Volunteering

Here are two terrific CHNJ Volunteer Stories... and please check back soon for a list of the many ways you can help Covenant House New Jersey!

A Story from the Streets - Kelly and Aisha

She grew up in an elite New Jersey suburb and was headed off to Princeton that week, but on this hot summer night she had come to do street outreach in the inner city of Newark.  In fact, at a fundraiser, she had begged her father to bid on the “prize” of joining a shift of the Outreach Team and scheduled it to be her last activity before starting college.  Her driver dropped her off on the corner near Covenant House as we were loading up the juice, water and chips. 

Out on the streets, we drove by the areas where the prostitutes work, but saw no kids. We pulled into the Seth Boyden apartment complex, one of the notorious 'projects' in Newark, and she was amazed at the response - kids everywhere pressing up to our van.  She stepped out of the van and scooped up a four-year boy who ran towards us for a drink.  His parents were nowhere to be found; the neighborhood seemed to be looking after him.  We gave out juices, water, and chips as fast as we could – along with plenty of Covenant House cards telling the youth how they could reach us for help.  She was so overwhelmed by their gratitude that she forgot to be scared. More.....

A Woman Inspired - Barbara Kenas

Through an accidental encounter with one of our Covenant House staff in September of 1999, Barbara Kenas began a journey with Covenant House that continues today.  Barbara is a real-estate agent with Remax and was showing an apartment, where one of our Covenant House employees, Marvine, was living.  Barbara noticed that Marvine was quite distraught during the showing of her home and after the prospective tenant left, Barbara asked her what was wrong.  Our employee explained that she worked for Covenant House New Jersey and that one of our kids tried to jump from the building earlier that day.  After talking to our staff member for a while, Barbara asked if there was anything she could do to help.  Marvine said, “We could really use clothes.” More.....