Helping Hands

by Editorial Staff--South Jersey Biz

The holidays are the perfect time to instill a philanthropic spirit in your workplace. Get the whole office involved in donating to a worthy cause, and it could go a long way toward helping those in need. It will also help you—and your employees—remember what’s most important.

Here are just a few of the places in our area that would welcome donations from your business, in the form of toys, food or clothing.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties
Holiday Giving, Sponsor a Family: Ends Dec. 12. Provide holiday gifts such as clothes, toys, scarves and gloves, games, gift cards, etc.
Holiday Food Baskets: Ends Dec. 19. Baskets and individual items will be accepted. Drop off for both drives at 100 Dobbs Lane, Suite 202, Cherry Hill.

Crossroads Programs
Holiday Gift Drive for Kids: Ends Dec. 16. The agency needs a commitment for each child ahead of time and will give the donor a wish list from the child. Contact Julie Carleton at Julie@crossroadsprograms.org or call (609) 880-0210 ext. 36 if you would like to contribute.

Drenk Center
Toy Drive and Adopt-a-Family: Ends Dec. 9. The Family Success Center will compile a wish list from Burlington County families. For more information, contact Jennifer Rodier at (609) 261-4001 or jrodier@drenk.org.

Family Service
Holiday Giving Drive: Ends Dec. 16. Donate gifts, hold a gift drive, or sponsor a family or group home. Contact Keyanna Turner for more information at (609) 267-5928 or e-mail keyannat@famserv.org. Drop off new, unwrapped gifts to Family Service, 770 Woodlane Road, Suite 23, Mt. Holly.

Food Bank of South Jersey
Food Drive: Ongoing. The Food Bank is in need of grain-based foods and items high in protein. If interested in donating holiday-specific food, items should be received at least a week in advance. Visit www.foodbanksj.org or call Dan Getman at (856) 662-4884 ext. 127 for information.

HFM Investment Advisors
Coat Drive: Ends Dec. 17. Coats will be donated to various Gloucester County charities. Drop off at the HFM office, 215 Fries Mill Road, Turnersville; Birches Elementary School, 416 Westminster Blvd., Turnersville; and Margaret E. Heggan Public Library, 606 Delsea Drive, Sewell.

Mental Health Association of Southwestern New Jersey
Holiday Drive: Accepted items include hats, scarves, gloves and socks; toiletries; $5 gift cards to Wawa; and $10 phone cards. Contact Merri Gomberg for more information at (856) 522-0639.

Urban Promise Ministries
Gift Drive for Kids: Gift ideas include sporting goods, remote-controlled cars, skateboards, board games, scooters, jewelry-making kits and gift cards. Contact Liz Getman for more information at (856) 382-1854.

Volunteers of America, Delaware Valley
Adopt-a-Family: Ends Dec. 16. You can choose a family or senior citizen. Cash donations are accepted. Contact Don Albertson for more information at (856) 854-4660 ext. 128.

United Way of Gloucester County
Toy Drive: Ends Dec. 10. The United Way is recruiting workplace donation sites for Toys for Tots. For information, contact Donna Fanticola at (856) 845-4303 ext. 13 or donnafanticola@uwgcnj.org.

YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties – Women’s Opportunity Center
Holiday Drive: Ends Dec. 12. Accepting food, gift cards, toys, clothing and family entertainment items. Call Cathy or Renee at (856) 234-6200 ext. 224 for information. Drop off at the Mount Laurel YMCA, 59 Centerton Road.

Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 1, Issue 11 (November, 2011).
For more info on South Jersey Biz, click here.
To subscribe to South Jersey Biz, click here.
To advertise in South Jersey Biz, click here.