SHIP's current volunteer base consists of over 1,200 people serving on our volunteer crews coming from Faith Communities, organizations, corporations, schools, individuals and other sources.  We have blessed with the long term commitment and dedication of so many those serving the less fortunate among us through our programs and services provided to human beings in need in the Central New Jersey region. 

 

We would like to invite you to become part of SHIP’s Volunteer Crews.  We are always looking for people that welcome a challenge and would enjoy making a meaningful difference in the life of those served by SHIP and our affiliated agencies.  Through volunteering, you can translate your empathy into life changing action.

 

We want you to see that regardless of how different people look, act or live their basic needs are always the same.  These needs always include housing, food, clothing, love, understanding, spirituality and health.

 

Our purpose is to identify and provide for the needs of our clients, as our resources permit.  Services are provided to those meeting our service criteria

 

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SHIP is a community-based, grass roots program that works with an extensive network of faith community, government and private agencies.  Those coming to us for assistance are encouraged to utilize any existing and available resources in the community to the best of their ability.

 

Our program recruits, screens, trains, monitors and supervises volunteers, as needed.  All volunteers will receive orientation and/or training, as needed.  If you have as little as an hour or an hour and a half of your time to donate, it can be put to good use.   Our hours are flexible and we will make every effort to accommodate your schedule.  However, we appreciate volunteers who are reliable and keep their commitments.

 

All volunteers will work under the supervision of  Volunteer Coordinator, Galley Director, Mobile Soup Kitchen Operators, Holiday Meal Service Coordinators and/or the Executive Director.

 

If you are interested in being a part of this program, please call at 908-725-3260 for more information.

 

A few of the benefits of volunteering!

 

Consider some of the benefits of volunteering and what you hope to gain from the experience.  Here are some things to take into consideration:

     

•       Help people in need in your community

•       See that helping others can be fun

•       Learn new skills

•       Try new things

•       Have fun

•       Be exposed to different people

•       Fulfill community service, religious obligations or requirements

•       Improve your self esteem

•       Broaden your life experiences & education

•       Impress your teachers & mom

•       Impress yourself

•       Get out of the house

•       Make new friends

•       Strengthen your resume

What time do you have available?

 

Talk to the volunteer coordinator about your time, your interest and your goals.  Make sure the placement is good for both of us.

 

What do you want to do?

 

If you don’t like any of our current ideas, talk to the Volunteer Coordinator about what do you really want to do or accomplish.  The Volunteer Coordinator will work with you to try to find something that meets both our goals.

 

What kind of people would you like to work with?

 

You can be working with people that are poor, working poor, hungry, homeless, alcohol/substance abusers, people infected or affected with HIV/AIDS.  The list goes on and on and is as unique as the diverse populations we serve.

 

To obtain additional information on available opportunities:

 

Call the Volunteer Coordinator at (908) 725-3260 or visit our Safe Harbor - Port of Refuge, which is located at

87 East High Street in Somerville , NJ .

 

Or fill out an application and send to our director Tom at SHIP's e-mail  - SHIP908@aol.com

 

Follow these good volunteer work habits:

 

      Ø      Be on time.

Ø      Follow instructions.

Ø      Perform even the dull, dirty jobs with care and enthusiasm.

Ø      Phone the volunteer coordinator at 908-725-3260 if you are going to be late or absent.

Ø      Ask for things to do when you are not busy.

Ø      Ask for feedback on your performance.

Three times a week we invite our needy friends to join us as we serve a nutritious meal in an environment filled with love, comfort and class.  You can help by:  

            a. Being part of the food preparation, set up or cooking team, one time month or more.

            b. Helping to serve the meal and clean up after our guests depart.

            c. Helping to transport needy guests (usually the elderly) to and from the feeding site.

            d. Deliver meals to those homebound and unable to attend, should the need arise.

  For additional information on the many different ways that you can be of service call us at 908-725-3260

 

 

We would like to be able to deliver meals to people who are homebound and unable to come to our soup kitchens for a meal, or maybe living in places where they are unable to cook.  Service would be similar to ‘Meals on Wheels’ type program for people who do not quality for other meal delivery program services.  Too old, young, $1.00 to rich and things like that.  We all hear about these horror stories all the time.

 

You can help by:

 

Ø      Cook a meal or entree at home and after you cook the food, deliver it to SHIP fresh or freeze it for delivery.

Ø      For health reasons the food or meal is best kept frozen until we serve it.

Ø      Date and label the prepared food item or meal for later use.

Ø      You deliver the frozen dinners to SHIP's Safe Harbor - Port of Refuge at 87 East High Street in Somerville

Ø      Depending on the availability of volunteers, we may be able to arrange for a pick up.

Ø      We have freezers at SHIP.  Our goal, through the grace of God and with your help, is to keep them stocked.

 

Delivering the meals to clients in need:  Our goal is to have a daily delivery of meals on our days of operation for those unable to come to SHIP's Galley for a meal.  We’d love to have, at least, one to two volunteers, each day, who can deliver meals during the days of operation to our friends in need.

This can take as little as 1 to 2 hours of your time - travel included.  Think about it.  All Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are taken by committed churches, Immaculata High School and individuals.  There are some openings on Friday evenings.

 

As you can imagine the planning and coordination that’s needed to secure and keep the SHIP’s Mobile Soup Kitchens afloat are awesome.  We need your help right now!  Become a Mobile Soup Kitchen crew member!  Volunteer or give as generously as you can.  Your time and/or financial gift are put to immediate good use.  Join forces with one of the counties largest grass root organizations, and help bring an end to this unnecessary suffering.  By supporting SHIP’s Mobile Soup Kitchen, you will enable us to bring a message of hope to those in need in the pockets of poverty across the county.

 

SHIP purchased a new (2000) vehicle that serves as our Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit.  The vehicle serves as part of our ongoing effort to enhance and expand SHIP's and the Somerset County communities' capacity to reduce hunger.  We bring needed emergency meals, commodities and services on a regular scheduled basis, to those unable to come to SHIP’s Galley or Drop-in-Center in Somerville .  We provide tangible emergency relief, to identified high risk populations in our county.  Due to regulatory cut backs we have seen a 22% increase in requests for emergency food and emergency meals since July 1997.  Requests for emergency meals and food have steadily increased from children, women and men coming to the Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit service priority target area feeding sites.

 

SHIP’s Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit operates six days per week, Monday through Saturday.  We estimate that a minimum of 25 to 100 people will be served each day.  This number will increase as people are informed of the services available.

 

We have been blessed and were able to provided over 55,000 meals to people in need through our Emergency Food Programs during the year 2002, with no food budget.  That’s correct.  The vast majority of the food and meals provided is donated by community minded faith communities, organizations, businesses and individuals in our county area and beyond.

 

Meals are served to anyone in need in the Somerset County Region.  Target communities include Franklin/Somerset, Bound Brook/South Bound Brook, and Manville.  Sites are secured within these communities to be used as feeding sites. 

 

Crews, consisting of two to three volunteers each, are trained by professionals and serve meals from the mobile unit.  We have secured most of the salary needed to hire a full time paid driver for the vehicle.

The crews will serve or handout the prepared meals and/or food items and other commodities.  Donated food items and other needed commodities (with the Grace of God) are being secured.  SHIP’s supporting Faith Communities and others have, to date, been donating the needed food items and supplies.

 

Meals are served around 5:30 to 6:30 PM on days of operation.  Crews should be at our feeding sites at around 5:20 to 5:30 to set up the Mobile Soup Kitchen and start their route for the evening.  Crews help complete the break down process for the evening and by 6:45 the time of service is complete.  The estimated time commitment is around 1 to 1 1/2 hours per evening.  We will be as flexible as possible in establishing a regular volunteer schedule for the unit.

 

No other known agency provides a Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit in Somerset County .

 

Feeding sites are:                    Monday          Somerset Estates in the Somerset section of Franklin Twp.

Tuesday         The South Bound Brook Reformed Church

Wednesday    United Reformed Church in Somerville

Thursday        Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Manville

Friday             Somerset Estates in the Somerset section of Franklin Twp.

                       

The typical meal usually includes:

 

Ø      Choice of three or four entrees with or without a vegetable dish

Ø      Mashed potatoes, rice or assorted pasta dishes

Ø      Choice of hamburger or hot dog or both

Ø      Vegetable, fresh fruit, beverage, bread, pastry

Ø      Soup of the day (October through April)

 

You will be doing your Creator's work, touching the hearts and minds of many who might not otherwise witness our faith in action.  We need people like you, who surely care about hungry among us.  Please join us in making our mission to bring the needy a meal a reality.  This project is well worth the effort and expense.

 

THE MOBILE SOUP KITCHEN - DISASTER UNIT TO THE RESCUE!

 

The vehicle is also available to assist Somerset County in times of disaster as in times of flooding and other emergencies in our county region.  County officials and disaster officials in the region have approved and financially supported a small portion of the cost of operating the vehicles.

 

When the need arises we will issue an SOS. for volunteers for these special occasions.

 

MSK at GROUND ZERO - WORLD TRADE CENTER 2001 & 2002

 

During the aftermath of the World Trade disaster of 9-11, SHIP once again responded to the call for help from the Emergency Service Units Command Center at Ground Zero.  We provided over 10,000 gourmet meals to the uniformed service workers.  The Mobile Soup Kitchen - Disaster Unit visited the red zone in Ground Zero every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from October 2001 to mid January 2002.  Police and Fire Departments from throughout Somerset County escorted the MSK and support vehicles, carrying volunteers to the site each time we served meals.  Tom raised $75,000.00 and spent more to cover the cost of operations

 

MSK at HURRICANE FLOYD DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT - 1999

 

During the aftermath of the recent Hurricane Floyd the Mobile Soup Kitchen – Disaster Unit responded to the call for emergency meals.  SHIP’s staff and volunteer crews provided over 6,000 meals to the affected county residents who were displaced or unable to prepare meals because of the disaster.  Staff and volunteer crews worked every day for the first fourteen days after the disaster struck.

 

Donations received totaled $11,606.94.  Payments were made to 26 families or individuals affected by the disaster.  The payments varied from a low of $250.00 to a high of $1,000.00.  A total of over $11,606.94 was distributed to those in need of this emergency assistance.

 

More than 20,000 personal items and household items were distributed and over 1,000 pieces of new clothing were also distributed to those in need.

 

 

 

 

We have created a lovely picnic area in the rear of our Safe Harbor - Port of Refuge at 87 East High Street in Somerville, in memory of a former client.  The area was cleared and prepared for us by the Boy Scouts.  Picnic Tables and supplies have been donated by the Council of Catholic Women's Group of Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville. 

 

We are asking you to provide food and volunteers to serve a summer picnic type meal to our clients in need on the Tuesdays or Thursdays when our soup kitchen is closed.  It's a great opportunity to become directly involved with the people in need in our community.

 

We are asking you to help the clients that receive assistance through one or more of the vital SHIP programs mentioned below:

 

Safe Harbor & Port of Refuge

Emergency Shelter / Housing Program

Alcohol/Substance Abuse Program  

Anti-Hunger Programs

HIV/AIDS Program

SOS-Street Outreach Program     

      

HOW CAN YOU HELP?    Volunteer to help set up, cook, serve and clean up during times of operation.  Sing up and come flip a burger or hot dog for the poor.

 

You can help by making a non-monetary donation of food, snacks, drinks and other picnic essentials or you can make a financial donation directly to SHIP for the purchase of these items.

• Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Sausage & Peppers

• Sandwiches

• Baked Beans, Corn on the cob

• Chips & Pretzels / Dips

• Green Salads / Side Salads (Potato, Macaroni, Cole Slaw, etc.)

•  Fresh Fruit / Watermelon

•  Cookies and more

• Ice Tea, Soda and other beverages

• Paper goods & Supplies

 We are looking for faith communities, organizations, corporations, businesses and individual volunteers to provide the food, help set-up, serve food and drinks, interact with guests, lend a hand where needed and just help make it as enjoyable as possible for all. 

 

WE ANTICIPATE HAVING TIC-TOCK'S GROVE IN OPERATION IN THE SPRING OF 2007.  THE SEASON WILL RUN FROM AROUND MAY TO SEPTEMBER.  CALL NOW!  RESERVE A SPOT FOR YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY, COMPANY, GROUP OR ORGANIZATION.

For more information please contact SHIP at (908) 725-3260. 

 

They need you to make it happen!

 

DATE & TIME - TO BE DETERMINED

 

MENU - What ever you through the grace of God send.

 

 

 

 

SHIP's

S-O-S 

Street Outreach Services

 

MAIDEN VOYAGE June 2003

The SS Helene K. Carter

EXPANSION OF SHIP's mobile SOUP KITCHEN - DISASTER UNIT SERVICES

 

OPENINGS

 

 

This voyage can take as little as 1 to 2 hours of your time - travel included. 

 

This is an exciting time.

 

Immediate volunteer openings involving direct contact with clients, helping them with their immediate needs.  Seeing poverty and helping people in need, eyeball to eyeball.

 

Through a generous donation left to SHIP in the will of Helene K. Carter, a former SHIP Drop-in-Center volunteer, we secured a vehicle that serves as our Street Outreach Service mobile unit.

 

SHIP brings even more of its services to the streets. Street Out­reach Services, (SOS), and is plotting a course into the community with our SOS vehicle.

 

The vehicle is involved at different identified communities throughout the county providing the following and more.

 

Ø      Assessment services

Ø      Referral services

Ø      Emergency clothing

Ø      Alcohol/substance abuse treatment and referral services

Ø      Distribution of personal items and other donated commodities

Ø      HIV counseling & testing pre & post - partnering with Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center in New Brunswick .

 

SHIP is in need of volunteers to drive the RV and donations to help fund a part-time operator/director.

 

If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please call Tom at (908) 725­3260.

   

 

Safe Harbor - Office Help

 

OPENINGS

 

 

Nothing would happen at SHIP, it seems, if it weren’t for the dedicated folks who help staff the office.  Office volunteers can help take phone calls, help organize and restock our emergency food pantry, help clients in need (upon request) to fill out and completing the needed forms, for clients and help keep the place orderly.

 

The faces of our volunteers and staff , are the face of SHIP that our guests see.  Their voices are the voice of SHIP that our guests hear.  If you have time during the week, a morning or afternoon, consider being part of the office staff at SHIP.

 

Volunteers are needed to assist with:

 

Helping clients coming to our Safe Harbor in need of emergency food, meals, clothing and hospitality packages.

 

General Tasks	Assembling Hospitality Packs for clients Distributing food to clients in need Replace light bulbs Empty trash baskets Recycling Mop Floors Furniture polished, dusted Vacuuming
Food Pantry	Sort & store food donations Distribute donated items to clients Clean pots

Office Copying	Forms Documents Newsletters Mailings
Office Filing	Files General Invoices
Data Processing	Data entry Service Information Printed material updating
Special Projects	Gardening - Landscaping Grounds Maintenance Gutter Cleaning Window Cleaning Trash Pick up Painting