid trainings are conducted twice a year and run for 7 weeks each. Upon the successful completion of training, the commitment entails signing up for at least 2 six-hour shifts a month and participating in a monthly 90 minute Peer Group Meeting.
Contact Sheilagh Mescal Gunstensen at 609-394-0136 or [email protected]. Volunteer forms can be completed on their website.
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YWCA Princeton
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YWCA Princeton's mission is to eliminate racism and empower women.
Volunteer opportunities:
- High School Equivalency Test Preparation Instructors for language arts and reading
- High School Equivalency Test Preparation Instructors for mathematics
- High School Equivalency Test Tutors
- ESL Tutors/Conversation Partners/Workshop Facilitators
Contact Heledona Katro at 609-497-2100 x322 or [email protected]