Several groups in North Jersey cater to young professionals who want to volunteer but can’t commit to a regular schedule. For instance, Jersey Cares, based in Morristown, sends out a calendar each month full of activities that can last a few hours to all day. Party with a Purpose throws fundraisers at bars in Hudson County. But now there’s a new kid on the block.
The recently formed Hoboken Volunteers a non- profit organization in whose mission is to connect residents who want to volunteer for local causes and organizations. This weekend, they’ll be raising money for earthquake-ravaged Haiti with a “Chili Cook-Off.”
Why chili?
“I was looking to volunteer in Hoboken myself.” – Timothy Occhipinti
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“Hoboken Volunteers wanted to do an event that anyone can afford to participate in,” added group member Taryn Crosby. “So many people want to help this devastated nation but don’t know how. This event will give them an outlet to give.”
Group origins
Occhipinti, 32, founded the group on Dec. 1 with a launch at the Black Bear that drew 200 people. Other organizations participated, like the Boys and Girls Club of Hoboken, the Hoboken volunteer ambulance squad, the YMCA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Hoboken shelter, and Party with a Purpose. The group has since grown to more than 450 people, drawing many through its Facebook fan page.
Occhipinti ran for City Council as an independent last spring and looked for other ways to get involved. He started the group “Because I was looking to volunteer in Hoboken myself, and a simple web search on Google didn’t return many ways,” he said. “So I figured, what better way to give back than to build an organization so that those looking to volunteer in their community have a web site.”
Occhipinti is an asset manager for a financial firm in New York, working on the IT side. He has only lived in town two and a half years after having lived in West New York and grown up in Rockland County, N.Y.
“It’s for the everyday resident who has a couple of hours on Saturday,” Occhipinti said. “That’s who we’re tailored toward. That’s what we do. We have a calendar. We ask our partnered organizations to participate in events.”
The cook-off will be judged by local chef “Hoboken Eddie,” famous for the barbecue sauces he sells in gourmet grocery stores.
The event will be held on Feb. 27 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Shannon on First and Bloomfield. Wristbands will be sold for $20 and will entitle participants to free chili and $2 domestic drafts.
Occhipinti said, “We’re very excited to do something to help the suffering of a devastated nation. Haiti will need assistance for many months to come, and Hoboken Volunteers wanted to provide an outlet for Hoboken residents to give to the cause and have some fun while doing it.”
A portion of the proceeds with benefit the American Red Cross and their efforts in Haiti.
They encourage interested persons to contact Info@hobokenvolunteers.com to find out how to enter their chili or to get more information about the event.