It Takes a Village New Jersey is slowly expanding

The building blocks were laid in April of 2011. They formed a committee, meetings and even gathered volunteers to participate, but they needed to take it further.

It Takes a Village New Jersey (ITAVNJ) is slowly expanding its helping capacity after receiving insurance allowing volunteers to drive its clients to doctors’ visits, physical therapy and even the local library.

Moorestown residents Irv and Trudi Herman started ITAVNJ as volunteer run, non-profit organization to aid residents of the Burlington County area. Members of the ITAV help the elderly and disabled and are now looking into aiding veterans who are coming home.

Trudi Herman, recording secretary for ITAV, mentioned that the organization is willing to aid anyone who needs it, but they must be evaluated before they can officially become a client.

The organization can reach clients in Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Cinnaminson, Delran and Maple Shade.

Volunteers are trained during orientation sessions to help various kinds of clients. According to Herman, each volunteer must complete one session before they can physically assist clients. While most people take everyday chores, such as laundry, grocery shopping and taking out the trash, for granted, the ITAV volunteers are there assisting the elderly and disabled who are unable to perform certain tasks.

According to ITAV’s website, volunteers will perform tasks such as shop for groceries, run errands, visit and provide companionship, offer a brief break for family care-givers and call members to chat.

“They have to ask for help,” Herman said.

Without asking for help ITAV would not have any clients, but they are always looking for volunteers.

Herman said the organization is looking for a younger crowd. So far, ITAV has volunteers ranging from 40 to 70 years old.

Herman and her husband, Irv, continue to go to the Laurel Acres Park in Mount Laurel to try and find a younger crowd who can perform task such as grocery shopping and carry heavy loads. Herman said by getting younger people involved it will keep the organization going.

“You have to get younger people and people that are enthused,” Herman said.

The next ITAV meeting is on Tuesday Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Moorestown Library. For more information about the organization, visit www.itavnj.org or call (856) 396–5783.