Bergen County Volunteer Center Needs Help for the Holidays

Each holiday season, the Volunteer Center for Bergen County hosts its "All Wrapped Up Program" that matches donors with Bergen County's neediest individuals and families to provide holiday gifts. 

But while requests from families in need have increased this year, the number of donors are "way down," said Debbie Emery, Program Director for Community Volunteer Services at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  

The Volunteer Center currently has 489 donors versus the 615 donors that they had at this time last year. 

"This season is absolutely the toughest season we've ever seen," Emery said. "We have more individuals and families in need than ever before."

As of Monday, the Volunteer Center had requests from non-profit and government agencies to help 4,000 needy people, ranging from infants, to the disabled, to the elderly and "everyone in-between," Emery added.

Emery said the Volunteer Center works with approximately 42 non-profit agencies that do not have access to support for their neediest clients from any other means. The Volunteer Center matches these clients with individuals, families, civic groups, corporations, and business associations that wish to "adopt" an individual or family in need during the holiday season. 

Some of the agencies that the Volunteer Center deals with are homes for frail seniors and the Division of Youth and Family Services.

"Foster care parents are only responsible for room and board," Emery said. "Not holiday presents."

The "All Wrapped Up" program has three donor programs to choose from: 

• Adopt-a-Family: Families range in size from two people to large, extended families. If you adopt a family, Emery suggests that you purchase a supermarket gift certificate, an article of clothing for each member of the family and a toy or toys for the children. Plan to spend approximately $50 per family member. Emery said that this is only a guideline to help you plan — many donors spend far more and some do not spend as much.
• Heart to Heart: If your budget is small or you would like to concentrate your efforts on just one person, you have the option of "adopting" an individual through the Heart-to-Heart program. You may specify a child, adult, senior citizen or disabled individual. Requests for these individuals include food, clothing and gifts. Plan to spend approximately $50 for each individual that you "adopt." 
• Gift Card Donations: Many "All Wrapped Up" recipients need assistance with food as well as gifts. Also, not every client is able to be matched with a donor. Individual or families left at the end of the program will receive a gift card for the holidays. Shoprite, Target, and Pathmark gift cards are needed.
• Cash Contribution: Many individuals and families need assistance with food and utility bills, and many parents would cherish the opportunity to purchase gifts for their children themselves. Your cash contribution will be used to purchase gift certificates or pay utility bills. 

To become a donor, complete a short donor form before being matched. For an individual or family donor form, click here. For a group or corporate donor form, click here. 

For more information, contact Debbie Emery at 201-489-9454, ext. 118.