COMMUNITY OUTREACH
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As a non-profit offering financial education and counseling services
to individuals in our communities, we become acutely aware of numerous
other needs that exist. As a result, Novadebt reaches out into our
communities in which we live and work. We have established an Outreach
group, consisting of employees who actively volunteer or pursue projects
in the neighborhoods of our many office locations. Take a moment and
see what we have been doing to help make our communities stronger.
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United Way of Monmouth County |
School Time Wishes
Novadebt employees are in the process of helping Monmouth County children in need to get ready for school to begin after Labor Day. This is our third year of involvement with the United Way of Monmouth County’s SchoolTime Wishes effort. This program brings together over 100 companies and organizations that host drives for donations of new school supplies and then subsequently assist in the counting, sorting and distributing of those items.
From July 16, 2007 through August 8, 2007, we will be collecting donations in our Freehold, New Jersey office. Outreach team members will then help count and sort the donated items through August 16. Finally, on August 17, 2007, the school supplies will be distributed throughout Monmouth County, in order for the children to have their supplies ready and waiting for their first day back to school. Last year, the SchoolTime Wishes drive collected over 25,000 school supplies through the cooperation of hundreds of employees from 80 companies located in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Baby Bundle Wishes
Spring means new beginnings and in that light Novadebt became involved in the Baby Bundle Wishes effort. During April, our employees collected new supplies such as baby clothes, food, monitors, diapers, formula, etc. to be donated to families in need who were identified by social service agencies in Monmouth County. Through coordination by the United Way, baby supplies were collected from participating agencies, dropped off to a central location and sorted. United Way agencies then distributed the supplies to expectant mothers and families.
Day of Caring
In March 2007 Novadebt employees worked on Day of Caring Projects with two Monmouth County organizations that needed some “helping hands”!! The United Way of Monmouth County Day of Caring offers local companies and their employees the opportunity to volunteer at a nonprofit agency. The first project involved working with Monmouth Day Care Center, a nonprofit childcare center dedicated to the care of children ages two months to five years. Located in Red Bank, New Jersey. Novadebt volunteers interacted with the children by reading, coloring, or just visiting and assisting where needed.
Our second project was coordinated with the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Located in Neptune, New Jersey, this organization accepts donated and surplus perishable and nonperishable food from local and national sources. The food is then sorted and packed for distribution to over 200 are nonprofits. Novadebt volunteers worked one day assisting in sorting the donations and repacking or distribution.
Winter Coat Wishes
To help ease the cold of winter, Novadebt employees participated in the United Way of Monmouth County Winter Coat Wishes by collecting new and gently used winter coats that were distributed to those in need throughout Monmouth County
Snowflake Wishes
The 2006 Snowflake Wishes effort was a huge success. Novadebt employees joined other organizations in donating gifts to young and old alike in order to help make their holidays a little more special. 5,092 tags were distributed by the United Way to 160 corporate and community partners throughout Monmouth County. 3,581 tags were returned with 10,151 gifts distributed to over 4,000 Monmouth County children, adults and seniors. The gifts were distributed through 33 different programs at 28 partnering non profit agencies. Over 71 volunteers, including many from Novadebt, assisted in sorting and distributing these gifts. Our employees saw first hand that our efforts extended well beyond what was accomplished here in our office.
Birthday Wishes
Outreach group members are involved with the Birthday Wishes effort in conjunction with the Howell Senior Center in Howell, NJ. Novadebt provides birthday cakes for their monthly luncheon celebration. Two Novadebt employees go to the center each month to assist with the lunch and celebration that follows.
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New Jersey Financial Literacy Awareness Network
Novadebt is proud to be a sponsor of the New Jersey Financial Literacy Awareness Network (NJ FLAN). NJ FLAN is an association of public and private organizations working to put much-needed financial educational and resource materials, in English and Spanish, in the hands of adults and children throughout the state. Our agency facilitates monthly workshops on financial management at One Stop locations for unemployed individuals located in New Brunswick, NJ and Perth Amboy, NJ.
New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education
The goal of the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education is to improve the personal financial literacy of New Jersey's citizens by promoting the teaching of personal finance to people of all ages. The Coalition believes that all citizens of New Jersey must have the financial literacy necessary to make informed financial decisions. Novadebt employees participate as workshop leaders and exhibitors at Coalition conferences and interact with other member organizations in providing the providing the tools and resources to help achieve financial stability. Our Education Developer serves as Treasurer of this organization.
Monmouth County Fair Housing Board
Our Director of Counseling and Education is a Board member of this group. The Fair Housing Board meets monthly to discuss fair housing issues in Monmouth County. Our agency has had the opportunity to present information regarding various financial topics such as the Bankruptcy Reform Act, etc.
Rutgers University Co-Operative Extension Financial Resource Management Advisory Committee
Our Director of Counseling and Education, along with our Education Developer, attend these advisory meetings. The purpose of this group is to provide feedback to the Rutgers Co-Operative Extension Chair on Financial Literacy programs at the school.
Financial Education Workshops
Financial education is the core of our organization and is provided at no cost to any individual in need through counseling services, written materials and workshops. We have provided workshops in collaboration with organizations throughout New Jersey, and have networked with many social service agencies to meet their needs. We are involved with over 200 social service agencies nationwide. Some of the organizations with whom we work on a monthly basis are as follows:
Additional workshops were provided with participants of the following groups:
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American Cancer Society Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk
Novadebt employees are involved in various fundraisers for this initiative, which will culminate in our participation in the Making Strides Breast Cancer walk in Point Pleasant, New Jersey in October 2007.
Central Jersey Blood Bank
In June, Novadebt sponsored our sixth blood drive in conjunction with the Central Jersey Blood Bank. Neighboring businesses were also able to participate as the “Bloodmobile” parked directly in our Freehold, NJ location parking lot. When the drive was completed, those in need of blood received donations from those who were able to give that “gift of life”.
Pediatric Unit of Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Novadebt employees volunteer three hours of their time once a month to help in the pediatric unit of the hospital, visiting with patients and their families, assisting the nursing floor staff and helping in the Pediatric Day Stay surgical unit.
Child Protection Center at Jersey Shore University Hospital
Novadebt employees are involved with the “Tidy Totes” Program at the Center.
“Tidy Totes” is an initiative where donated travel size items are grouped together and placed in travel size cosmetic bags. These totes are then distributed to the parent/guardian and children, who come to the Center, in order to allow them to have a little something of their own to help keep them clean. Items donated by Novadebt employees are collected and then brought to the Child Protection Center on a quarterly basis.
First Call For Help
Novadebt is listed as a resource and provides information to hotline representatives for individuals dealing with a financial hardship.
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