COMMUNITY SERVICE
Opportunities are only updated when the organization notifies us of changes. Please consider this listing (in alphabetical order) a starting-point in your search.
At Metuchen High School, we strongly encourage all our students to participate in community service as a part of their educational journey. We believe that these activities foster the development of character, self-esteem and leadership qualities. Contributing to a cause or event, or providing a needed service to others, allows students an opportunity to meet and work with new people, explore interests, learn new skills and experience personal growth. Involvement in community service also reflects a depth of character that can enhance a student’s resume for colleges and scholarships, but we expect our students to become involved because of the personal benefits, not just because it looks good on paper.
Below is a list of local opportunities available in and around Metuchen. For additional information on any listing, please contact the organization directly. Students are encouraged to participate in at least five (5) hours of community service each year. The personal benefits are worth every minute!
Contact info may have changed since this list was developed. If you representent an entity wishing MHS to list your volunteer opportunities or an entity whose information below has changed, please contact school counseling at 732-321-8700 x 5020.
Organization | The ARC of Middlesex County |
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Location | 22119 Black Horse Lane, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 |
Description | The organization is dedicated to promoting equal life opportunities for people who have developmental disabilities. Volunteers will assist in the office or with fundraising. Call and discuss other possible contributions that suit your interests and skills. Monday – Friday; days & some evenings. |
Requirements | Not specified or unknown |
Contact Info | Phone: (732) 821-1199 ext 139 or email here |
Website |
Organization | American Red Cross |
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Location | Westfield, Somerset or Princeton areas (depending on service) |
Description | Help out at blood drives, provide service to armed forces such as visiting the Lion’s Veteran’s Hospital, work at various community events, run fire safety trailer, etc. Some programs require training for volunteers. Consider joining Red Cross Youth Council to connect with ongoing involvement. |
Requirements | Some age restrictions, depending on the service |
Contact Info | Volunteer Coordinators: Joelle Piercy at 609-951-2123 or Suzanne Anderson at 908-232-7090 Ext. 2019 |
Website |
Organization | Borough Improvement League |
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Location | P.O. Box 174, Metuchen |
Description | Junior Volunteer; Volunteer activities include art curating, yard work and gardening, helping at historic house tours and serving events, and helping at the annual Metuchen Zombie Walk in late October. |
Requirements | Grades 6-12 |
Contact Info | Ms. Tyreen Reuter: ayersallenhouse@msn.com |
Website |
Organization | Breaking the Chain through Education |
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Location | MHS – Room 202 (after school) |
Description | Raise money to rescue child slaves and build schools in Ghana, Africa. |
Requirements | Open to all high school students |
Contact Info |
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Website |
Organization | Buddy Ball |
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Location | Roosevelt Park & various other locations |
Description | Buddy Ball is a youth sports and social organization for children of special needs. Volunteers will assist kids with special needs in playing ball. |
Requirements | 6th grade and older |
Contact Info | See website for contacts by sport |
Website |
Organization | Catholic Charities |
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Location | 288 Rues Lane, East Brunswick, NJ |
Description | The organization will work with students to find volunteer placement at services such as Ozanam’s Family Shelter, Naomi’s Way transitional housing or at Early Learning Centers, assisting staff and conduct activities for children. |
Requirements | Not specified or unknown |
Contact Info | See website for phone numbers |
Website |
Organization | Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park |
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Location | 37 Christie Street, Edison , NJ |
Description | Greet visitors to the museum. Help with the gift shop and help students with hands-on demonstrations. This organization asks that their volunteers commit to spend a minimum of 30 hours of volunteering. |
Requirements | Must be 15 years of age or older |
Contact Info | |
Website |
Organization | Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen |
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Location | 18 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 |
Description | Help feed the hungry. Help prepare food and/or clean up. |
Requirements | Age requirements vary for different duties, but the minimum age is 14. |
Contact Info | See website for information |
Website |
Organization | March of Dimes - Team Youth Program |
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Location | 2400 Main Street Ext., Suite 1, Sayreville, NJ 08872 |
Description | The mission of March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Team Youth ensures volunteers have access to: age- appropriate and mission-relevant health education information; community, state and national leadership opportunities, and fundraising activities that are fun and rewarding. Help raise awareness, organize fundraisers, and serve on chapter or division boards. |
Requirements | Not specified or unknown |
Website |
Organization | Metuchen-Edison Historical Society |
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Location | 480 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen |
Description | Volunteer opportunities include photographing buildings along assigned streets and special sites, conducting documenting interviews with long-time residents (oral history) and preserving and maintaining the Colonial Cemetery. |
Requirements | High school students |
Contact Info | Ms. Tyreen Reuter at ayersallenhouse@msn.com |
Website |
Organization | Metuchen Municipal Alliance |
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Location | Borough Hall, Metuchen |
Description | The vision for the Metuchen Municipal Alliance is an informed and engaged community working to reduce underage drinking, the recreational use of marijuana (including vaping), and the abuse of prescription drugs among adults and youths. The mission for the Metuchen Municipal Alliance is to partner with the schools, the YMCA, and other organizations in town to reach adults and youth through programs and initiatives that inform, engage, and change attitudes towards a healthy, substance-free lifestyle. |
Contact Info | |
Website |
Organization | Metuchen Public Library Book Friends |
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Location | 480 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen |
Description | Volunteers meet weekly in July with a 1st or 2nd grader in a supervised program with varied reading and word fun activities and crafts. There is a mandatory training session in June. |
Requirements | Students in grades 8-12; Application required; available online in June |
Contact Info | YA Librarian, Kathy Liss; kliss@lmxac.org ; 732-632-8526 |
Website |
Organization | Metuchen Public Library TAB – Teen Advisory Board |
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Location | 480 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen |
Description | TAB members attend monthly decision-making meetings to plan and promote Young Adult programming and initiatives like author visits, book groups, the Garden State Book Awards, and the annual YA Library Scavenger Hunt. TAB members also assist at the other events. The TAB meets September – May. |
Requirements | Grades 6-12 |
Contact Info | YA Librarian, Kathy Liss; kliss@lmxac.org ; 732-632-8526 |
Website |
Organization | Metuchen First Aid Squad |
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Location | The Metuchen First Aid Squad provides free ambulance service to the residents of Metuchen and surrounding communities. |
Description | Cadet Program: |
Requirements | High school students; ages 16-18 |
Application | |
Website |
Organization | Metuchen Senior Citizen Center |
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Location | 15 Center Street, Metuchen |
Description | Assist with various small jobs and tasks, such as raking leaves, removing snow, etc. |
Requirements | High school age |
Contact Info |
Organization | NAACP |
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Location | Various |
Description | Various programs |
Requirements | Various |
Contact Info |
Organization | Power of Friendship |
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Location | MHS – Room 202 |
Description | High school students (in groups of 2 or 3) will visit with students with special needs at their homes, once a week for one hour |
Requirements | Open to high school students |
Contact Info | |
Website | Not applicable |
Organization | Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick |
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Location | Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 |
Description | A group of 8-10 volunteers, with an adult for supervision, may use their kitchen and cook dinner for the families that are staying there. The program is called the Caring Cooks program. They also look for volunteers to run a can tab drive. They collect tabs for cans and then turn them into a local recycling facility which pays them for the tabs. |
Requirements | Not specified or unknown |
Contact Info | |
Website |
Organization | YMCA of Metuchen |
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Location | 483 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840 |
Description | Volunteers are needed for swimming lessons, the pre-school program and summer camp. One day opportunities exist to help others in the community and with events like Tot Trot and an annual 5K event. |
Requirements | Not specified or unknown |
Website |
Organization | Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University |
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Location | 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick |
Description | ZAMbassadors Program; Volunteers help the museum fulfill its mission to serve both university and community audiences. Volunteer activities range from those demanding dedicated commitment and pre-training, to others requiring only enthusiasm and a desire to help the Zimmerli provide enjoyable and meaningful experiences for its audiences. Volunteer activities include guiding tours as trained docents, planning membership events, and providing administrative support. |
Requirements | High school students; grades 10-12 |
Contact Info | Send an email to: education@zimmerli.rutgers.edu or call 848-932-7237 |
Website | http://www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu/about/opportunities#.UGHH3MmF9tI |