Martin Luther King Day of Service

in Central Jersey

 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that acts of service were the great equalizer.  "Everybody can be great," he noted, "because everybody can serve."

 

Each year, Americans across the country answer the question, "What are you doing for others?" by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.

 

United Way of Central Jersey's call to service on Martin Luther King Day, January 19th, asks all Central Jersey residents to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing problems caused by Financial Instability.

 

You can help your neighbors get tax refunds and access to low cost health insurance. Last year, UWCJ volunteers helped to return $1,800,000 in tax payments to Central Jersey residents.

 

And, nothing works like education to help improve income. So, UWCJ is offering volunteers the opportunity to improve literacy among low-income children.

 

Here are three ways you can get involved (pre-registration required):

 

1. Walk to raise awareness of Financial Stability Tools: free tax preparation and health insurance enrollment

 

Date: January 19th 9am to 12 noon (Snow date January 23)

Location: South Amboy Library 100 Governor Hoffman Plaza, South Amboy, NJ 08879

What: Two critical ways to help low-income residents: make sure taxes done for free and get help to enroll in the Affordable Care Act.

 

Plan of Action:

Volunteers will meet at South Amboy Library to perform the following tasks:

  • Assemble contents and fill bags
  • Form groups and receive route maps
  • Walk off to distribute bags door-to-door
  • Return with excess bags and enjoy hot chocolate and snacks

Pre-registration and email required at Financial Stability in case of weather cancellation.

 

2. Create kits to build literacy

Date: January 19th 9am to 12 noon (Snow date January 23)

Location: United Way of Central Jersey (UWCJ)

32 Ford Avenue, Milltown, NJ 08850

What: Early childhood brain development and literacy skills can make a measurable difference in a child's ability to succeed in school. These literacy kits help to create an environment at home that promotes brain development.

 

Plan of Action:

Volunteers will meet at UWCJ to perform the following tasks:

  • Refreshments
  • Sort and cut kit contents
  • Assemble kits for distribution to low-income families in Central Jersey

Pre-registration and email required at Literacy Kits in case of weather cancellation.

 

3. Read to low-income children

Date: January 21 9:00am -11:30 (Snow date January 23)

Location: Pre-schools in Middlesex County (Carteret, Helmetta, Perth Amboy, South Amboy)

What: Books can stimulate verbal interaction with young children that increases brain development, literacy skills and a love of books. Volunteers can help young children develop the skills they need to succeed in school.

 

Plan of Action:

Volunteers will meet at UWCJ to perform the following tasks:

  • Breakfast Training: Learn to read in a way that promotes verbal interaction with young children
  • Form groups and receive route maps to pre-schools (6-10 volunteers per school)
  • Arrive at pre-schools and join children to read in class (2 volunteers per class)

Pre-registration and email required at Reading to Children in case of weather cancellation.

 

Please contact Charmaine Rodriguez with any questions: [email protected]

MLK Day United Way urges you to serve by distributing the tools and information for eligible lower income families to restore Financial Stability.

 

Everybody knows that average household income has fallen during the last five years in NJ.*

 

Inadequate income can lead to criminal behavior, lost housing, domestic violence, food insecurity and so much more.

 

*Income Inequality in New Jersey: The Growing Divide and its Consequences, Poverty Research Institute, Legal Services of New Jersey, December 2014

 

Here are three ways you can get involved (pre-registration required):

 

1. Walk to raise awareness of Free Financial Stability Tools

VITA Volunteer

 2. Create kits to build literacy

 

3. Read to low-income children

Thank You!

United Way knows that many of you reading this have given many hours of volunteer service.

 

There are never enough opportunities to thank you for your generous gifts, so it is with heartfelt thanks that we acknowledge you and recognize the important contribution you make on the lives of others.

Investment Allocation Committee Welcomes Volunteers