Help
make New York City a better place to live…
Every day, thousands of New Yorkers volunteer to improve the communities in
which they live. Caring citizens reach out to help those in need, while they
build bridges and make connections with fellow residents of our great city. You
may choose to volunteer a few hours a day, a few hours a week or just a few
hours a year. But most importantly, you will be in service to others to make
New York a better city for every citizen.
The facts…..
- Every day, 8,000 New York City youths wake up in homeless shelters. Countless more live on the streets and in abandoned buildings.
- More than one million people receive food from soup kitchens and food pantries each month in New York.
- Nearly half of New York City’s elementary and middle school students read below grade level.
- 23% of American adults function with the lowest literacy skills – they cannot understand a food label or use a bus schedule.
Follow the footsteps to volunteering!
The following links are intended to help you get started with volunteering
and make you familiar with the resources that exist. Check out these web sites:
Community Service Society of
New York – A community based organization that helps the poor of New York
City. CSSNY focuses on health care, housing and education. The Retired and
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) mobilizes 10,000 citizens age 55 and above who
serve in soup kitchens, schools, libraries, shelters and more.
Covenant
House of New York – Help the children and teens of New York who are in
crisis as Covenant House works to bring them to self-sufficiency. This
faith-based organization maintains a hotline and shelter, provides legal and
substance abuse assistance, and operates a clinic.
Gay Men’s Health Crisis – The United
States’ first and largest organization in the fight against HIV and AIDS, GMHC
has a volunteer base of 6,600 who provide assistance throughout the five
boroughs of New York City. Volunteers help serve meals, provide company to HIV+
clients, staff the hotline, conduct educational workshops and do so much more.
Habitat for Humanity -- Through
volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat
builds and rehabilitates simple, decent homes with the help of the future
homeowners. Volunteers are always needed to assist this faith-based organization
in building homes right here in New York City.
New York Cares – New York Cares
provides service opportunities across New York City. All volunteer experiences
through New York Cares are team-based and flexible – there is no commitment
required. Volunteers tutor children and adults, read to the elderly, paint
murals in public schools, serve meals in soup kitchens, assist in bridging the
digital divide, and much more.
VolunteerMatch.com – This is an
online service that matches prospective volunteers with volunteering
opportunities. Just insert your zip code and area of interest to be provided
with an extensive list of needs in your community.
Can’t
volunteer right now? There are other ways you can help!
Consider visiting the following web sites to make a difference without
leaving home….
The Hunger Site – This site is maintained by the United Nations World Food Program. Simply by clicking on the "Donate Free Food" button, you will donate a cup and a half of rice or grain to the hungry at no cost to you. You may donate once per day.
GreaterGood.com – Why not shop
from home and make New York City a better place? Make your purchases through
GreaterGood.com and up to 15% will be donated to the charity of your choice at
no extra cost!
Give For Change
– This interactive web site allows you to browse topics that are of interest to
you, read about non-profit organizations that address those issues, and lets
you donate to them easily online.
E-mail your questions and comments to:
