Celebrating 30 Years

of Transforming Lives

A Pipeline of Services & Support

NJCDC is revitalizing Paterson, New Jersey through education, youth development, affordable housing, and community building Initiatives.

Education

Youth Development

Affordable & Supportive Housing

Community Building

Latest News

10 Moments That Defined NJCDC in 2025

Looking back on a year of learning, leadership, and shared commitment across Paterson

NJCDC’s Biggest Gift & Toy Drive Yet Brings Holiday Joy to Over 1,700 Paterson Children

Paterson families came together for NJCDC’s longest-standing holiday tradition

Paterson Youth Council Explores the Power of Art

Local Creatives Inspire Students to See Art as Expression, Connection, and Civic Action

MORE NEWS

30th Anniversary Video

Happy 30th birthday, NJCDC! Learn more about our mission to create opportunities to transform lives in Paterson and its Great Falls Neighborhood.

Why We Focus on Paterson

Paterson is New Jersey’s third-largest city — and also one of its poorest. Due to more than 50 years of entrenched poverty, underperforming schools, and high unemployment rates, Paterson currently faces a multitude of socioeconomic issues:

156,639

Residents

12%

156,639

of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher

21%

156,639

live below the poverty level

73%

156,639

of housing units are renter-occupied

65%

156,639

of renters spend 30%+ of their income on rent

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Our Work!

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92¢

of Every Dollar Donated goes directly to our Programs & Services

4K+

Children and Families Served Daily

200+

Affordable/Supportive Housing Units Built

Every Monday–Friday night at the Great Falls Youth Center, our students sit down and share a meal together. 🍽️

On the menu: Beef Udon 🍜

But it all starts in the kitchen.
On Fridays, Mr. Fioli, who also leads a culinary class with Compete for Life at JFK High School, whips up dinner alongside student helpers.

It’s more than cooking. It’s connection, teamwork, and learning real-life skills that students carry beyond the table.

Because community is built one meal at a time. ❤️
#GreatFallsYouthCenter #NJCDC #CommunityCare #LifeSkills #YouthDevelopment

🎶 Do you love playing music? 🎶
Want to be part of something exciting?

Join us at the @greatfalls_youthcenter , 52 Front Street, for instrument classes with Juan Ubeira of Domisol Academy and be part of building a band!

📍 Location: 52 Front Street, Paterson, NJ
🕓 Wednesdays 4-6 and Saturdays 2:30-4:30

Come learn, play, and create music together!

Wishing those who celebrate a Happy Three Kings' Day!

@NJCDC gifted children with toys in celebration of Three Kings Day.
Neighborhood Help Center

A new year begins — and we’re stepping into it with gratitude.

As we turn the page on another year, we want to thank the staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters who made real progress possible in Paterson. Your generosity and belief in this work continue to strengthen our community and expand opportunity for so many.

Here’s to a year of momentum, purpose, and possibility. Wishing you and your loved ones health, joy, and a hopeful start to 2026.

3,000 followers. One shared belief: Paterson deserves investment, opportunity, and joy.

Thank you for helping us spotlight the people, places, and programs that make our city stronger every day. Your support keeps this work moving forward.

Our @greatfalls_youthcenter community came together for a festive holiday party full of games, music, delicious dinner, and plenty of gifts—but most of all, joy and connection. 🎁

Moments like these remind us what the season is all about: celebrating our youth, our families, and the strength of our community. Happy Holidays!

This Christmas Eve, we continued the tradition with our 32nd Annual Holiday Gift & Toy Drive and Christmas Eve Party, delivering joy, warmth, and thousands of gifts to children and families across the city. Over 7,500 donated toys collected, benefitting hundreds of families.
❤️💚 Thank you to our supporters for making this possible! ❤️💚

#christmas #toydrive

This Christmas, we’re deeply thankful for the staff, volunteers, and supporters who show up for our community with compassion and purpose — not just during the holidays, but all year long. Because of you, families are supported, young people are uplifted, and community remains at the center of everything we do.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate — and happy holidays to everyone marking this season in their own way!

✨ It’s almost that magical time! ✨🎁

700 boxes filled with presents were packed and are ready to spread joy, smiles, and holiday cheer to families across our community.

Our incredible @americorps members and @NJCDC staff have been working nonstop to prepare for our 32nd Annual Holiday Gift & Toy Drive—and we couldn’t have done it without YOU. Now… who’s ready to party?! 🎉🎄

A heartfelt THANK YOU to every donor and volunteer who shared their time, gifts, and love. Together, we’re making the holidays brighter for so many families.

@americorps_paterson

The Grinch came to town… and he didn’t steal a thing! 💚🎄.

@njcdc’s Saturday Youth Arts Program celebrated the holidays with a Grinch-themed party full of creativity, music, and BIG smiles. From festive crafts and holiday tunes to a surprise visit from the Grinch himself—who handed out presents! 🎁
Every child also created their very own stuffed animal, with an outfit, and a certificate to mark the moment. 🧸

This week, NJCDC celebrated the holidays with our housing residents and friends! 🎄

We’re so grateful to share joyful moments together and wish you all a season filled with warmth, peace, and happiness. Thank you for celebrating with us. We loved spending this special time with you! 💙

Cake by ShopRite of Fair Lawn

Huge thanks to @projectpaterson for delivering an incredible 1,922 toys this year! Your dedication and generosity will bring so much joy, hope, and holiday magic to children and families across our community.

We are deeply grateful to all of our donors and volunteers. Your kindness is making the holidays brighter for over 600 families.💙🎁

Thanks for the 🍪's Kim Forte of Boonton!

Holiday joy, the Hawthorne Heights way ✨🎄

NJCDC’s Hawthorne Heights residents celebrated the season with food, music, dancing, and plenty of smiles. Happy Holiday!

Good food. Sweet moments. Holiday magic. ✨

Our Hawthorne Heights residents celebrated the season with gingerbread houses, music, singing, dancing, and lots of smiles, all wrapped in the warmth of community. 🎄

Pascack Hills High School’s @projectpaterson shows up for Paterson year after year💙

This incredible community service club organizes volunteer trips and donation drives to support families in Paterson. This year, 75 students joined us to thoughtfully organize and hand-pick toys for each family, ensuring every child had a gift to brighten their holiday. We’re so grateful for your continued generosity and heart for service.🎁
#hillspride

Do you know someone making a real difference in Paterson? Now’s your chance to honor them.

The @pyc_njcdc is now accepting nominations for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Recognition Awards! We are celebrating individuals and organizations who carry forward Dr. King’s legacy through service, leadership, and a commitment to equality.

Award Categories:
🎓 Middle School Student
🎓 High School Student
🌟 Adult Community Leader
🏛️ Elected Official
💡 Youth-Serving Organization

Help us shine a light on the changemakers who inspire, uplift, and move Paterson forward.

📅 Nomination Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026
📝 Nomination Form: bit.ly/MLK2026awards (link in bio)
📩 Questions or submissions: dgelman@njcdc.org

#MLKLegacy #PatersonPride #YouthLeadership #communitychampions #HonoringTheDream

A huge THANK YOU to @cranfordjaycees and the Cranford Hockey Club for their incredible generosity in support of our annual toy drive, led by our @americorps team.
Your toy donation helps us bring holiday joy to hundreds of families across Paterson, and that impact is felt year after year.

Want to help make the holidays brighter?
Here’s how you can help too:
🎁 Shop our wishlists → Amazon https://bit.ly/njcdcamazon
Target https://bit.ly/njcdctarget
🧸 Drop off toys → Email americorps@njcdc.org
💳 Donate → https://www.njcdc.org/donate
🤝 Volunteer → https://bit.ly/njcdcvolunteer25

@americorps_paterson

Plush toys up, spirits up! 🙌🧸
Huge thanks to the Quigley family! Just unpacking your generous gifts brought so much joy to our @AmeriCorps members and the Compete for Life staff & students from John F. Kennedy High School. These toys are sure to make so many Paterson kids smile!

🎄👀 Who’s taking the crown for the Ugliest Holiday Sweater at the @pvhsteencenter?! 👀🎄

All week long, teens have been glowing up their sweaters with glitter, garland, glue guns, and pure holiday chaos—and honestly… we’re impressed.

❄️ Stay tuned…

@pvhs_hornets

💫Paterson showed up and shone bright!

Over 150 residents joined us at Lou Costello Park to light the Christmas tree and celebrate community together! 🎄

#loucostello #patersonnj #njcdc #

✨ You can make the holidays brighter for a Paterson child!

When you donate to NJCDC’s 32nd Annual Holiday Gift & Toy Drive, you’re helping ensure that local children experience the joy, excitement, and warmth of the holidays — and know that they are seen and celebrated.

Here’s how you can help:
🎁 Shop our wishlists → Amazon [bit.ly/njcdcamazon] | Target [bit.ly/njcdctarget]
🧸 Drop off toys → Email americorps@njcdc.org
💳 Donate → njcdc.org/donate
🤝 Volunteer → bit.ly/njcdcvolunteer25

Every toy, every dollar, and every hour makes a difference — because together, we can create a season of hope and happiness for Paterson’s children.

Grateful for our incredible friends and partners who joined us at this year’s NJCDC Friends Breakfast!

Thank you for supporting our mission and helping us do the work we do every single day.

📢 We're Hiring!

Looking to make a difference in Paterson and beyond? NJCDC is growing — and we're looking for passionate, mission-driven individuals to join our team!

From youth development to community building, we have a range of roles where you can help create real impact.

👉 Swipe to see current openings or visit our Indeed page to learn more and apply today. 🔗 bit.ly/njcdcindeed

**************

#PatersonNJ #NonprofitJobs #NowHiring #CommunityDevelopmentJobs #CommunityDevelopment #YouthDevelopmentJobs #YouthDevelopment #JobAlert

NJCDC proudly welcomes our 31st @americorps class, officially sworn in by NJCDC Board Member and Assemblyman-Elect Kenyatta Stewart, Esq.

We’re incredibly proud of these dedicated members as they begin a year of service, impact, and community building. Congratulations to our newest cohort—let’s make this year truly incredible!

We’re proud to share that NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci has been appointed to Governor-elect @mikiesherrill's Transition Interdisciplinary Advisory Task Force.

This 400-plus-member group brings together leaders from across New Jersey — representing labor, business, veterans, education, healthcare, the environment, and more — to help shape the policy priorities of the incoming Sherrill-Caldwell administration.

Bob’s appointment reflects decades of dedication to creating opportunity and improving quality of life for Paterson residents and communities statewide.

Congratulations, Bob — and thank you for ensuring Paterson’s voice is heard in shaping New Jersey’s future.

We’ve got something special planned for tomorrow.

Giving Tuesday is almost here — and we’re inviting you to help us make the holidays brighter for Paterson kids through our 32nd Annual Holiday Gift & Toy Drive.

Your support ensures every child we serve has a gift to unwrap and a reason to smile.

Stay tuned tomorrow for how you can join in!

Paterson Youth Stepping Up for Their Community 💙

Over 30 amazing young people from the @pyc_njcdc, @americorps_paterson, and the JFK Robotics Club came together for a powerful act of service—making and distributing more than 250 sandwiches outside of @evasvillage.

This hands-on project is part of their ongoing commitment to giving back, supporting neighbors in need, and building a stronger Paterson. Proud of these leaders in the making! 🙌

#PatersonYouth #AmeriCorps #PYC #Robotics #ServeTogether #NJCDC #CommunityFirst #LeadersOfTomorrow

Thanksgiving Eve at the @greatfalls_youthcenter Falls Youth Center was a whole vibe! 🧡🍽️ Together with @americorps_paterson and @bronzeheat, everyone came together for a cozy Friendsgiving full of good food, big laughs, and all the gratitude.

#Friendsgiving #GreatFallsYouthCenter #AmeriCorps #BronzeHeat #CommunityVibes #GratefulHearts

What’s better than fries? Fries that give back. 🥔❤️

Next Tuesday, December 2nd through the 14th, donate a new unwrapped toy at select North Jersey restaurants and enjoy a free potato dish — think cheesy loaded tots, clam chowder fries, and more drool-worthy creations.

All toys benefit NJCDC’s 32nd Annual Holiday Toy Drive, helping us deliver thousands of gifts to hundreds of Paterson families!

Drop off at participating locations:
@smashburger (New Providence, Clark, Montclair, Clifton)⁠ | @7thstreetburgernyc (Hoboken) ⁠| @jacksurfturf (Short Hills, Montclair)⁠ | @thehalalguysnj (Union, Teterboro)⁠ | @thegyroproject (Fort Lee)⁠ | @trosgrk (Harrison)⁠ | @thenuggetspot (Chatham) ⁠

More info at: bit.ly/toysfortaters

Thank you, @yelpnewjersey, for helping make giving back delicious!

One in three New Jersey high schoolers say they would join an afterschool program if one were available.

That’s according to the newly released 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘑𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 3𝘗𝘔 survey, which shows that many NJ families who want afterschool options still don’t have access to them.

Here’s the good news: Paterson students don’t have to wait — they can join ours right now. Our Great Falls Youth Center offers homework help, recreation, career exploration, fitness, leadership development, and a supportive space where teens can be themselves and build real connections.

Interested students and families can enroll by stopping in or applying online:
EN: bit.ly/gfycapp
ES: bit.ly/gfycapp-esp

We’re thrilled to share that Citizens Philanthropic Foundation has awarded NJCDC a $25,000 grant to expand Career Exploration for our @icompete4life program participants and at our @greatfalls_youthcenter — giving Paterson students even more pathways to discover their passions and plan for their futures.

This support will fuel career clubs in culinary arts, journalism, engineering, music production, fashion design, entrepreneurship, and more — and will help provide academic support, mock interviews, financial literacy workshops, and workforce-readiness programming for the 350+ young people we expect to serve.

Thank you to @citizensbank for investing in Paterson’s talent — and for engaging your colleagues as volunteers who will help inspire the next generation of leaders!

We loved celebrating the 14th birthday of the @patersongreatfalls with our friends at the @hamiltonpartnership for Paterson!

Together, we honored the history, spirit, and bright future of this Paterson landmark. 💙

#patersongreatfalls #patersonpride #CommunityPartners #nationalparks @pascrell3rd

Honoring the courage and sacrifice of all who served—and continue to serve—our nation. 🇺🇸
#VeteransDay #HonorOurHeroes #ThankYouVeterans

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We at NJCDC are keenly aware of the challenging economic times. 92 cents of every dollar donated to NJCDC goes directly to programs which help families, teens, children and people with disabilities.

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A Pipeline of Services & Support

Latest News

10 Moments That Defined NJCDC in 2025

NJCDC’s Biggest Gift & Toy Drive Yet Brings Holiday Joy to Over 1,700 Paterson Children

Paterson Youth Council Explores the Power of Art

30th Anniversary Video

Happy 30th birthday, NJCDC! Learn more about our mission to create opportunities to transform lives in Paterson and its Great Falls Neighborhood.

Why We Focus on Paterson

Support Our Work!

​

Support Our Work!

Support
Our Work!