Photo Courtesy of JLOSH
Sandra LoPiccolo of Maplewood with her daughters shows why it’s important to volunteer. This year’s ‘Kids For Kids’ event takes place in Millburn on March 12.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Community groups are joining forces — for a fourth year — in Millburn next month for a children’s volunteering event to help youngsters in need.
‘Kids For Kids,’ organized by the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills, brings together local groups and children for a morning of hands-on volunteering and fun at the George Bauer Community Center in Taylor Park, Millburn, on Saturday, March 12.
Contributing community groups include Girl Scouts of America, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Interfaith Food Pantry, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County, Family Intervention Services, Robin C. Crowley Food Pantry, Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, Metro YMCA of the Oranges and league sponsors: gold sponsor Dun & Bradstreet, and silver sponsors Saint Barnabas Medical Center and Creative Wallcoverings & Interiors.
JLOSH Community Vice President Alison Corbin of Short Hills explained in a release that all elementary school-aged children are welcome to the event.
“This event has continued to be an ongoing success for JLOSH,” Corbin said in the release “An event that focuses on children and their contribution to JLOSH’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity and basic needs issues hopefully encourages voluntarism at an early age and helps them develop into future civic leaders.”
The activities children aged 6 to 12 years will be able to take part in include: decorating placemats to be donated to a food pantry for distribution; filling bags with camp supplies and essentials; decorating a mural and making no sew blankets for pediatric patients at St. Barnabas; ‘The Littlest Volunteer Contest’, a contest that awards $100 to children’s ideas for helping to improve their community.
In addition, children will have the opportunity to learn about eco-literacy, dental hygiene, nutrition basics and more.
Donations of non-perishable goods, such as canned protein meals, and travel-sized toiletries can be brought to the event.
The JLOSH ‘Kids For Kids’ event goes a long way to helping children in need, while teaching youth and adults about the benefits of volunteering, and bringing together a host of community organizations.
‘Kids For Kids’ takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 12, at the George Bauer Community Center in Taylor Park, 100 Main St. in Millburn.
To take part in Kids for Kids or learn more, visit www.jlosh.org, email jlosh1913@gmail.com or call 973-379-9655.