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(Paramus, NJ) June 7, 2010 – People who give of their time and talent make all the difference in a non-profit agency's ability to provide critical services. For Children's Aid and Family Services, volunteers help in countless ways, from running supply drives that benefit the agency's Baby Basics program to helping at fundraising events. The agency recently honored 11 of these dedicated individuals at a ceremony held at its Healing Garden in Ridgewood, NJ.
Those featured include Jackie Poritz of Paramus, Kathryn Bleckman of Allendale, Helen Barrand of Glen Rock, Chris Salamone of Ridgewood, Rick and Joli Nelson of Emerson, Brenda and Frank Gallagher of Ho-Ho-Kus, United Water of Harrington Park, Argo Turboserve Corporation of Lyndhurst, and Timothy Glenn Photographers of Ridgewood.
Jackie Poritz has led The Adoptive Parents Committee -- which offers adoptive parents support, information and social activities -- in donating holiday presents to the children in the agency's care for more than 14 years. She also serves as a volunteer at one of the agency's therapeutic group homes, where she helps the children with their homework, teaches them to garden and takes them fishing and biking.
Kathryn Bleckman serves as a volunteer classroom assistant at the agency's Turrell Child Care & Early Learning Center. She volunteers twice a week in the kindergarten classroom, where she reads to the children and helps with arts and crafts projects.
Helen Barrand has volunteered at The Depot gift store since 1968. The Depot, located at 22 Prospect Street in Midland Park, is the largest all-volunteer women's exchange in the country. Ms. Barrand serves as day shift manager, treasurer and salesperson at The Depot.
Chris Salamone is one of Children's Aid and Family Services' youngest volunteers at age 13. Last year, he led a supply drive for the Baby Basics program to earn a Boy Scout badge and still continues to volunteer with the program. Chris helps with the biweekly distribution of free nutritional formula and diapers to low-income families.
Rick and Joli Nelson have served as foster parents to an adolescent child in the agency's care for the past five years, providing nurturing and a stable home environment. Additionally, they have opened their home to a young man who has "aged out" of foster care and lives with them during school breaks while he attends college.
Brenda and Frank Gallagher have been volunteers for the agency for many years. They served as chairs of the agency's community yard sale fundraiser last year. Additionally, Mrs. Gallagher is on the event committees for the Spring Gala and Fall Wine and Food Tasting Evening fundraisers and became a member of the agency's Board of Trustees in 2009.
United Water has offered tremendous support to the agency, serving as a sponsor of the Spring Gala and Fall Wine and Food Tasting fundraisers. The company holds "dress down" days on which employees make contributions to wear jeans to work, with proceeds donated to the agency. Additionally, more than 40 employees volunteered at various divisions of the agency, helping in the administrative office, at The Depot and the Turrell Child Care & Early Learning Center, as well as held drives to donate back-to-school supplies to the children in the agency's care.
Argo Turboserve Corporation employees first began collecting holiday gifts for the children in the agency's care in 1998. Since then, they have led a holiday gift drive every year and have made many wishes come true for children in foster care.
Tim Camuso and Glenn Maida of Timothy Glenn Photographers became involved with the agency in 2009, lending their photographic talents. They provide photography on a pro-bono basis of the agency's special events which the agency shares with supporters and the local media.
"On behalf of Children's Aid and Family Services, I thank all of these individuals and organizations for their tremendous contributions to the agency and the children and families we serve," says Bob Jones, Ph.D., president & CEO. "They make the work we do possible."
Children's Aid and Family Services is one of the leading nonprofit human services organizations serving northern New Jersey. The agency is fully accredited and has served the community for more than 110 years. Its mission is to preserve, protect and, when needed, provide families. Motivated by compassion for vulnerable children, young adults, frail elderly and their families, it provides high-quality and innovative services that meet their social, educational and emotional needs. For more information on Children's Aid and Family Services and to learn more about volunteer opportunities, call 201.261.2800 or visit www.cafsnj.org.
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