SOMA Kindness: Cougar Cares presents weekly dinner deliveries! This is an amazing project that’s one of the best kept secrets in the area. Why? Because the recipients are SOMSD families served confidentially, and the business supporting the families prefers to do so privately. Volunteers pick up dinners in Maplewood village Tuesdays at 3:30 and deliver to SOMA homes. Deliveries are typically complete within the hour, but your car may smell delicious for longer. Because this includes SOMDS students, no one under 18 may participate (even as a passenger). https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A8A928A3FBC70-tuesday#/
In Person
SOMA Kindness: This Sunday the Elks Lodge is hosting their annual Thanksgiving dinner for local seniors (aka elders, wisdom holders, golden-year adults and other mature neighbors). Opportunities available to drop off everything from turkey to sides, homemade or store bought! Details here, food needs to be delivered to the Elks on 11/23 between 10 am and 12 pm but if you need a volunteer to pick up and drop off your items, reply here after you sign up and we’ll get folks connected! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/seniorgiving
SOMA Kindness: Family friendly opportunity alert!! Turtle Back Zoo’s Holiday Lights Spectacular accepts donation of non-perishable food items, new unwrapped toys, or gently used coats as admission to the zoo. Create a team of 6-8 volunteers to crew the Donation Tent: greet guests, collect and sort donations, and create a welcoming, joyful atmosphere! https://calendly.com/kdurr-parks/holiday-lights-2025
SOMA Kindness: New pilot program addressing local food insecurity, produced in partnership with South Mountain YMCA, NJ and local organizers
Opportunities:
– Leave nonperishables for porch pickup
– Pick up donations and bring them to Springfield Ave
– Lead as a Community Captain by organizing drop off at your home, school, workplace, house of worship, special event, or other location and we’ll organize volunteers to pick up and deliver food collected
– Find and share local resources updated here regularly
Learn more, bookmark, and share:
SOMA Kindness: The Strollers Community Theater seek creative SOMA community members with a love of the theater to assist with various jobs for their upcoming production of The Secret Adversary. This Thursday 10:30-5:30, they’re in need of artistic types who can help paint sets or do basic alterations to costumes! The vibes will be good, the coffee will be flowing, and pizza will very likely be ordered for volunteers! Call their box office number at (973) 761-8453 or see their FB event to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/19VvVSh9jf/
SOMA Kindness: The Food Pantry at Oheb Shalom (170 Scotland road) had some last minute cancellations and is now short on volunteers tonight. Shift timeslots are 5-6:30pm or 6:15-7:45pm, packing, organizing and distributing food, and this is a family friendly opportunity!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4FACAC22A13-51251161-bobrow#/
SOMA Kindness: Family friendly opportunity alert! The Warehouse NJ helps individuals and families who have experienced homelessness successfully transition into new apartments with donated furniture, household items and other essential needs. Help is needed collecting and moving furniture, moving clients in, and organizing collected items. Children age 12 and over are welcome with their family, all volunteers must be able to climb stairs. Learn more: https://www.thewarehousenj.org/volunteer
SOMA Kindness: Wise Animal Rescue seeks all sorts of volunteers, from admin and social media, to help with rescue transport and adoption events. So many opportunities to help rescue dogs find their forever homes! Learn more:
SOMA Kindness: Maplewood Porchfest is scheduled for Sunday, August 31. This free event features numerous porches around the Hilton neighborhood of Maplewood, NJ with a wide array of music and entertainment throughout the afternoon. As with all great events, this one runs on volunteers! Learn more about everything from running lemonade stands to hosting a musician on your porch: https://www.maplewoodporchfest.com/participate
SOMA Kindness: Introducing the new AHS Adventure Tails Program! Looking for a fun, easy way to make a big difference in a shelter dog’s life? This program lets you take a dog out for the day — whether it’s a hike, a trip to the beach, or a cozy afternoon at home. These short-term foster or day trip adventures help the pups relax, recharge, and get seen by potential adopters! Whether you’re a lifelong dog lover or just getting started, there’s a dog who would love to spend the day with you. Ready to plan your own doggy day out? Sign up here: https://www.shelterluv.com/form/volunteer/AHNJ/79774-adventure-tails-program-interest-form