Thanksgiving Day Volunteer Opportunity

With no big plans this holiday, I thought it would be nice to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day - whether it's serving meals, helping at the pantry, donating baked goods, etc.  Any suggestions for which places do a Thanksgiving Day program and could use our help?  TIA

CaltoNJ said:
With no big plans this holiday, I thought it would be nice to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day - whether it's serving meals, helping at the pantry, donating baked goods, etc.  Any suggestions for which places do a Thanksgiving Day program and could use our help?  TIA

Good luck!  I tried volunteering every year I lived in Maplewood and I had no takers.  The best I was able to do was to donate turkeys to either Morrow Church or a Catholic church in West Orange (on Main Street, I think, can't remember the name).

There are a couple of ideas here:

http://www.njfamily.com/NJ-Places-You-Can-Volunteer-Thanksgiving-Week/

Its not easy to find a place to volunteer on Thanksgiving Day itself. Try these: 

http://www.jerseycares.org/HOC__Volunteer_Opportunity_Calendar_Page

www.facebook.com/NJVolunteerExchange

www.volunteermatch.org

Cooking and freezing, for later use at a soup kitchen or pantry, can be a great thing. PM me for some ideas if you are interested. 

Same here. At first it was because our boys were too young but when they matured, same thing. I gave up and I hate giving up when it comes to charity.

Thank you!  I did manage to find some volunteer opportunities for Thanksgiving but kids need to be at least 14, but this is a good start, I'm sure I'll be able to find some way to participate and contribute.  Any other suggestions though - keep them coming!

I'm also looking at the Adopt a Family program in Bergen County - I've searched for one a little more local but didn't find any.  If you know of one that serves communities a little closer to Maplewood, please let me know.

Serve Thanksgiving lunch at a nursing home in Newark.

Help carry food from a designated location to a homeless shelter in NYC.

Another way to help is to volunteer at a fund-raiser 5K or other event. Volunteers help with registration, parking, acting as course marshals and hand out water, and kids are  welcome. The money raised through registration fees and donations goes to a good cause.  For example, there is a 5k to benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry of Morris County and Literacy Volunteers of MoCo. on Thanksgiving morning. A 5K in Upper Saddle River is acting as a collection point for linens for a shelter. 

I would LOVE to help out at the senior home - but they require all volunteers to be 16 - I might call and see if there are any exceptions or if there is another way we can help.  Thank you - all these suggestions are really helpful!

This just in from Essex County Place - this is in Orange nj

Please spread the word
to your neighbors in need that Mayor Warren and the Orange Fire Department are hosting a community dinner for those who are less fortunate during this holiday season.
Orange Fire Department Annual Thanksgiving Celebration
On Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26, 2015 • 11:00 am – 2:00 pm...
419 Central Ave. Orange NJ 07050

For more information or to volunteer,
please contact Orange Fire Department at 973-266-4230