Volunteering in NYC: Donate Your Time
In a city of more than eight million people, there are plenty who have need of help - be it food, a place to stay, or counseling. Superstorm Sandy has only added to the pressure on resources and staff at the city’s charities, and the ongoing recovery efforts are set to continue for yearsNew York City is a busy place for those working here, but even with all the time constraints – the commuting, the work, the rush of daily life – many New Yorkers will take time to volunteer on a regular basis.Why should you volunteer? NYC volunteering is a great way to give back to the city and the people in it, but for new New Yorkers and internationals it’s also a way to meet people, to understand the underlying infrastructure of the city, and to see a different side of New York than you might be used to. The opportunities are here, so it’s up to you to get involved.
New York City Volunteer Opportunities
You can also find information on the NYC.gov website about becoming a mentor, supporting NYC’s youth, joining the auxiliary police – acting as trained eyes and ears on the ground, aiding the police department - and a range of other official programs where you can make a difference in others’ lives.Helping out in your community matters just as much in New York City as it does in small town USA. New York Cares gives you the chance to meet community needs through volunteering. Particularly in light of Sandy, this great service which brings people together for concerted efforts, is a good way to become oriented and familiar with local problems and their solutions. If you see something, do something, they say – and New York Cares shows you how.Not all help has to be quite so physical, either. The Samaritans run a 24 hour phone line for those who need someone to talk to, and opportunities to volunteer your time as a trained operator are open. This service – providing support and a confidential outlet for those going through troubled times – is government funded and has become a well known and much relied upon service in the city and abroad.
Food Banks in NYC
The Food Bank of Central New York has opportunities to volunteer your time in several ways – whether assisting at a donation point or helping with community garden projects. Serving eleven central New York counties, they focus on supplying much needed food along with education and encouraging self-sufficiency.Feeding America has a great, searchable database of food banks throughout the city and the state, including contact information. Remember to search each organization’s website before phoning or taking up other volunteers’ time with questions.
Shelters in NYC
New York City Rescue Mission has been active since 1872 providing spiritual help, food, shelter, and clothing to the needy of NYC. Every year they have more than 1200 volunteers – serving meals, leading weeknight chapel services, tutoring in the Learning Center, even providing medical services. You can fill out a volunteer application online, even specifying the dates you’ll be available.All these opportunities are about getting out and about in New York City and plugging in to the lives of the people you live around. Whatever volunteer position you find, it’s great to have the chance to help others and continue to make NYC such a great place to live.