Snuggle with cats, visit a vet, help build homes; 11 places to volunteer in South Jersey

In the spirit of holiday season, it’s always fun to think about gift giving and receiving gifts.

Or getting together with family and friends to celebrate the season.

But something that can be really rewarding is volunteering with a local nonprofit.

There are plenty of opportunities — everything from animal welfare, food banks or pantries, veteran’s homes, nursing homes and much more.

The first step is contacting the organization you’re interested in volunteering with and seeing what their requirements are. Some may require that you come in for training ahead of time, for example.

Here are 11 places in South Jersey to volunteer over the holidays:

Animal Welfare Association, Voorhees

Volunteers at this nonprofit, no-kill shelter may assist in three main program areas of the organization: on-site in the pet shelter and clinic; within the community through outreach programs and special events; and by becoming a foster parent, its website explains.

Volunteers may assist in both animal handling and clerical roles, including welcome desk greeter, cat socialization, dog walking, animal care assistance.

Community outreach programs include food pantry, fairs and festivals, pet therapy, tabling and small events. Volunteers can assist in various aspects of AWA’s large events.

Beacon of Hope, Mount Holly

Founder Darlene Trappier’s nonprofit is primarily a food pantry, but also provides clothes, shelter, and life skills training to people in need, the website states.

It encourages people to “volunteer and make a difference in your community to enrich the lives of others.”

Those interested in volunteering can download a form on the website, fill it in and email it or snail mail it.

The organization provides Christmas dinner baskets and toy distributions for the holidays.

Donations are also always welcomed.

Burlington Township Food Pantry, Burlington Township

The pantry is made up of a group of volunteers, everyone from clergy, to educators, municipal employees and more, according to its website.

They all understand the way that the current economic conditions have impacted families in the area. They acknowledge that on their website.

“If we can provide food to those in need, with dignity and support, then we feel we have done something to help.”

They are happy to take donations and have a donation button the website.

Friends of Clementon Food Pantry, Clementon

There is always a need for volunteers to assist. The website asks for help on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

It lists their causes as feeding families, connecting the homeless to services, aiding veterans and “food for our furry family members.”

The pantry is run out of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 33 Berlin Road, Clementon.

It is a “client-choice pantry”, with a wide variety of products to offer the clients.

Food Bank of South Jersey, Pennsauken

Its website states that volunteers “have been an integral part of all that we do in our communities.”

“…We suggest all volunteers exercise safe and healthy judgment in determining their attendance at FBSJ activities and events.”

Some of their guidelines include: all volunteer work must be scheduled in advance; volunteers must be 13 years or older and volunteers 13 – 17 must have a parent, guardian, or chaperone present during volunteer activities. Some opportunities have lifting/standing requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for volunteers in need of assistance. Closed-toe shoes are required in the warehouse. They ask that you wear comfortable and weather appropriate clothing for outdoor distributions.

The Food Bank “relies on the donation of time from volunteers to successfully get food to people in need.”

Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey

The organization calls volunteers “the backbone of Habitat for Humanity SCNJ’s mission, enabling us to transform lives and help neighborhoods thrive.” It relies on thousands of volunteers every year to carry out its mission, it says.

Volunteers can help with “everything from construction to serving as a resource for families as they settle into their new homes.”

Check with website for individual as well as group volunteer opportunities.

Kitkat Playroom, Woodbury

Wanted: Kitten snugglers. Volunteer snugglers spend about an hour with the kittens to help socialize them, snuggle them, and play with them, the website states. Kitkat Playroom nurtures vulnerable kittens it rescues and helps find their forever homes. Snugglers also do light housekeeping, such as scooping the litter box, feeding the kittens or sweeping the floor. You can also be a foster family or moderate their YouTube channel.

New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home, Vineland

Volunteers assist with social activities for the residents, the website states.

The veterans home says it is continuously recruiting new volunteers. An orientation is provided for all volunteers.

“The volunteer program enriches the lives of our residents as well as our volunteers and enhances the quality of life our residents experience,” the website stated.

You can get a complete listing of current volunteer opportunities Volunteer Services Department at 856-405-4213.

Service hours for volunteerism is eligible for recognition both by the home as well as eligibility to earn recognition through the Presidential Service Award program. Also, you can contact the veterans home about its corporate days of service program.

Samaritan Hospice

Samaritan says hospice volunteers “have diverse opportunities to share their time and talents, whether it’s in a patient’s home, in the office, or in the community.”

Some volunteers may visit patients to offer companionship, others may help in the office with administrative tasks, while others may greet guests at The Samaritan Center at Voorhees, assist at the thrift store, or serve on a committee. Hospice volunteers can serve as music performers or visit patients with their already-certified pet therapy dog, the website said.

Samaritan Hospice maintains one-year wait period after a significant loss before a person can begin volunteering.

Seeds of Hope Ministries, Camden

This outreach ministry has volunteer opportunities year-round. Check the website for a listing of all the areas volunteers are needed

In December, Seeds of Hope Ministries oversees a coordinated delivery of Angel Tree gifts in Camden, its website states. Volunteers deliver gifts to over 250 children with an incarcerated parent, all on one Saturday morning or afternoon. They need individuals and families to help by buying gifts and to assist with deliveries.

They also offer Thanksgiving turkey/food boxes and collect turkeys and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving dinner and deliver them to families in need in the South Camden neighborhood the nonprofit is located in. Families are encouraged to come and volunteer as a team packing, sorting and delivering meals.

Unforgotten Haven, Blackwood

Their motto on their website states “the wind beneath the wings of all living things” and says the nonprofit assists “the homeless, the sick, the abused, the struggling, veterans, animals.”

The Unforgotten Haven has many different ways that people can help them with their mission, from making a monetary donation to joining a project group.

The Haven’s project groups focus on specific tasks such as snack packs for chemo patients, blessing bags for the homeless, hoagies for the needy, cookies for charity, PB&J project, fur baby project, sacks of love and more.

On Sunday, the nonprofit does a homeless outreach in Camden.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: 11 places in South Jersey to give a helping hand this holiday season