Community Calendar

Note that all events posted are subject to change and/or cancellation without notice here. Submissions are subject to review and posting is not automatic nor guaranteed. Not responsible for typographical errors. Once an event is posted an update is not guaranteed.

Events being held on line are welcome. Please provide at least two weeks notice.


March

Thursday, March 23 – Sunday, March 26

Garden State Film Festival
The 21st annual Garden State Film Festival takes place Thursday, March 23 – Sunday, March 26 in Asbury Park and Cranford with screenings, discussions and more. Click gsff.org for a schedule of events and tickets.


Sunday, March 26

Paint the Pony Purple
Epilepsy Services of New Jersey holds their Paint the Pony Purple benefit concert at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, a family-friendly benefit concert for individuals living with Epilepsy and their families from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Click familyresourcenetwork.org for tickets and more information.


Tuesday, March 28

Spring College Kick Off Fair
The Ocean County School Counselors Association hosts their 9th annual Spring College Kick Off Fair at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena on the campus of Toms River High School North from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. featuring over 130 colleges, universities, technical schools and the armed forces. There will also be HESAA financial aide workshops at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. and an NCAA informational workshop at 7 p.m. in the school's auditorium.


April

Saturday, April 1

Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade (postponed from 3/11)
The Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at 1 p.m. on the Boulevard in Seaside Heights. Click ocstpatricksdayparade.com for more information.

Comedy Night
Jackson FMBA Local 86 hosts a Comedy Night at the Cassville Firehouse located at 785 Miller Avenue in Jackson starting at 6 p.m. Check their Facebook page for tickets and more information.


Friday, April 21

Comedy Night
Warhorse SCUBA hosts a Comedy Night at the Patterson Family Barn located at 636 Adelphia Road in Freehold starting at 6 p.m. Warhorse SCUBA is a non-profit group that helps combat veterans to provide facilities, equipment and trained recreational SCUBA professionals. Call 732-616-2407 or click warhorsescuba.com for tickets and more information.


Saturday, April 29

Spring Luncheon & Gift Auction
CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties hosts their 36th annual Spring Luncheon & Gift Auction at Spring Lake Manor on Route 71 in Spring Lake from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in support of their 24/7 crisis intervention & suicide prevention helpline. Click contactoceanmonmouth.org/events/ for more information.


Saturday, April 22

Casino Night
A Need We Feel holds the 4th annual Casino Night at the Toms River Elks on Washington Street in Toms River from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. Click aneedwefeed.org for tickets and more information.

Veterans Dance
The Cpl. William H Smith det. Marine Corps League hosts a Veterans Dance a the VFW on Route 9 in Bayville starting at 6 p.m. Call 732-674-7504 for tickets and more information.


May

Friday, May 12

Comedy for a Cause
The Jackson Police Explorers host Comedy for a Cause at the Jackson Mills Fire Station on County Line Road starting at 6 p.m. in support of “Baby Ethan,” a 2-year-old boy in need of a kidney transplant. Comedians from Uncle Vinny’s Comedy Club will perform. Check their Facebook page for tickets and more information.


Saturday, May 20

Mental Health and Wellness Fair
The OceanCares Foundation hosts a Mental Health and Wellness Fair at Traders Cove Marina located at 40 Mantoloking Road in Brick from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. with vendors, yoga and more. Click brightharbor.org for more information.


June

Saturday, June 10

Lions, Tigers, and Beers Festival
Popcorn Park Zoo hosts their 2nd annual Lions, Tigers, and Beers Festival at the zoo in Forked River from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. featurimg tastings of over 30 local beers, wines, and craft cocktails while strolling the 7-acre animal refuge. Click ahs.givecloud.co/LTB2023 for tickets and more information.


Around The Shore 

Literacy New Jersey - Ocean County

Nearly 20% of adults in New Jersey cannot read a newspaper, fill out a job application, decipher train or bus schedules or understand verbal instructions at work or at a doctor’s office. If you are 18 years or older and want to help these people, please contact Literacy New Jersey - Ocean County Programs. They need volunteer tutors to teach basic reading, writing and English comprehension skills to residents of Ocean County. Call 732-864-9646 or click LiteracyNJ.org for more information.

Lacey Township EMT Seeks Members

Have you always wanted to help others, be an important part of your community and gain invaluable experience while truly making a difference in the lives of others? They can't offer you a pay-check but can offer rewards and experiences beyond what you would ever receive elsewhere. Lacey Township Emergency Medical Service is looking for new members who are at least sixteen years of age or older to volunteer and staff one of our ambulances. Training provided and no experience is necessary. Instead of watching EMT's and ambulances on television become one today. Click LTEMS23.com for an application & or call 609-693-9510.

Emmanuel Cancer Foundation

The the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation provides a variety of specialized services, at no charge, to any New Jersey family facing the challenges of caring for a child with cancer. accomplish this through professional in-home counseling, advocacy on behalf of the families, material support such as food, clothing, toys, and household items and emergency financial relief. Call 908-322-4323 or click EmmanuelCancer.org for additional information.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors USA

Neighbors HelpingNeighbors USA is a free, peer-led volunteer job search networking and support group targeted to individuals who are actively looking for work and interested in reinvgorating their job search.Membership is open to anyone in career transition, including unemployed, underemployed individuals and recent college graduates in the fields of business, non-profit, and education, as well as persons re entering the job market, struggling small business owners and anyone looking for part-time or volunteer work. Click nhnusa.org for meeting locations around New Jersey.

The Childhood Leukemia Foundation

The Childhood Leukemia Foundation is a national nonprofit organization devoted to making a difference in lives of children battling cancer. Since their inception in 1992, their mission has remained resolute to create innovative free programs to support the emotional needs of pediatric cancer patients and their families too. Located in Brick, CLF’s welcomes groups and individuals seeking volunteer opportunities. Visit clf4kids.org or call 732-920-8860 for more infomation.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) holds volunteer training throughout New Jersey. The goal of the CASA volunteer is to facilitate placement of a child into safe, permanent home. They are looking for individuals with a desire to help children – no special background is needed. Call 732-270-6803 or visit oceancountycasa.org for more information.

The Hope Center at the House of Hope of Oceans County, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides help and hope for those who are in need. Their mission is to provide resources, referrals, food and targeted financial assistance to clients as they work to overcome life crisis. Clients come to them with a variety of needs, including shelter for the homeless or to help with other urgent needs, which are paid through their Human Needs Fund.

What if it was your friend or family member who needed life saving blood? Would you be there? TheCommunity Blood Council of New Jersey is there, a not-for-profit blood center helping save lives. Help save lives by donating blood or setting up a blood drive in your area. For more information call the Community Blood Council at 877-244-8365.

Each year, there are over 2 million poison exposures reported to Poison Control Centers across the US. The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) has been the state's regional drug and poison information system for the past 25 years. NJPIES is a non-profit organization that offers poison emergency and drug information services to NJ residents via its hotline (1-800-222-1222). Trained health professionals (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) are available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to assist callers with poison emergencies, poison prevention information, drug information, food poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, treatment advice following bites/stings, medication side effects and interactions, etc. All calls are free and confidential. Services are available for the hearing impaired (973-926-8008) and for those who speak languages other than English.

New Jersey’s statewide 2-1-1 Help Line is a 24/7 one-stop, non-emergency call center operated by the United Way for people seeking help & information. Easily accessible by landline, cell phone and the internet at nj211.org, calls are free & confidential with multi-lingual specialists always available. Specialists can provide information & referral services to callers about a variety of issues including basic human needs resources, support for seniors & persons with disabilities, support for children & families, employment support.

You hoped it wouldn’t happen but it has. You’ve lost your job. You’ve got a family to support. Your skills may be out of date. What do you do now? You need the personal support and services of a unique organization. Professional Services Group is ready to help. They can help you with everything from resume writing to interviewing and everything else you need to showcase your valuable skills. If the unthinkable has happened, don’t hesitate. PSG is a no-cost New Jersey Department of Labor supported volunteer organization for professionals in transition. More Info

The County Connection, located near JC Penney’s at the Ocean County Mall, is a service of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders. County residents can learn about programs, services and activities available to them in Ocean County. The County Connection is open regular mall hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays. For more information, call (732)288-7777 or visit the County Connection web site at co.ocean.nj.us.

Einstein’s Alley Vet Career Connect - Einstein’s Alley Vet Career Connect is designed to match members of the New Jersey National Guard, a New Jersey veteran or the spouse of a veteran the veteran, to the career that is perfectly suited to them. This initiative focuses on the individual soldier’s strengths and motivations by using a proven Personality Assessment Profile that has been used by over 25K companies to assess over 2.5 million people. This Profile objectively quantifies an individual’s competencies as well as their strengths and potential and matches those core strengths to the requirements of a job. The expected outcome is a career and not just a job – with the employer needs matched to the employee’s career desires. For more information call (609)524-1200.

Dell’Omo Realtors in located at 3455 Route 66 in Neptune is teaming with the Monmouth County SPCA to find homes for people and pets. With every home sold Dell’Omo Realtors will sponsor a pet at the shelter. The office will also act as a drop-off location for blankets, towels other items for the MSPCA’s pets. For more information call (732)531-5008 or visit dellomorealtors.com

Ocean County Hunger Relief is collecting children's clothes, coats, & shoes (sizes infant to teen), book bags, and lunch boxes for needy children in Ocean County. There is a desperate need because the organization almost never has these items. Especially needed are baby items such as diapers, wipes, shampoo, baby wash, etc. The children receiving the donations are either very poor or homeless. Donations may be dropped off at the Hunger Relief office on North Main Street in Toms River or by calling (732) 505-HELP or by visiting ochungerrelief.org.

Jersey Shore Partnership - Did you know that bathing water quality at New Jersey’s ocean and bay beaches is checked at least once a week? Testing is done more frequently here than in any other state to make sure that our water is safe for swimming. New Jersey has set the standard for nationwide water quality testing. The Jersey Shore Partnership is New Jersey’s leading champion for beach protection and replenishment. To learn more, visit jerseyshorepartnership.com.

The Ashley Lauren Foundation, a non profit, charitable organization dedicated to bringing hope and help to children in New Jersey who have been diagnosed with cancer seeks volunteers throughout the state to help them achieve this goal. Volunteer opportunities include providing material & emotional support, helping with parties & other fun activities for the children, helping with grant writing, public relations and media support, legal assistance, office help and printing services. Please call 732-458-4200 or visit ashleylaurenfoundation.org for more information.

Did you know nearly twenty percent of adults living in New Jersey cannot read a newspaper, fill out a job application, decipher a train or bus schedule, or understand verbal instructions in the workplace? Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County is seeking volunteer tutors to teach basic literacy and English as a Second Language to local residents in Monmouth County. There are presently students waiting for tutors. They need your help. Training classes are being conducted now and throughout the coming months. Contact Literacy Volunteers of Monmouth County at 732-571-0209 or visit www.lvmonmouthnj.org.