Social Services
MISSION STATEMENT
The Social Services department has two missions, the first mission is to enhance the lives of the senior population by providing programs with activities designed to improve their overall health and wellbeing and keep them living independently as long as possible. Our second mission is to provide supplemental services to those residents less fortunate than most.
Cathy Faerber
Assistant Director
Lee Santaromita
Office Administratior
Kimberly Elbaum
Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Roberts P/T Administrative Assistant
Dawn Spinelli
Senior Transportation Driver
Joseph Gonzalez Senior Transportation Driver
Department News
Social Services Partners With Communities in Crisis
Social Services Announces the 2024 Community Assistance Network (C.A.N.) Annual Holiday Food and Gift Drive
Contact Us
908-369-3880
Address
Hillsborough Township
Social Services Department
379 South Branch Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Department Hours
M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
The Home Energy Assistance Program helps very low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program.
Click HERE for more information.
Affordable Housing
For information regarding the availability of affordable housing units in Hillsborough, and guidance on how to qualify for or rent an affordable housing unit, please contact the Township’s Administrative Agent – Patricia Gallagher, at CMEAssociates (732) 462-7400 x1030 or pgallagher@cmeusa1.com
Hillsborough Twp. Affordable Housing FAQ's & Timeline
Official web-site of the State of NJ for Affordable Housing
To be considered for rental units, please download a preliminary application and follow the instructions.
Register Ready - Register Ready gives residents with disabilities or access and functional needs and their families, friends, caregivers, and associates an opportunity to provide information to fire, first aid and law enforcement agencies, so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency. The information collected is confidential and will not be available to the public; it will be held securely and used only for emergency response and planning.
Code Red – Code Red delivers brief, informational messages to residents via text message, email and phone message. Messages range in from updates on upcoming events to emergency notifications and closures.
NJ-ALERT – NJ Office of Emergency Management – sign up to be alerted about state emergencies.
The Hillsborough Township Social Services Department houses the Community Assistance Network (C.A.N.), a food pantry that is totally supported by donations, and serves Hillsborough residents experiencing food insecurity.
Residents interested in assistance obtaining food may apply using one of the maroon buttons below to print out an application.
If you do not have access to a printer, please feel free to contact our office at the number below and one will be mailed to you.
Once completed, please stop by or call the office to schedule an appointment.
In Need of Assistance?
You’re not alone. The Hillsborough Community Assistance Network (CAN) is here to lend a helping hand. Those residents in need of temporary food assistance should complete an application and submit it to the Social Services Department.
WHAT WE NEED WHEN YOU APPLY:
- A completed original application (no copies of the application please)
- A copy of the signature page of your rental, lease or mortgage agreement with a Hillsborough Township address on it
- A copy of a valid Photo I.D. to the Hillsborough Township Social Services Department. Our office is able to make copies of your monthly mortgage payment statement and your valid photo I.D. should you need us to do that.
For more information regarding the use of the C.A.N. Food Pantry please email CAN@hillsborough-nj.org , call us 908-369-3880 listed below or stop by our office.
The Hillsborough Township Social Services Department houses the Community Assistance Network (C.A.N.), a food pantry that is totally supported by donations, and serves Hillsborough residents experiencing food insecurity.
Contact CAN via email at CAN@hillsboroughnj.gov
Donations may be made to the food bank in one of 3 ways:
- Food and non-perishable items – purchase items and drop them off at the address listed below. Donations of food items such as boxed pasta, potatoes, and rice, canned goods such as vegetables, fruit, meats and soups, tea and coffee, toiletry items including deodorant and shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning products are greatly appreciated.
- Gift Cards – purchase gift cards to our local grocery stores, ShopRite/Weis/Walmart, and drop them off. (Please do not mail gift cards)
- Monetary Donation – checks made out to Hillsborough C.A.N. and mailed to Hillsborough Township Community Assistance Network or make an online donation.
Directions / Instructions for dropping off donations
Location:
The Hillsborough Township Community Assistance Network (C.A.N.) is housed in the Social Services Department located at the municipal complex, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough.
Facing the front of the Municipal Complex from South Branch Road, drive past the playground on your left and turn into the Health/Social Services parking lot after that on your right.
Drop off:
From the parking lot walk towards the wooden gazebo and garden area. Enter the building through the double doors located directly across from the gazebo. Our office is the second door on your left.
Contactless donations may also be left in the donation drop box off which is located near the glass entry doors.
Empty (requested) C.A.N Items:
Pasta- straight
Pasta- other
Rice
Soup
coffee
tea
gravy
sides
Laundry detergent
Dishwashing detergent
Syrup
Snacks
Peas, Carrots and mixed veggies
Hair conditioner
Deodorant
Community Collections and Food Drives
To donate large quantities of food/items or hold a drive for the C.A.N. Food Pantry, please fill out this form.
food pantry/service, please visit the Food Access page on the Somerset County website.
Senior Wellness
In order to provide safe and appropriate levels of exercise, we have partnered with the YMCA to offer classes modeled after Enhanced Fitness Program for our senior population. Each class is taught by an experienced instructor who holds a nationally accredited Group Exercise Certification and is CPR/AED certified, as well. Classes are all-inclusive and take place in the YMCA facility. (Please register in the Social Services Office).
The classes meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 45 minutes. It is recommended that you have your physician’s approval prior to beginning any exercise program.
For those residents who are interested in joining the program, the program is currently accepting new participants. Please click on the button below to provide your information, and our staff will contact you.
Enhanced Fitness is a physical activity program that is designed to safely increase participants’ fitness levels through aerobic and strength training exercises while building a sense of community and social connectedness among class members. Enhance Fitness has been proven to increase participants’ strength, balance, flexibility, mood, general activity level, and independence when they attend on a regular basis.
The program is beneficial for older adults in general, but has been deemed particularly safe and effective for older adults living with arthritis and is listed as recommended arthritis intervention by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants' progress can be followed.
It is important to stress, that the participant exercises based on their own abilities. The instructor will help individuals modify their routine based on their fitness ability.
Senior Citizen Clubs
Please contact each club directly for their events.
Coming together for fun and festivities, the Hillsborough Senior Citizen Clubs conduct meetings once a month to discuss senior issues, socialize, and plan exciting trips!
Come join one of our two Senior Clubs and step into an active senior lifestyle.
Anyone interested in joining should contact the desired club directly at the "Membership" number below.
Senior Line Dancing (Rockettes and Rocket Dance Troupe)
This class provides seniors with an active, creative outlet. Known as the Hillsborough Rockettes and Rocket, this energetic group of men and women works together each week to practice different line dance routines. The emphasis is on enjoyment and laughter. Our instructor is a professional choreographer and dance teacher with many years of experience.
The Rockettes and Rockets perform at various locations throughout the year. Many local nursing home residents have been entertained by this vivacious group. They have also performed at many community events such as the Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade and Picnic and the Independence Day Celebration.
This class is open to anyone with an interest in learning new dance routines even if they don’t want to participate in public events. The class meets on Tuesday mornings in the multipurpose room from 9:00 am to 11:30 am.
For further information, please contact Gloria Padgett at (908) - 369 - 3880
The Hillsborough Township Social Services department creates posters in their honor from information about our veterans. These posters are displayed in the Municipal Complex on Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day.
For further information for resident military and veterans and access to the Veterans Poster Information Form, please click visit the Military & Veterans page.
All inquiries or requests for Municipal Room Usage must be sent to rooms@hillsborough-nj.org. Your initial inquiry or request email must include the following information. All proceeding communication regarding the use of municipal rooms are done using rooms@hillsborough-nj.org.
We require only one contact per requesting individual, group or organization. The contact must be an authorized representative of the requesting group or organization.
- Organization Name as email subject
- Organization Tax Status, i.e., 501 c(3)
- Name of (1) contact person, daytime and evening phone numbers
- Only 1 contact per organization
- Type of event, i.e., meeting, fundraiser, class
- Several dates in order of preference for event/meeting
- Times needed, including set-up and clean-up
- Number of people attending the event/meeting
- If food or drinks will be served or provided during the event/meeting
Meeting Room Capacities
What we need from you after your request has been confirmed
Room set-up guidelines
Cleanup Checklist after use
Scheduling a Multi-Purpose Room for Use
Disability Accessible Van
The Hillsborough Rotary Van, a wheelchair accessible vehicle donated by the Hillsborough Township Rotary Club is available to Hillsborough residents to transport disabled persons via wheelchair and who are unable to utilize a personal vehicle.
The person needing transportation is responsible for providing their own driver, who must have a valid New Jersey Driver’s License. Vehicle use is restricted to New Jersey. For more information please contact the Hillsborough Township Social Services Department at 908-369-3880.
Frequently Asked Questions
First and foremost, please don’t hoard items. We all want our families to be protected, and not run out of items that are necessities. While preparing for disasters, please think of others that may not have the funds or storage area to “stock up” for weeks at a time, and need to make weekly trips to the store to obtain necessities. You should only need to stock up for 2-3 week period between trips to the store.