Helping Families

SOMA Kindness: This week we’re here for Turning Point Community Services, which provides wraparound care for individuals and families in our area. We’re collecting new and excellent condition shoes and clothing — all ages, all genders.

Ready for porch pickup on Friday? Sign up here.

Want to pick up donations and drive them to the agency? Same link!

Not ready? We’re doing more pickups through May and early June and you’ll hear about them here first!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4FAAAE2BA57-64201205-turning#/

SOMA Kindness: A new event is coming to town and we need your help! Later this month we’ll begin collecting cosmetics, accessories, and other small gifts to be staged in a pop-up shop where local kids can browse for free Mother’s Day gifts. Volunteers needed to provide, pick up, and sort donations, as well as staging and staffing the ‘store.’ Learn more, sign up for updates, and give us some feedback! https://www.somakindness.com/finders-keepers/

SOMA Kindness: Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND) has many new opportunities to support fresh food access! Support needed with mobile markets, food pantries, and delivery in Newark, Orange, Maplewood and more! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094AAEAE2EA1F49-54978051-volunteer#/

SOMA Kindness: Laptop Upcycle is a volunteer run initiative that wipes donated laptops for reuse by local students. They seek adult volunteers of varying skills to help manage lab activities in Montclair and support youth who learn tech through volunteering. Learn more: https://www.laptopupcycle.org/

SOMA Kindness: Moms Helping Moms got loads of new donations and could use help at their Wayne warehouse sorting baby clothes and diapers. It’s near the Stirling Hotel & Grill and the Stirling Fountain vintage ice cream shop if you want to make a day of it! https://portal.goldenvolunteer.com/opportunities/YBRGXVlG6S

SOMA Kindness: Family friendly opportunity alert tomorrow (Tuesday 12/23)! As in past years, guests will be admitted to Turtle Back Zoo’s holiday lights by donation of food, toys, and coats. Volunteers will assist in the Donation Tent by greeting guests, collecting and sorting donations, and creating a festive environment. Kids with adults welcome, and we’ve heard there’s hot chocolate too! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4FAAAE2BA57-60655925-turtle#/

SOMA Kindness: Family friendly opportunity with Moms Helping Moms! Volunteers age 14 and older are welcome to visit their warehouse in Warren to help sort and repackage baby clothes and diapers. For more info and offsite volunteer opportunities for younger children, visit: momshelpingmoms.org/volunteer/

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#/

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