News and Events
In the News:
FOOD DRIVE TOPS SIX TONS
The donations came by the bagful, case-full, even the barrel-full.
They came from schools, a hospital, nonprofit organizations and workplaces.
There was a mountain of canned vegetables, a pile of pasta and enough cereal to stock a supermarket aisle.
They were loaded by a team of volunteers, including the Gloucester County College baseball team.
And when the truck returned to the Food Bank of South Jersey, its weight was 12,450 pounds heavier.
By the end of the week, those cans and boxes will stock the shelves of thirty-five food pantries and, eventually, help feed hundreds of families in Gloucester County.
The fifth annual Gloucester County Cares About Hunger Food Drive included 75 partners (click here for list) and over 100 collection sites. Over the past five years, a total of 59,580 pounds of food has been donated and forwarded to the Food Bank to support food subsidy programs assisting county residents.
The drive is a collaboration of the United Way of Gloucester County, the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders - Human Service Advisory Council, the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, and the People for People Foundation.
"We greatly appreciate the literally thousands of individuals who assisted with this annual effort," stated Jere Hoffner, United Way Executive Director. "The Community's generous response will help the many families who struggle each and every day in these difficult times," he added.
In addition to the Food Bank shipment, approximately 500 pounds of pet food was collected for the Gloucester County Animal Shelter to assist families in need to help them maintain their pets.
GRANT POWERS TECHNOLOGY AT WOODBURY LIBRARY & HIGH SCHOOL
A $20,000 grant from the Public Service Enterprise Group Foundation to the United Way of Gloucester County will provide additional computers at the Woodbury Public Library and Woodbury High School Library to give students more access to the Homework Help New Jersey web-based tutorial program.
Homework Help New Jersey (HomeworkHelpNJ.org) provides real-time assistance for all grade levels and subjects, including college and adult education. Job seekers can access the site for assistance in writing a resume. The free service is accessible to anyone with a valid library card.
“We are grateful to the PSEG Foundation for their most recent contribution,” stated Jere Hoffner, United Way executive director. “This grant will make it make the Homework Help New Jersey program available to more students in the Woodbury school system and will enhance their academic performance.
The grant added four additional computers to the high school library to provide more access to the website“Many students don’t have access to a computer or the Internet at home and the workstations at the library and high school are in constant use,” Hoffner noted. “This project increases both facilities’ capacities and will help many additional students achieve more in school.”
UNITED WAY CONDUCTED TWO ENERGY AND ASSISTANCE EXPOS
Eighteen nonprofit organizations, utility companies and government agencies were represented at two United Way of Gloucester County Energy and Assistance Expos in October. The United Way, with assistance from Atlantic Electric Company and South Jersey Gas Company, organized these programs to help those in need of assistance learn about programs and services available.
The first expo was held on Thursday, October 15 at the Gloucester County Office Complex in Clayton. The second expo was held on Tuesday, October 20 at the National Guard Armory in Woodbury. Almost 300 county residents attended these two very successful programs.
Local utility companies provided information about energy assistance programs and conservation. Other agencies provided information on areas of basic services such as mortgage and rental assistance, emergency food, legal services, credit counseling, and low-cost health insurance.
In addition to United Way and the two utilities, agencies participating at the events included: Catholic Charities, Center for Family Services' First Call for Help, Community Action Partnership, Consumer Credit Counseling, Food Bank of South Jersey, Gloucester County Dept. of Social Services, Lowe's, New Jersey Cares, New Jersey Shares, Robins' Nest, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, South Jersey Legal Services, US Census Bureau, US Internal Revenue Service, and USDA Rural Development.
UNITED WAY PARTNERS PLAN TO INCREASE COUNTY’S VOLUNTEERISM
The economic downturn is having a serious affect on local governments and nonprofit organizations as they struggle with decreasing governmental and charitable support. To offset the loss of funding, organizations are increasingly relying upon volunteers to fill their resource shortfalls.
To ensure that there is an adequate supply of volunteers, the Volunteer Center of Gloucester County, the Community Service Corp. and the United Way are jointly undertaking a strategic planning process to increase volunteerism in communities throughout the county.
A community-wide meeting of organizations utilizing volunteers and providing volunteers has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM to recruit representatives to participate in the planning process.
Invitations are being forwarded to nonprofit and faith-based organizations, school systems and companies that maintain volunteer opportunities for their employees. Those who already volunteer will be welcome to participate, as well.
Subcommittees will be formed to assist in developing a strategic plan addressing four areas – recruitment, retention, utilization and recognition.
To gauge the effectiveness of the plan when it is implemented, a new software calculator developed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School Social Impact Consulting Group, will be used.
Study findings will create benchmarks for both the number of hours and the monetary value of those hours. This information will be useful in gauging the strategic plan’s effectiveness in encouraging more people to volunteer.
To register for the October 7 meeting, contact Donna Fanticola at the United Way of Gloucester County 856-845-4303 x 13 or donnafanticola@uwgcnj.org or download the registration form: Volunteer_Strategic_Planning.
NEW GRANTS SUPPORT UNITED WAY PROGRAMS
Grants from the Boeing Company and Public Service Electric & Gas have been received to support two of the United Way of Gloucester County’s Community Initiatives.
A grant of $20,000 from PSE&G will be used to increase local utilization of Home Work Help New Jersey, a web-based learning assistance program. Homework Help New Jersey provides real time help to elementary, middle and high school students in completing assignments. Funds will be used for promotional materials and activities to encourage children to access the service. It is part of the United Way of Gloucester County’s Education Initiatives.
A grant of $7,380 from the Boeing Company will provide computers and peripherals equipment to support the United Way’s collaborating with AARP income tax preparation volunteers. The United Way will provide space for the AARP tax assistance program from early February through April 15 of 2009. The free service is available for families with incomes of $42,000 or less. The collaboration is part of the United Way’s Financial Stability Initiative.
2009 CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF & BATTLE OF THE CORPORATE STARS
Campaign Chairman Ron Jaworski and over 400 enthusiastic volunteers & donors were on hand to kick-off the 2009 Campaign held on 8/20 at RiverWinds Community Center. Twenty-three teams vied for bragging rights and tested their athletic prowess as they competed in the friendly Battle of the Corporate Stars XVII.
While corporate teams participated in 7 athletic events, guests enjoyed a BBQ, face painting, games, tattoos, popcorn and cotton candy. DJ Papa John graciously provided the musical entertainment.
Reigning Champs, Valero Refining, defended their championship title; Sunoco was first runner-up, followed closely by Gloucester County College.
To see more photos, click HERE.
Annual Report (PDF)
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