At Patch, we take giving back to the community very seriously. At least five times a year, we take part in helping our towns during our Give5 days. Sometimes we take part in special events, sometimes it's just helping groups in their everyday effort to make the world a better place.

This week, we take a look at some great non-profits that make a difference in our community.

Patch Picks—Non-profits: Great non-profits making a difference.

1. Bridges Outreach: Started in 1988 by one suburban couple, Geoff and Ginger Worden, Bridges Outreach provides homeless individuals in New York City with food, clothing, toiletries and other necessities through weekly trips called "runs." Now, the organization has more than 1,500 volunteers delivering more than 75,000 brown-bagged lunches each year. In 1996, it expanded to helping the homeless of Newark, and in 2002, came to Irvington.
2. Other Fellow First Foundation: The Other Fellow First Foundation was founded in 2000 by Brett Haire-President, John Anastos and Jim Greberis. The Foundation’s main objective is to fund organizations which deal with New Jersey families in distress. The profit that it makes goes to various organizations, including the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, the New Jersey Community Foundation, Summit Area Public Foundation and Family Promise. The Foundation conducts its activities at Summit Diner.
3. Shaping Summit Together: A grassroots organization started in 1995, Shaping Summit Together is a not-for-profit group that strives to have Summit work together as a community to shape the city's future. The volunteer group was created to implement a strategic plan, sponsored by the City of Summit and Overlook Hospital, that would address the critical issues of Summit's future, including its character, values, service and social and cultural literacy. In 2008, it merged with the Summit Municipal Alliance to Prevent and End Substance Abuse and has taken on that cause, too.
4. The Fortnightly Club of Summit: Headquartered at the historical Twin Maples estate, the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club and The Fortnightly Club of Summit are women's organization sdedicated to volunteerism, fundraising and community service.
5. Summit Education Foundation: The Summit Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization, started in 1986, with the aim of providing grants to Summit public schools to enhance and broaden their curriculum of education. The foundation uses the grant money to provide various kinds of programs for teachers and schools. The Grants Committee carefully screens each grant and works closely with the Superintendent's office to ensure they are consistent with district objectives.
6. Summit Helping Its People: Serving Summits Homeless and at-risk-homeless since 1991.