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State of New Jersey
Department of State
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 777-4134
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| JON S. CORZINE |
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NINA MITCHELL WELLS, ESQ. |
Governor
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Secretary of State |
| Contact: |
Caryl Lucas
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| November 3, 2006 |
609-292-4302
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GOVERNOR CORZINE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF MONTHLONG COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER NJ! CAMPAIGN
New JerseyVolunteers – Transforming Communities
TRENTON- Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the launch of COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER NJ!, a monthlong campaign that begins on Saturday, November 4 with a series of events to highlight youth mentoring and efforts to combat hunger. The initiative gives all New Jersey citizens an opportunity to improve their communities through volunteer service.
On Saturday, the state also will launch an upgraded version of the state’s volunteerism website, www.njvolunteerism.com <http://www.njvolunteerism.com/> , which will link citizens with their county volunteer center’s databases and provide more information about volunteer opportunities across New Jersey. Visitors to the site will be able to volunteer in their counties. The COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER NJ! campaign is being coordinated through the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, which is part of the Department of State.
“COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER NJ! will provide a vehicle for New Jersey residents to participate in meaningful community service efforts,” said Governor Corzine. “This is a great opportunity for the people in our state to show that we care about each other, and what better way than helping our neighbors in need during the upcoming holidays.”
The Governor and Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells encouraged New Jersey residents to make a difference in their communities and participate in activities scheduled for the campaign throughout the month. Volunteer activities are being sponsored by the state, local government, non-profit agencies and private companies.
“COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER NJ! is a wonderful opportunity for all citizens to play a positive role in impacting their neighborhoods,” said Secretary Wells. “Our goal is to increase the spirit of volunteerism, recruit new mentors for our young people and address issues of hunger in New Jersey because we are a state that cares.”
To kick off the campaign Governor Corzine, Secretary Wells and Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus will join 300 volunteers on Saturday at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside. They will collect and package food to be shipped to food pantries throughout the state as part of the community service volunteerism campaign.
Additionally, Secretary Wells will visit youth at the Central Ward Boys and Girls Clubs in Newark in an effort to increase the number of mentors for young people statewide. The theme is “Every Success Story Has a Mentor.”
“The very foundation of the Community FoodBank is its core of volunteers, who enthusiastically and generously donate their time and energy year-round,” said Secretary Kuperus. “Volunteerism together with Governor Corzine’s initiative to fight hunger, which is allocating an additional $3 million to purchase nutritious food to feed an additional half a million people this year, contribute to an effective food delivery program for those in need.”
Throughout the month, the community service/volunteerism campaign will continue to provide information to New Jersey residents wishing to volunteer with organizations in need of their service. They can also call the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism at (609) 984-3470.
Other November 4 COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER NJ! are listed below:
* The Community Food Bank of New Jersey (Volunteer Information Fair)
6735 Black Horse Pike
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
10 a.m. - noon
* The Volunteer Center of Gloucester County College (Food Drive)
1400 Tanyard Road
Sewell, New Jersey
9 a.m. - noon
* Phoebe’s Pantry Emergency Food Shelf (Food Drive)
Bethany Presbyterian Church
400 Hamilton Avenue
Trenton, New Jersey
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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