The history of the Songbird is as follows: The Songbird’s first service was at the Oak Ridge Senior Housing Center in Basking Ridge in 2015. The members played the piano, the cello, and the violin; danced;  and even incorporated the Chinese Yo-Yo into the program. From there, the Songbird performed at the Bergen County Senior Center and the Saint Barnabas Medical Center. 

In addition to musical performances across New Jersey, the Songbird has focused heavily on giving back to the Basking Ridge community that fostered its growth. The Songbird has curated the Chinese New Year’s window display for the Basking Ridge Library since 2015. We have worked with Somerset County’s Adopt-A-Road Program to sweep the streets on Finley Avenue every season. We even have an official road sign on Finley Avenue, indicating that the Songbird has “adopted” this road to maintain its cleanliness. The Songbird also helps to pack books from the Bernardsville Library for Books for Taiwan, a charity which ships books to disadvantaged students in Taiwan. 

In the fall, the Songbird helps to rake fall leaves for senior citizens in the town. During Thanksgiving, the Songbird works with the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program in Somerset County to prepare and deliver food to the homeless. The Songbird also volunteered at the soup kitchen of the erstwhile Plainfield Unitarian Church. When the weather begins to turn cold, the Songbird purchases comfy flannels, toasty socks, and thick gloves for homeless veterans who were once overseas. At Christmastime, the Songbird buys gifts for needy children ages 5-10.