NJ Youth Corps volunteer at Let's Celebrate

NJ Youth Corps have been volunteering with non-profit group  "Let's Celebrate" over the past six months, helping to service clients in the food pantry and soup kitchen. Our students have gained a great appreciation for working with those in need. It is a part of their 150 hour community service commitment to the Youth Corps program. A few of our Youth Corps students commented on their experience thus far working at "Let's Celebrate".

Joel: I just like helping people. You have to talk to everybody, even if they don't speak English. So you are always learning a lot. Plus you are helping out your community. 

Ebony: We get to interact with different people every week. You learn to be patient and have courtesy. 

We are grateful to have a work-site such as "Let's Celebrate" for our students to gain important and relevant skills that will certainly help them on their next job in the future. 

“Moving from hunger to wholeness”

Let’s Celebrate moves people from hunger to wholeness through nutrition, financial, supportive and affordable housing services. For more info please visit their website: http://www.letscelebrateinc.org/

NJ Youth Corps volunteers for HOT 97's Hip Hop Has Heart Foundation's "Lift 'Em Up!" Community Service Event

Yesterday, NJ Youth Corps traveled to Queens, NY to give a helping hand to Hot 97 FM and the Hip Hop Has Heart Foundation. It was for their annual "Lift 'Em Up" event at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center. Our students under the direction of Crew Leader Doug Bailey helped put together gift bags for families that are less fortunate. 

In addition to the items being donated which included Reebok sneakers and Trukfit clothing, NJ Youth Corps in collaboration with the Bridge Of Books Foundation, donated over a hundred brand new books to the cause.

Our students had an excellent time behind the scenes working with radio professionals and were truly humbled by the experience. They volunteered for nearly two hours before heading back to Jersey City. We are looking forward to continued community service efforts! Check out the official press release below regarding the event as well as pictures taken while our students worked. Special thanks to the whole Emmis Communications staff for welcoming us!

 Last year, Lift 'Em Up provided those less fortunate a first class experience and dignified evening of gourmet food and holiday entertainment. HOT 97 on-air talent, behind-the-scenes staff, friends in Hip Hop, including Ja Rule and Sevyn Streeter, and partners came together to provide an outstanding feast, entertainment, and holiday market for New Yorkers in need. The motivation was simple: to uplift others and provide the community an extraordinary evening, full of food, festivities, and fun! Catch the complete video recap from 2013's event here. 
 HOT 97's Hip Hop Has Heart Foundation and Incite, Emmis' cause marketing division, will host 150 people, invited by local churches and community representatives, for the second annual Lift 'Em Up celebration on Thursday, November 20, 2014 in Queens, NY. The event will include a special visit from Hip Hop artist Maino and R&B singer Justine Skye, gourmet food provided by Two Fish And Five Loaves, music by HOT 97's legendary DJs, and the return of the Holiday Market, where families will be able to take home food for the own Thanksgiving meals the following week.
"The Hip Hop Has Heart Foundation has led the way in assisting the Hip Hop community, and Lift 'Em Up is a wonderful way to give back during the holidays" states Koren Vaughan, President of the Hip Hop Has Heart Foundation. "Together with Incite, which uses entertainment to connect brands, we hope to bring many deserving families some holiday cheer!" HOT 97's Hip Hop Has Heart Foundation would like to thank its partner, Dello Russo Laser Vision, for contributing to the Lift 'Em Up night of service and inspiration. 

NJ Youth Corps Service in the Community (Part 1)

On Wednesday October 9th, NJ Youth Corps worked locally in the Jersey City community servicing a resourceful food pantry as well as the historical Loews Theater.

"Lets Celebrate" is a non profit agency that works to help people in need with donated groceries and other social services such as financial education and affordable housing. NJ Youth Corps worked as a team to help stock their pantries and prepare bags of food for the clients stopping in. It was a very humbling experience for our students, especially the few that lived right up the street and recognized some of the people in need. Unfortunately, issues such as hunger effect many individuals and families regardless of race, gender and even career status. Even some of those that have jobs, struggle with low wages or lack of full time employment and find it difficult to afford three square meals a day. NJ Youth Corps engaged with some of these individuals and families by serving up hot lunch meals for them.

At the Loews Theater, the staff assisted in organizing and cleaning efforts. They swept, mopped and moved various items to different locations in the theater. The management was very appreciative of Youth Corps efforts. These community service projects will continue throughout the finish of 2014 leading into 2015.