Needs From: Serve Jersey City

Due to overwhelming demand from our partner agencies, Jersey Cares established the First Night Kit Program. Throughout the year, Jersey Cares manages projects in which volunteers assemble kits for domestic violence shelters, transitional housing facilities, runaway safe havens, foster homes and other agencies with transitional populations in need of hygiene items on the "first night" of their stay. As soon as items are received they are distributed to participating agencies.

How to Get Involved
REGISTER TO COLLECT

As a collection site, you will have the opportunity to assist displaced families in New Jersey by providing them with essential toiletry items needed for their first night stay at a shelter or transitional home. If you are an individual or group looking to donate to the First Night Kit Program, please click HERE to register as a collection site.

**FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF ALL COMMUNITY RECIPIENTS, JERSEY CARES WILLNOT ACCEPT USED, OPENED, OR GENTLY USED ITEMS.** 

Items ACCEPTED for First Night Kits include:

ShampooConditionerSoap and body washLotionToothpasteToothbrushesDeodorantCombs and brushesTravel-size tissuesChapstickSocksUnderwearGallon-size zip lock bags (if you plan to package the kits yourself)

Items NOT ACCEPTED for First Night Kits include:

RazorsClothing (new or used)Alcohol-based items such as mouthwash, perfumes, or body mistsToysUsed or opened itemsFoodDELIVERY ADDRESS AND INSTRUCTIONS*THE JERSEY CARES OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED AND UNABLE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS ON THE FOLLOWING DATES IN 2025: May 23 & 26, June 19, July 4, July 7, August 29, September 1, November 27 & 28, and December 22-31.*

Prior to delivery, please either package one of each item into a gallon-size Ziploc bag or sort collected items by kind (i.e. shampoo, conditioner, brushes, underwear) into a box.

Donations may be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please call our office at (973) 533-1993 and press option 2 upon arrival to be directed to our loading dock for delivery assistance.

Jersey CaresAttn: First Night Kit Program290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 1320Livingston, NJ 07039

 

If you would like to ship your donations, please mail them to the address listed above.

This is an ongoing initiative, there is no deadline for collected items.

DONATE VIRTUALLY

Want to donate, but can't make it to the store?

Donate items via YouGiveGoods to have items sent directly to us!

HOST AN ONLINE DRIVE

You can also run your very own First Night Kit collection drive online for free!

To set up your online collection page, please click HERE and click "Join Now" to begin customizing.

Corporate partners can click HERE to see the benefits of creating a drive with YouGiveGoods.

REGISTER TO RECEIVE

**Please be advised that only registered 501c3 organizations, government agencies, or public schools from New Jersey will be considered for donations**

If you are an agency in need of First Night Kits, please click HERE to fill out the agency application form. First Night Kit donations become available periodically and organizations will be contacted in the order requests were received. Thank you for your patience!

Questions? Please call us at 973-533-1993 or email us at volunteerprograms@jerseycares.org.

When an animal arrives at a shelter, it has been found as a stray, surrendered or abandoned by its owner, or rescued from a puppy mill. These cats or dogs have no home or owner to love them. Generous Jersey Cares volunteers help ease the pain of this difficult transition by providing comfort to our four legged friends, and the shelters which provide a safe haven. Jersey Cares has established the Animal Shelter Helpers program to provide no-kill rescue shelters in need of items for animals during their stay prior to a permanent adoption. As soon as items are received they are distributed to participating agencies. This is an ongoing initiative - there is no deadline for collected items.

How to Get Involved
REGISTER TO COLLECT

As a collection site, you will have the opportunity to provide no-kill rescue shelters with vital items for displaced animals during their stay prior to adoption. If you are an individual or group looking to donate to Animal Shelter Helpers, please click HERE to register as a collection site.

**Please do not donate open food items of any kind. Please see our list below for more information on accepted items**

Items accepted for Animal Shelter Helpers Program:

Unopened dog food - dry or cannedUnopened dog treatsNew dog toysNew or gently used raised pet bedsNew or gently used collars and leashes 3-Quart stainless steel dog bowlsUnopened cat food - dry or cannedUnopened cat treatsNew cat toysUnopened kitty litterNew or gently used cat bedsKMR milk replacement formula for kittens & puppiesDust pansNail clippers for catsTurbo scratcher replacement padsNew blankets & towels for beddingPaper towelsSpray bottlesScrubber spongesDisinfecting wipesBleachLaundry detergentDish detergentHand soapDELIVERY ADDRESS AND INFORMATION*THE JERSEY CARES OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED AND UNABLE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS ON THE FOLLOWING DATES IN 2025: May 23 & 26, June 19, July 4, July 7, August 29, September 1, November 27 & 28, and December 22-31.*

Donations may be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please call our office at (973) 533-1993 and press option 2 upon arrival to be directed to our loading dock for delivery assistance.

Jersey CaresAttn: Animal Shelter Helpers290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 1320Livingston, NJ 07039

If you would like to mail us your donations, please send them to the address listed above.

This is an ongoing initiative, there is no deadline for collected items.

DONATE VIRTUALLY

Want to donate, but can't make it to the store?

Visit our Amazon Wish List to have items sent directly to us!

REGISTER TO RECEIVE

**Please be advised that only no-kill shelters as defined by Maddie's Fund and registered 501c3 organizations in New Jersey will be considered for donations.**

If you are an organization interested in receiving Animal Shelter items, please click HERE to fill out the agency application form. Animal Shelter Helper donations become available periodically and organizations will be contacted in the order requests were received. Thank you for your patience!

Questions? Please call us at 973-533-1993 or email us at volunteerprograms@jerseycares.org.

The Jersey Cares Diaper Drive was created in response to the huge deficit between the supply and demand of many critical products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to lack of essential resources, such as diapers, many families are left unable to provide for their children. Our community partners were struggling to meet the growing requests for diapers during this difficult time. After working with our partners, Jersey Cares realized that the need to provide diapers to families who do not have access to them is constant and was only heightened by the pandemic. Jersey Cares is proud to add the Diaper Drive as a permanent addition to our on-going collection drives.

How to Get Involved
REGISTER TO COLLECT

As a collection site, you will have the opportunity to assist caregivers and new mothers in New Jersey by providing them with diapers for their loved ones. If you are an individual or group looking to donate to the Diaper Drive Program, please click HERE to register as a collection site.

**JERSEY CARES WILL NOT ACCEPT USED OR GENTLY USED ITEMS** 

Items ACCEPTED for Diaper Drive include:

New packs of diapers (All sizes from Newborn up to size 6T)Opened packs of diapers (All sizes from Newborn up to size 6T)New packs of baby wipes

Items NOT for Diaper Drive include:

Baby foodBaby formulaBaby clothesDELIVERY ADDRESS AND INFORMATION*THE JERSEY CARES OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED AND UNABLE TO ACCEPT DONATIONSON THE FOLLOWING DATES IN 2025: May 23 & 26, June 19, July 4, July 7, August 29, September 1, November 27 & 28, and December 22-31.*

Donations may be dropped off Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please call our office at (973) 533-1993 and press option 2 upon arrival to be directed to our loading dock for delivery assistance.

Jersey CaresAttn: Diaper Drive290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Suite 1320Livingston, NJ 07039 

If you would like to mail us your donations, please send them to the address listed above.

This is an ongoing initiative, there is no deadline for collected items.

DONATE VIRTUALLY

Want to donate, but can't make it to the store?

Donate items via YouGiveGoods to have items sent directly to us!

HOST AN ONLINE DRIVE

You can also run your very own Diaper Drive online for free!

To set up your online collection page, please click HERE and click "Join Now" to begin customizing.

Corporate partners can click HERE to see the benefits of creating a drive with YouGiveGoods.

REGISTER TO RECEIVE

**Please be advised that only registered 501c3 organizations, government agencies, or public schools from New Jersey will be considered for donations**

If you are an agency in need of diapers, please click HERE to fill out the agency request form. Diaper Drive donations become available periodically and organizations will be contacted in the order requests were received. Thank you for your patience!

Questions? Please call us at 973-533-1993 or email us at volunteerprograms@jerseycares.org.