A number of services that assist those in need are in short supply of people to help – particularly wrap-around services for seniors, food pantries and support of the healthcare system. While volunteer needs may be limited during the shelter-in-place order, the opportunities will greatly increase in the days and weeks after the order is lifted.
You shouldn’t volunteer if you are at risk. If you are immunocompromised, over 60, are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or live with or care for someone in any of those categories, you should avoid being in public, including for volunteer efforts.
If you are not in one of the risk categories and would like to volunteer to help New Jersey through this crisis, your skills are most needed at present to assist in one of these three critical areas: home delivered meals for elderly or otherwise vulnerable people, food pantries, and administrative or logistical support of the healthcare system.
In order to ensure the safety of the clients nonprofits serve, their staffs and other volunteers, a background check is required of all volunteers. Once you have completed registration on HelpNJNow, you will be sent information on how to complete the background check with Sterling Volunteers.
Once you have finished the registration process—and your background check has been completed—your contact information will be shared with any organization in your area that can utilize your skills and willingness to help. Those organizations will reach out to you directly, as soon as is possible, to discuss volunteering with them. As a volunteer you may be immediately matched to an agency needing support, or you may be kept in a reserve pool which agencies may draw from as needs arise over the coming weeks and months.
To register to volunteer, visit helpnjnow.communityos.org/?mc_cid=bf5cda8035&mc_eid=2ed33af2a0
If you are a qualified health, mental health or related professional and would like to volunteer, sign up at covid19.nj.gov/forms/volunteer.
