Who We Are
Our Holiday Hands program helps ensure that 2,500+ adults and children in our community have a brighter holiday season because of donations of gifts (in the form of physical gifts and/or gift cards) from the community. The program increases financial stability by reducing financial pressures.
Who qualifies?
United Way of Hunterdon County works with the Hunterdon County Division of Social Services (DSS) to identify individual and families in need of assistance. Typically, this includes lower-income families or individuals who qualify as ALICE, elderly residents on fixed incomes, single parents, individual with developmental disabilities, and people suffering from illness.
How are participants identified?
Most of our clients are from referrals from Hunterdon County agencies that are aware of our program and the benefits it offers enrollees.
We also communicate with other area agencies that host similar holiday programs to ensure that individual and families are being served by a primary agency.
How does it work?
- United Way sends a letter and Holiday Hands application to the client by early October.
- The client has until October 31st to return the application to us (we prefer mailed applications, but accept drop-offs to our external mailbox located at the Volunteer Center).
- The client applications are processed during October and November and their gift requests are then shared with donors.
- Donors purchase gifts throughout November and early December to meet the needs of our clients.
- Clients are notified of a pick-up time to visit the Volunteer Center to collect their gift(s).
What We Do
Holiday Hands provides holiday gifts to Hunterdon County low to moderate income families, elderly residents, and individuals with special needs. In a typical year, we assist 2,500+ individuals with gifts that are valued at $50 per person. This program spans 3 months (October through December) and attracts many new and repeat volunteers who participate in the weeks and months leading up to the program.
What volunteer opportunities are available?
- Front desk greeters and help with administrative tasks
- Reviewing and following up with applications
- Inventory incoming gifts
- Data entry
- Appointment scheduling
- Translating applications from Spanish to English
- Gift registry shopping on Walmart and Amazon
- Inventorying gift store
- Personal shoppers (working with clients to shop the holiday store)
Who can volunteer for this program?
- Volunteers with availability in October, November, or December
- Volunteers seeking shift work (daytime, evening and weekend hours are available during Holiday Hands store hours)
- Students (middle school or older, with a parent or as a group)
- Retirees
- Families
- Youth groups who can help decorate our Holiday Hands store and paint holiday scenes on our Volunteer Center windows
What traits are you looking for in a volunteer?
This program has many facets to suit many skill sets and preferences, and all volunteers are welcome.
We are always looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers, especially to help with translation at the front desk, data entry, client intake, and client communication stages.
When you are working with clients, we ask that you are patient, kind, and that you serve all clients with dignity and respect that is free of bias or discrimination.
We believe every United Way community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee has an obligation to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion and be actively anti-racist in their thoughts, work, and actions. We ask that all volunteers read and respect our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement of Principle.
Details
| (908) 237-1689 | |
| laura@uwhunterdon.org | |
| Laura Hernandez | |
| https://www.uwhunterdon.org/client-services/holiday-hands |
