October 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

October 2020 - NYC Meal Deliveries Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Monday - Friday ongoing, 9am - noon Location: Manhattan, Queens, or the Bronx Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to participate. Volunteers under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Time Commitment: Three hours Citymeals on Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City's homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals to more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, more than 26,000 individuals volunteered over 90,000 hours of their time to Citymeals' mission. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to homebound seniors' homes.  Deliveries are done on foot or using your own vehicle.   Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org, or Vivienne O'Neill, vivienne@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Handmade Card Project Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Ongoing need Location: Send your cards to: Liz Cantillo Citymeals on Wheels 309 Drake Street Bronx, NY 10474 Please list the number of cards on the outside of the envelope and write Handmade Card Project on the envelope. Inside the envelope, on a separate piece of paper, please write your full name, the name of your group, organization or company (if applicable), and your email or mailing address so that we may thank you for your support. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Citymeals works with student, community and corporate groups all over the city to craft handmade cards that brighten the days of isolated older New Yorkers. Each year, hundreds of students from local schools decorate cards for their homebound elderly neighbors to be delivered along with meals or food packages. Last year they created 76,106 cards. Please join us in reminding our frail aged neighbors they haven't been forgotten. Showing you care can be as simple as making a thoughtful card. Learn more here. Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Halloween Candy Give Back Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Collect your donations in October Location: Candy donations should be shipped no later than November 13 to: OG Candy Processing Center ATTN: Halloween Candy 8967 Oso Ave - Building D Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Operation Gratitude's mission is to lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our First Responder, U.S. Military Active Duty, Veteran, and Wounded Hero communities. We also seek to provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation for these deserving Heroes through hands-on volunteerism, such as collection drives, letter writing campaigns, handcrafted "Made with Love" projects, and care package assembly events. The Operation Gratitude Halloween Candy Give-Back Program has been connecting communities with Military and First Responder Heroes each fall since 2007. While Halloween may look a little different this year, Operation Gratitude and our incredible volunteers are committed to continuing to give back in meaningful ways. You and your family can help by collecting and donating candy. Click here for more information about Candy Give-Back donation guidelines. Contact: candy@operationgratitude.org. This year, candy donors are asked to sign-up to participate. We will be sharing important information and updates via email that you'll need throughout the candy season. Click here to sign your family up to participate. If you'd like to participate as part of a larger group, sign-up here. https://www.operationgratitude.com/ Donate Halloween Costumes The Halloween Helpers Date/Time: Costumes are accepted year-round Location: Mail costumes to: 414 Penn Rd. Wynnewood, PA 19096 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Even if Halloween will look a little different this year, let's try and make it fun and special for kids and those in need! The Halloween Helpers distributes new and previously-enjoyed Halloween costumes to children in need throughout the world. We collect all sizes and styles (but not adult in content). All we ask is that each costume be individually bagged in a clear baggie, with a label on each identifying the gender (if relevant), type or style of costume and size. All costumes must be complete because what is a princess without her crown? Contact: info@thehalloweenhelpers.com http://www.thehalloweenhelpers.com/  Dear New York Food Bank for New York City Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Online activities Ages: Everyone can participate - great for both kids and adults! Time Commitment: Varies, volunteers can receive one hour of service for every three letters sent to our Community Kitchen and Pantry. During this challenging time, a kind note can make a huge impact! While we cannot currently accept volunteer assistance on site at our Community Kitchen, we are continuing to distribute emergency pantry bags to New Yorkers in need, and we are seeking volunteers to write brief notes to show our neighbors that we care. Thousands of clients visit our network of sites each week, so every note helps and the need is ongoing! Send one, or send a group mailed together! Since this program launched at the end of April, we have been grateful to receive over 2000 letters from volunteers across the country! We want to ensure every client can leave our Community Kitchen & Pantry with a personalized note during this difficult time, and we need more volunteer support to help make that happen! Write a brief note today to show a fellow New Yorker you care. See our online toolkit for details on how to get started. Looking for more ways to make a difference? Check out the Food Bank's "Spread Love: A Kids + Teens Guide to Supporting Food Bank's COVID-19 Response."  Contact: Volunteer Engagement Team, volunteer@foodbanknyc.org foodbanknyc.org Send Kindness to an Elder Letters of Love - Love for Our Elders Date/Time: Anytime and as often as you'd like Location: Mail cards to: Love for Our Elders P. O. Box 24248 Cleveland, OH 44124 Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies Love for Our Elders is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and hope in our older, often vulnerable generation. One way they are doing this is through Letters of Love: collecting cards and mailing these to elders in senior communities across the globe. These include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, and senior centers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever to fight loneliness with love for our elders. Please follow these letter writing guidelines: Letters must be legible (large print) and handwritten. Avoid religion. Please refrain from including anything religious in your letters, such as religious quotes, words like "God," etc. Exclude the date (day, month, and year). Embrace creativity! Recipients love it when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters detailed, thoughtful and heartfelt. Be kind and thoughtful (more than talking about yourself). This is a one-way letter exchange, meaning you will not receive a letter back, so remember that no reciprocation attached is part of the beauty of your act of kindness, and the recipients don't feel burdened by feeling obligated or being unable to respond. Envelope your letters if you can! It's so much nicer to open up an enveloped card, don't you think? If you're sending more than 1 letter, leave your enveloped letters unsealed and unstamped and put them in a larger envelope or box to send. Share your act of kindness! Tag @loveforourelders Send as many cards as you'd like! Letters are accepted year-round, so there's no deadline for when you must send them by. Learn more here. Contact: https://loveforourelders.org/contact https://loveforourelders.org Virtual Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program Including You Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Virtual Ages: Middle and high school students (ages 11-17) Time Commitment: Varies, but student mentors can expect to spend about one hour a week engaged in Including You mentorship activities and training sessions.  Including You is a peer-to-peer mentoring organization that celebrates inclusion and brings student volunteers together with kids who have developmental or physical disabilities or who face educational disparities due to poverty. After going through training, Including You student mentors will be paired with another student in need of support. Each week, the students will meet over Zoom, FaceTime, or a phone call and will get to know each other, work on homework, and do fun activities like trying out new recipes, learning TikTok dances, or reading together - all while building a lasting friendship. Contact: joinus@includingyou.org IncludingYou.org Virtual Fall Teen Internship Program DOROT Date/Time: Program runs from mid-October through the week of December 14. Location: Virtually, over ZOOM and by telephone Ages: High school students, grades 9 - 12. Time Commitment: One afternoon per week, Monday - Thursday. Interns volunteer for one and one-half to two hours depending on the activity. DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We deliver our programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Teen interns will choose one of the following options: Friendly Visits Visit with a DOROT elder once each week via zoom or telephone with a Teen Intern partner, and make a difference in their lives and yours. Bridge the generational gap through conversations, exploration of common interests and companionship. Interns can also play chess during friendly visits with older adults. There is a group orientation on the first day. Choose one afternoon per week: Mondays - Thursdays, 4 - 5:30pm Monday visit start date: October 19 Tuesday visit start date: October 13 Wednesday visit start date: October 14 Thursday visit start date: October 15 Intergenerational Discussion Group A group of 10 teen interns will plan, lead and participate in a weekly, intergenerational discussion group via zoom with older adults on topical issues. Bridge the gap between the generations through open conversation that engages all involved. Thursdays, 4:30 - 6:30pm Discussion group start date: Thursday, October 8, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Thursday October 15. Intergenerational Art with Nancy Katz Join a group of 10 teen interns and 10 older adults for an exploration through art of our current times.  Get to know one another while working with mixed media - paper, wood and color.  All art supplies will be provided by mail. No previous art experience required. Participants will work together online. Wednesdays, 4:45pm - 6pm Art program start date: Wednesday, October 14, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Wednesday, October 21. Contact: Read more information and fill out the application on our website, dorotusa.org/fallteenapp. A zoom group interview is required. Contact Quinn at qlockwood@dorotusa.org with questions. Applications for this program will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 6. https://dorotusa.org/  Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Raise an Upstander with DGT's Big-Hearted Tools    It's never too early (or too late) to start big-hearted conversations with your children about the power of kindness and the importance of upstanding for others. We have tools to help parents engage with children about tough topics, including this eBook with one-of-a-kind worksheets, conversation starters, and a kindness challenge to help your whole family practice being "upstanders." Available for just $4.99 in our online store or free to members in our Membership Circle.        If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

September 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

September 2020 - NYC Meal Deliveries Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Monday - Friday ongoing, 9am - noon Location: Manhattan, Queens, or the Bronx Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to participate. Volunteers under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Time Commitment: Three hours Citymeals on Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to New York City's homebound elderly. Working in partnership with community-based organizations and senior centers, Citymeals prepares and delivers over 2 million weekend, holiday and emergency meals to more than 18,000 of our frail aged neighbors each year. Last year, more than 26,000 individuals volunteered over 90,000 hours of their time to Citymeals' mission. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to homebound seniors' homes.  Deliveries are done on foot or using your own vehicle.   Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org, or Vivienne O'Neill, vivienne@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Handmade Card Project Citymeals on Wheels Date/Time: Ongoing need Location: Send your cards to: Liz Cantillo Citymeals on Wheels 309 Drake Street Bronx, NY 10474 Please list the number of cards on the outside of the envelope and write Handmade Card Project on the envelope. Inside the envelope, on a separate piece of paper, please write your full name, the name of your group, organization or company, and your email or mailing address so that we may thank you for your support. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Citymeals works with student, community and corporate groups all over the city to craft handmade cards that brighten the days of isolated older New Yorkers. Each year, hundreds of students from local schools decorate cards for their homebound elderly neighbors to be delivered along with meals or food packages. Last year they created 76,106 cards. Please join us in reminding our frail aged neighbors they haven't been forgotten. Showing you care can be as simple as making a thoughtful card. Learn more here. Contact: Sheila Clay, sheila@citymeals.org www.citymeals.org Thank the Frontline Banner Project New York Says Thank You Foundation Date/Time: Throughout the month of September Location: From home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Less than an hour Stars of HOPE is the world's largest and fastest-growing healing arts program. Started by New York Says Thank You Foundation in 2007, Stars of HOPE empowers people of all ages to transform individuals and communities in need of hope through the power of art and messages of healing. Families can create paper stars or digital stars from home that will be brought together to create banners to thank the frontline workers. People can send or email us their star picture and we will create the banner for a local hospital, EMT, Firehouse. If someone has family members in a hospital, we would gladly send the banner to their location. Contact: Fran Sheff-Mauer, fran@starsofhopeusa.org. Sign-up online at https://starsofhopeusa.org/digital-stars/ https://starsofhopeusa.org/ DOROT 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance Cardmaking Program DOROT Date/Time: At your convenience Location: Mail your completed cards with a DOROT Cardmaking form to: DOROT Attn: 9/11 Day of Service Cardmaking Program 171 West 85th Street New York, NY 10024 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies DOROT invites volunteers of all ages to join us in expressing gratitude and appreciation to our nation's veterans for their service. Even as we face an unprecedented health crisis, we can come together with other Americans to honor 9/11 and commemorate the tragedy through volunteer service. Make cards for veterans that offer reflection, thanks and heartfelt wishes for a better tomorrow. We welcome cards from across the country and from individual volunteers and community groups. Please make greeting cards using these guidelines: 9/11 Day of Service Cardmaking Guidelines. Contact: volunteers@dorotusa.org www.dorotusa.org Dear New York Food Bank for New York City Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Online activities Ages: Everyone can participate - great for both kids and adults! Time Commitment: Varies, volunteers can receive one hour of service for every three letters sent to our Community Kitchen and Pantry. During this challenging time, a kind note can make a huge impact! While we cannot currently accept volunteer assistance on site at our Community Kitchen, we are continuing to distribute emergency pantry bags to New Yorkers in need, and we are seeking volunteers to write brief notes to show our neighbors that we care. Thousands of clients visit our network of sites each week, so every note helps and the need is ongoing! Send one, or send a group mailed together! Since this program launched at the end of April, we have been grateful to receive over 2000 letters from volunteers across the country! We want to ensure every client can leave our Community Kitchen & Pantry with a personalized note during this difficult time, and we need more volunteer support to help make that happen! Write a brief note today to show a fellow New Yorker you care. See our online toolkit for details on how to get started. Looking for more ways to make a difference? Check out the Food Bank's "Spread Love: A Kids + Teens Guide to Supporting Food Bank's COVID-19 Response."  Contact: Volunteer Engagement Team, volunteer@foodbanknyc.org foodbanknyc.org Playdates with a Purpose Repair the World Date/Time: Tuesday, September 15,  11 - 11:40am Location: Zoom link sent upon registration Ages: Recommended for 3-7 year olds, younger and older siblings are welcome! Time Commitment: Under an hour It's back-to-school time, and we're excited to launch our at-home packaging projects with September school supply kits. Playdates with a Purpose includes facilitated play, service and learning around issues of equity, created especially for children age 3 - 7! Join us on Zoom to play, serve and learn. Generously made possible by PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Contact: Registration is available online. https://werepair.org/ Virtual Intergenerational Chess DOROT Date/Time: Mondays, 4 - 5:30pm. Programs meets weekly from October 5 - December 14. Location: Online. Virtual chess platform. Ages: Middle school and high school students, grades 6 - 12. Time Commitment: One and one-half hours per week   DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We deliver our programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Strengthen your skills and make a friend across the chess board! DOROT's Intergenerational After School Chess program fosters a setting where wisdom and curiosity meet face-to-face, building mutually beneficial relationships in the process. This fall, join DOROT older adults once a week to play chess while also getting to know each other over a virtual platform. DOROT partners with Chess NYC to offer direct teaching by a chess master. Students must be familiar with the game of chess. Intergenerational Chess at DOROT is sponsored by the Targoff family and friends. Contact: Read more information and fill out the application on our website, dorotusa.org/chess. An interview is required to participate in this program. Contact Quinn at qlockwood@dorotusa.org with questions. Applications for this program will open the week of September 7 https://dorotusa.org/  Virtual Fall Teen Internship Program DOROT Date/Time: Program runs from mid-October through the week of December 14. Applications open on the DOROT website the week of September 7. Location: Virtually, over ZOOM and by telephone Ages: High school students, grades 9 - 12. Time Commitment: One afternoon per week, Monday - Thursday. Interns volunteer for one and one-half to two hours depending on the activity. DOROT is a nonprofit organization addressing the challenges of an aging population. We deliver our programs and services through intergenerational connections with volunteers of all ages. Teen interns will choose one of the following options: Friendly Visits Visit with a DOROT elder once each week via zoom or telephone with a Teen Intern partner, and make a difference in their lives and yours. Bridge the generational gap through conversations, exploration of common interests and companionship. Interns can also play chess during friendly visits with older adults. There is a group orientation on the first day. Choose one afternoon per week: Mondays - Thursdays, 4 - 5:30pm Monday visit start date: October 19 Tuesday visit start date: October 13 Wednesday visit start date: October 14 Thursday visit start date: October 15 Intergenerational Discussion Group A group of 10 teen interns will plan, lead and participate in a weekly, intergenerational discussion group via zoom with older adults on topical issues. Bridge the gap between the generations through open conversation that engages all involved. Thursdays, 4:30 - 6:30pm Discussion group start date: Thursday, October 8, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Thursday October 15. Intergenerational Art with Nancy Katz Join a group of 10 teen interns and 10 older adults for an exploration through art of our current times.  Get to know one another while working with mixed media - paper, wood and color.  All art supplies will be provided by mail. No previous art experience required. Participants will work together online. Wednesdays, 4:45pm - 6pm Art program start date: Wednesday, October 14, teen orientation. First session with older adults is Wednesday, October 21. Contact: Read more information and fill out the application on our website, dorotusa.org/fallteenapp. A zoom group interview is required. Contact Quinn at qlockwood@dorotusa.org with questions. Applications for this program will open the week of September 7. https://dorotusa.org/  Make a Blanket Project Linus Date/Time: Make blankets on your own at any time Location: Click here to find a chapter near you Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Project Linus provides comfort to children who are sick, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gift of a handmade blanket. Our blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life, working individually or as a family or group.  No previous craft experience is required. Click here to learn how to make no-sew fleece blankets. The need for blankets continues and in fact may be greater now than ever before. However dropping blankets off at blanket drop-off sites has become more of a challenge as some stores and locations may have temporarily closed. Others that remain open may have temporarily removed our drop off bins due to COVID-19 concerns. In addition, some locations such as shelters and hospitals for which we supply blankets have placed restrictions on what our chapter coordinators can distribute to them. Please contact your local chapter coordinator to see what specific blanket needs they have before you make your blankets. Be sure to ask if they are accepting blanket donations now and if so, where they should be dropped off. All blankets must be new, handmade, washable, and smoke-free Materials used (fleece, fabric, yarn, etc.) should be new and odor-free.  All colors and patterns suitable for children are fine.  We accept tied fleece blankets, knitted and crocheted afghans, quilts, tied comforters, sewn receiving blankets, and any other kind of handmade blanket.  Please keep materials and blankets away from pets! The best sizes for blankets are between 30" x 30" and 40" x 60" but we accept any blanket in sizes suitable for infants through teenagers. Contact: Click here to find your local chapter. https://www.projectlinus.org/ Youth Service America #DoGoodFromHome Challenge and 9/11 Day At Home YSA has partnered with Design for Change and Hasbro to call on kids and teens to use their compassion and creativity to do acts of good from home. For every kind act shared through the #DoGoodFromHome Challenge, Hasbro will donate up to 25,000 toys and games to organizations providing care to the children of COVID-19 essential workers. Check out daily activities that you can do from the safety of your home. Download this toolkit with easy instructions, podcasts and activities for your students and children. Engage kids in learning more about COVID-19 and challenge them to be changemakers in their community. Take a picture or video, share it on social media using #DoGoodFromHome and challenge others! YSA is also proud to partner with the 9/11 Day organization to launch 9/11 Day At Home, a nationwide day of virtual volunteering, planned for the upcoming September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. We encourage you and your school or organization to participate. Request a free toolkit now at 911DayAtHome.org. This innovative initiative will provide a wide range of safe and relatively easy "good deeds" that your staff, constituencies, and supporters can do from home for #911Day. More than 30 nonprofits that have joined with us and 9/11 Day to help us build this amazing good deed list (to be unveiled at 911day.org on Sept 11) including our fellow national program leaders, World Central Kitchen, Points of Light, United Way, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Now more than ever we need this moment to remember the importance of unity, and inspire Americans to dedicate time to helping those most in need. That's how we all keep the promise to #NeverForget. Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Share simple kindness tips with families in your school, faith group or organization. Let's encourage more kindness in the world with free kindness and service ideas! Does your organization have a newsletter or website geared to families? Our new set of Service and Smiles kindness tips (one for each week of the school year) can provide an uplifting opportunity for social-emotional development during times of hybrid and distance-learning. You'll find service projects, kindness cues, and other simple ideas that teach children about giving, caring, and compassion - and how to take action - right from their own homes. It's free - just acknowledge Doing Good Together as the source! To sign up, visit our Service and Smiles web page.       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

August 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

August 2020 - NYC Dear New York Food Bank For New York City Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Online activities Ages: Everyone can participate - great for both kids and adults! Time Commitment: Varies, volunteers can receive one hour of service for every three letters sent to our Community Kitchen and Pantry During this challenging time, a kind note can make a huge impact! While we cannot currently accept volunteer assistance on site at our Community Kitchen, we are continuing to distribute emergency pantry bags to New Yorkers in need, and we are seeking volunteers to write brief notes to show our neighbors that we care. Thousands of clients visit our network of sites each week, so every note helps and the need is ongoing! Send one, or send a group mailed together! Since this program launched at the end of April, we have been grateful to receive over 2000 letters from volunteers across the country! We want to ensure every client can leave our Community Kitchen & Pantry with a personalized note during this difficult time, and we need more volunteer support to help make that happen! Write a brief note today to show a fellow New Yorker you care. See our online toolkit for details on how to get started. Looking for more ways to make a difference? Check out the Food Bank's "Spread Love: A Kids + Teens Guide to Supporting Food Bank's COVID-19 Response." Contact: Volunteer Engagement Team, volunteer@foodbanknyc.org foodbanknyc.org Love Rocks Kindness Rocks Project Date/Time: Anytime Location: Create at home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Have you ever found yourself walking down the street only to have a pop of color catch your eye? What's that? A rock. A colorful rock. With something nice on it that just made your day. This is a great family-friendly project to get those creative juices flowing while spreading some kindness. Supplies: Rocks! Preferably smooth river rocks, but any rocks of any size and color will do! Acrylic paint - bold bright colors and/or solid dark colors hold up best Paint brushes - various sizes Cup of water Newspaper or plastic drop cloth Acrylic paint pens (not necessary, but certainly fun!) Stencils (not necessary, but helpful!) Sealant - https://rockpainting101.com/best-sealer-painted-rocks/ Click here for more information on making your rocks. Then go ahead and share your rocks. Share photos of your rocks on social media at #thekindnessrocksproject. Then you can hide your rocks in your yard or when you take a walk for people to spot, or put them along your sidewalk for people to take and hide themselves. Make sure that you seal your rocks well. You want them to hold up to the elements until they are found. Never glue embellishments to rocks you plan on hiding. While they are beautiful, these additions are terrible for the environment and the animals. No matter how strong you think that glue is, a squirrel is going to be able to pick it off. Stick to paint on any rock you plan on hiding. Be kind. These rocks are meant to make people happy, so their phrases should always be positive. Stay clear of negative thoughts, bad language, or anything inappropriate. You never know who is going to find the rocks. Place your rocks in open spaces, not in places that will disturb nature or damage a lawnmower. Contact: thekindnessrocksproject@gmail.com https://www.thekindnessrocksproject.com/ Make Lemons into Lemonade for Kids with Cancer Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) Lemonade Days Date/Time: August 1 - 9 Location: Your community Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Lemonade Days is an annual tradition at Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation which celebrates their founder, Alex Scott, and her call to ask everyone to join the fight against childhood cancer. Although 2020 presents unique challenges to the tradition of holding lemonade stands, kids with cancer still need our help - now more than ever. You and your kids can join ALSF from August 1 - 9 by picking a day (or days) to host a virtual or social-distancing friendly fundraiser.   Contact: Registration is available online. Once registration is complete, you'll be connected with a coach (by email) to answer your questions and provide ideas and resources to make your event a sweet success. https://www.alexslemonade.org/ #MyDearFriend Kind Note Writing Glamourgals Foundation Inc. Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Your home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies GlamourGals brings community connections to seniors by building leadership skills in teens. Senior isolation is at 100%. In an effort to combat COVID-19, senior homes across the country are limiting visitations leaving residents increasingly isolated. Now more than ever we need your support! Through the forward thinking and passionate action of our network, GlamourGals is facilitating safe and helpful way for our volunteers to continue to connect with seniors. Tips for Writing Cards: Address it as "To My Dear Friend." This will allow senior home employees to give cards to any senior. Write in big letters and clear handwriting. We want the seniors to be able to read them easily on their own. Be creative, personal, and kind. Many may have absolutely no visitors. Remind them that they are loved, someone is thinking of them, and share how you are feeling now. What do you think about to cheer yourself up? Host a virtual card writing party with your friends and mail the cards to a senior home near you. Contact us for more information and information for a senior home looking for cards, or fill out this form, upload your kind notes, and GlamourGals will digitally send your kind note to an isolated senior. Click here for more information. Contact:  Rachel@glamourgals.org, https://www.glamourgals.org/ Paracord Bracelets Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity Location: Ship your bracelets to: Operation Gratitude ATTN: Paracord Bracelet Program 9409 Owensmouth Avenue Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Operation Gratitude will be sending out 15,000 Deployed Troop Care Packages this summer, and they need volunteers to help resupply their stock of these cherished bracelets. Paracord gets its name from parachute cord and can hold up to 550 lbs. of weight. The bracelet provides 7.5 feet of cord in an emergency. Paracord "Survival" Bracelets can be used to: Secure camouflage nets to trees or vehicles Build a makeshift shelter Extend a security strap or rope to reach and haul heavy objects Create a harness to extract an injured person from a bad location Make a sling or splint Your family can help by making these paracord bracelets. Visit the Operation Gratitude Paracord Bracelets page for more details and to learn how to make the bracelets.    Contact: info@operationgratitude.com https://www.operationgratitude.com Caring Cards DOROT Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity Location: Send completed cards with this form:  Cardmaking Project Volunteer Information Form to: DOROT; 171 West 85th Street; New York, NY 10024; Attn: Cardmaking Program Ages: Families with children age five and older are welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Now that we are all keeping our distance from our older neighbors to protect them from COVID-19, a Caring Card is a wonderful way to reach out. DOROT is aiming to send Caring Cards to all 3,500 older adults we serve with a message of warmth and cheer during this lonely time. Cards can be created whenever it is convenient for you and your family. We do ask that you review these guidelines with suggested messages and tips to ensure that your cards will bring smiles to their recipients. Contact: No need to sign up in advance. If you have questions, please contact Miranda Perez at volunteers@dorotusa.org www.dorotusa.org  Creating Connections Met Council Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Items can be sent to: Leah Schechter Met Council Fulfillment Center 171 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10016 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Met Council is America's largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity and respect. So many of our clients have come to us because they had no one else to turn to for food, for housing, for someone to care for them. We are committed to our mission of getting emergency food to all of our clients and taking care of the senior residents that live in our buildings. The hardest part of COVID-19 is the isolation, loneliness, fear and anxiety that many of our seniors and Holocaust survivors are experiencing while they stay home to remain safe. We want to remind them that we are here for them, even if we can't sit next to them. We want to send mail to our over 1400 senior residents just to give them a connection every day! You can help from home by creating connections by mail! Kids, teens, adults, anyone who wants to help can send us: Poetry Letters Short stories Plays Essays on interesting topics (High school kids- Start writing your college essays early!!) Cards Illustrations, drawings, art work Anything that can be mailed... or slipped under the door to our seniors in their apartments would help to make our seniors feel connected! Thank you in advance for all your time, thoughts, and help to make sure our seniors and survivors know we are here and thinking about them.    Contact:  creatingconnections@metcouncil.org https://www.metcouncil.org/creating-connections Host a Book Drive Brooklyn Book Bodega Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity Location: Once you're ready to donate your books, contact brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com to arrange a drop off time at our storage location. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies, but two weeks is recommended Brooklyn Book Bodega has a mission of increasing the number of 100+ book homes in NYC for kids ages 0 - 18. Your family can help by running a book drive. Just follow these easy steps:  Pick your dates: We recommend a length of two weeks, including two weekends, for your book drive.  Set a goal: Make it meaningful and reach for the highest number you can. Fill out the form: We want to share the news of your book drive. Print, Download, Share a sign: Hang up on donation bins and spread the word on social media sites. Start collecting! Collect gently used and new books for ages 0-18 including foreign language, dual language and nonfiction books. Please no religious, textbooks, activity books, encyclopedias, broken, or missing pages books. Here is a list of Popular Book Requests. Please note: All books must still be counted and sorted by our volunteers. Organize your donations. Sort all books into banker's boxes so that they are easy to lift. Books are heavy! Before you drop off your books, review this guide. Organize them by general age level, type, or category. For example, here are typical categories: picture books, board books, early chapter books, chapter books, preschool, elementary books, young adult, high school, etc. Please do not send any books that you would not want in your own home or are not for ages 0-18. For example, do not give us: torn books, books with scribbles, or adult books. Label the boxes. Don't forget to label each box with the book type/category. Tag us on Social Media. Don't forget to follow us on social media and tag us during your book drive Instagram @brooklynbookbodega, Twitter @BodegaBook, Facebook @Bklynbookbodega. Bring your book donations to us! At the conclusion of your book drive, contact us brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com to arrange a drop off time to our storage location. Contact: brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com. Click here to register your book drive. Brooklyn Book Bodega is also looking for kids and teens to write reviews for books to share with others: https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/readers-corner https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/home Family Giving Circle! Repair the World Date/Time: Monday, August 3, 3 - 4:15pm Location: Link sent upon registration Ages: Geared to families with children 8 - 12 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Time Commitment: One-hour and fifteen minutes Elevate your family's giving with the collective impact of a giving circle! Through this unique platform, families will choose where funds will make the biggest impact locally. Repair the World Brooklyn will showcase our incredible service partners who are on the ground supporting our Brooklyn neighbors most impacted by COVID-19. This virtual interactive workshop will ground us in both Jewish values of giving and contextual learning on food insecurity in this moment and inspire us to continue serving our communities during the pandemic. Open to the public, with registration. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: Registration is available online.   https://werepair.org/ Words Alive Page Turners Words Alive Date/Time: Ongoing program Location: Your home Ages: Families with children age 10 and older are welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Words Alive provides essential literacy services to underserved students and families. Our mission is to open opportunities for life success by inspiring a commitment to reading. The Page Turners is an all-ages book club that helps us identify books to include in our program curriculum. The book list spans everything from early childhood books to young adult novels and is a wonderful option for families to volunteer together while building their own healthy reading habits at home. At Words Alive, we receive dozens of book recommendations from our volunteers, teachers, and community partners for titles they think would be a strong fit for our programs. We pride ourselves on selecting the most contemporary, diverse, relevant, and engaging texts we can get our hands on. That's where passionate readers, like you, come in! By reading and reviewing titles from our recommendation list, you help us determine which books should be added to our program curriculum and taught in in-person and virtual programming. And the best part? You can get started today from the comfort of your favorite reading spot! Get started here: https://www.wordsalive.org/page-turners. Contact: Robyn Grand, robyn@wordsalive.org http://www.wordsalive.org Farm Harvesting Helpers The Campaign Against Hunger Date/Time: Various dates in August (depending on weather) Location: 385 Beach 45th Street, Far Rockaway Queens Ages: Volunteers must be at least 12, and 12-year olds must be accompanied by a chaperone. Time Commitment: Two to three hours Volunteers are needed to help with our preparation for harvest. You must be able to bend, stand, and lift a minimum of 10 -15 lbs. Contact: Farm Manager: Jenae Russell, jjoseph@tcahnyc.org www.tcahnyc.org Join the UJA-Federation of New York for a Virtual Supplies for Success Event This year has presented unprecedented challenges. We don't know yet what school will look like, but we know there will be school. For people living in poverty, school supplies are a luxury they simply can't afford.   Unfortunately, we can't volunteer together this year to pack backpacks, but we can still make a difference!   Supplies for Success will deliver pre-assembled backpacks and kits filled with school supplies directly to our nonprofit community partners for the start of the new school year. We're including supplies for virtual learning and more art supplies than usual to keep kids busy and learning when homebound.   $25 will help one child. Please help as many kids as you can. Thank you! Visit the website to make a donation:  https://www.suppliesforsuccess.org/ Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   DGT's Big-Hearted Parenting Director Sarah Aadland Featured in New Podcast "Connection in a Time of Distance"  The Moms that Lead podcast, hosted by Stronger to Serve founder and friend of DGT, Teri Schmidt, helps busy moms develop leadership skills to prioritize their purpose and become the healthy world-changers they were created to be. In this episode, Sarah and Teri discuss simple but meaningful ways that you and your family can connect with each other -- and with your community -- in difficult times. Tune in, get loads of great ideas, and share this important information with other big-hearted families you know!       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

July 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

July 2020 - New York  Raising an Anti-Racist Generation Doing Good Together (DGT) Date/Time: Ongoing Location: https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/dgts-antiracist-resource-collection Ages: Families and educators of children of all ages Time Commitment: Varies It's critical to talk to our children about race, but those conversations can be challenging. DGT looked to the experts and compiled the best available resources to provide the guidance you need. Tools to Raise an Anti-Racist Generation is an evolving collection of books, videos, tips and projects for families and educators seeking to better understand racism and become more effective advocates for racial equality.   Contact: Jenny Friedman, jenny@doinggoodtogether.org www.DoingGoodTogether.org Host a Book Drive Brooklyn Book Bodega Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity Location: Once you're ready to donate your books, contact brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com to arrange a drop off time at our storage location. Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies, but two weeks is recommended Brooklyn Book Bodega has a mission of increasing the number of 100+ book homes in NYC for kids ages 0 - 18. Your family can help by running a book drive. Just follow these easy steps:  Pick your dates: We recommend a length of two weeks, including two weekends, for your book drive.  Set a goal: Make it meaningful and reach for the highest number you can. Fill out the form: We want to share the news of your book drive. Print, Download, Share a sign: Hang up on donation bins and spread the word on social media sites. Start collecting! Collect gently used and new books for ages 0-18 including foreign language, dual language and nonfiction books. Please no religious, textbooks, activity books, encyclopedias, broken, or missing pages books. Here is a list of Popular Book Requests. Please note: All books must still be counted and sorted by our volunteers. Organize your donations. Sort all books into banker's boxes so that they are easy to lift. Books are heavy! Before you drop off your books, review this guide. Organize them by general age level, type, or category. For example, here are typical categories: picture books, board books, early chapter books, chapter books, preschool, elementary books, young adult, high school, etc. Please do not send any books that you would not want in your own home or are not for ages 0-18. For example, do not give us: torn books, books with scribbles, or adult books. Label the boxes. Don't forget to label each box with the book type/category. Tag us on Social Media. Don't forget to follow us on social media and tag us during your book drive Instagram @brooklynbookbodega, Twitter @BodegaBook, Facebook @Bklynbookbodega. Bring your book donations to us! At the conclusion of your book drive, contact us brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com to arrange a drop off time to our storage location. Contact: brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com. Click here to register your book drive. Brooklyn Book Bodega is also looking for kids and teens to write reviews for books to share with others: https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/readers-corner https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/home Creating Connections Met Council Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Items can be sent to: Leah Schechter Met Council Fulfillment Center 171 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10016 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Met Council is America's largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity and respect. So many of our clients have come to us because they had no one else to turn to for food, for housing, for someone to care for them. We are committed to our mission of getting emergency food to all of our clients and taking care of the senior residents that live in our buildings. The hardest part of COVID-19 is the isolation, loneliness, fear and anxiety that many of our seniors and Holocaust survivors are experiencing while they stay home to remain safe. We want to remind them that we are here for them, even if we can't sit next to them. We want to send mail to our over 1400 senior residents just to give them a connection every day! You can help from home by creating connections by mail! Kids, teens, adults, anyone who wants to help can send us: Poetry Letters Short stories Plays Essays on interesting topics (High school kids- Start writing your college essays early!!) Cards Illustrations, drawings, art work Anything that can be mailed... or slipped under the door to our seniors in their apartments would help to make our seniors feel connected! Thank you in advance for all your time, thoughts, and help to make sure our seniors and survivors know we are here and thinking about them.    Contact: creatingconnections@metcouncil.org https://www.metcouncil.org/creating-connections Recycle Used and Unwanted Crayons The Crayon Initiative Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Ship crayons to: 155 Railroad Avenue, Suite E Danville, CA 94526 Click here for detailed shipping instructions Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies The Crayon Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the environment and enriching the lives of hospitalized children through art and imagination. You can help by recycling your used and unwanted crayons. Do you have stray crayons lying around your house? We bet you do. And whether they're still unopened, used or broken, we're happy to take them off your hands. Crayons can turn up just about anywhere, especially after a good housecleaning. Take a peek in your junk drawers, your storage bins, your closets, your couch cushions, your child's old backpack... you get the idea! Take heart, knowing that your crayon donation will soon brighten the day of a child in need of a pick-me-up. Start a collection box in your own home, box them up, and ship them to the Crayon Initiative. Contact: https://thecrayoninitiative.org/contact/ https://thecrayoninitiative.org/ Support Our Troops, Veterans and First Responders Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Ship your letters to Operation Gratitude ATTN: Letter Writing Program 9409 Owensmouth Avenue Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies  Operation Gratitude sends care packages to our active duty military, veterans, first responders, and new recruits.  Each care package includes a bundle of letters from the American people, thanking them for their service to our country. Package recipients tell us that these letters, notes, and drawings are the most cherished items in their care package. Your family can help by writing letters. Visit the Operation Gratitude website for full instructions. Contact: info@operationgratitude.com https://www.operationgratitude.com/ Virtual Summer Reading Book Drive Repair the World Date/Time: Tuesday, July 7, 11 - 11:40am Location: Link sent upon registration Ages: Geared to families with children 3 - 7 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Time Commitment: About 40 minutes Do you have extra books you're ready to donate? Gather your book donations and join us for a virtual book drive! Tune in to sort them, make bookmarks, and learn about organizations supporting children's learning this summer. Open to the public, with registration. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: Registration is available online.   https://werepair.org/ Sharing Smiles Empowering the Ages Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Your home Ages: Families with children as young as 4 are welcome but most of our writers are age 8 and older. A parent or guardian to complete the online form to sign up participants under age 18. Time Commitment: Varies depending on pair - on average 2 notes per month for 1 - 3 + months Empowering the Ages empowers people of all ages to reach their full potential through intergenerational engagement. The Sharing Smiles program was created in response to the pandemic to allow people from older and younger generations to connect safely with each other through email. Once you've signed up online you'll be matched with an older writer who wants to share a friendly note with someone from a younger generation. We have older writers of all ages 60+ but most are 70-90. Most of our writers are from the U.S. but a few are international. Click here for more information and program details. Contact: Leah, leah@empoweringtheages.org, or Megan, megan@empoweringtheages.org https://empoweringtheages.org Caring Cards DOROT Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity Location: Send completed cards with this form: Cardmaking Project Volunteer Information Form to: DOROT; 171 West 85th Street; New York, NY 10024; Attn: Cardmaking Program Ages: Families with children age five and older are welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Now that we are all keeping our distance from our older neighbors to protect them from COVID-19, a Caring Card is a wonderful way to reach out. DOROT is aiming to send Caring Cards to all 3,500 older adults we serve with a message of warmth and cheer during this lonely time. Cards can be created whenever it is convenient for you and your family. We do ask that you review these guidelines with suggested messages and tips to ensure that your cards will bring smiles to their recipients. Contact: No need to sign up in advance. If you have questions, please contact Miranda Perez at volunteers@dorotusa.org www.dorotusa.org  Caring Cards for Community Food Pantry Repair the World Date/Time: Tuesday, July 17, 11:00 - 11:45am Location: Link sent upon registration Ages: Geared to families with children 6 - 12 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Time Commitment: About 45 minutes During this challenging time, a kind note can make a huge impact. Join us for a virtual art hour to create caring cards for The Food Bank for New York City. These cards will be included with the emergency pantry bags the Food Bank is distributing to New Yorkers experiencing hunger. Open to the public, with registration. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY.  Contact: Registration is available online.   https://werepair.org/ Family Giving Circle! Repair the World Date/Time: Monday, August 3 - 4:15pm Location: Link sent upon registration Ages: Geared to families with children 8 - 12 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Time Commitment: One-hour and fifteen minutes Elevate your family's giving with the collective impact of a giving circle! Through this unique platform, families will choose where funds will make the biggest impact locally. Repair the World Brooklyn will showcase our incredible service partners who are on the ground supporting our Brooklyn neighbors most impacted by COVID-19. This virtual interactive workshop will ground us in both Jewish values of giving and contextual learning on food insecurity in this moment and inspire us to continue serving our communities during the pandemic. Open to the public, with registration. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: Registration is available online.   https://werepair.org/ Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   NEW! Join the DGT Membership Circle and receive DGT's Summer of Kindness Camp download! The kindness experts at Doing Good Together have adapted our most-loved club activities for a unique at-home summer camp for your whole family, exclusively for DGT's Membership Circle. This e-book will guide your family through a 6-week exploration of essential questions featuring creative activities, books, movies, virtual field trips, journal prompts, and creative extras. But this is just the beginning! As always, members will receive ongoing encouragement and tools to live generously and thoughtfully all year long! Not part of our Membership Circle? Join us for just $29.99/year!       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

Doing Good Together, 5141 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by mail@doinggoodtogether.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

June 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

June 2020 - NYC Creating Connections Met Council Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Items can be sent to: Leah Schechter Met Council Fulfillment Center 171 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10016 Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Met Council is America's largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and by treating each client with compassion, integrity and respect. So many of our clients have come to us because they had no one else to turn to for food, for housing, for someone to care for them. We are committed to our mission of getting emergency food to all of our clients and taking care of the senior residents that live in our buildings. The hardest part of COVID-19 is the isolation, loneliness, fear and anxiety that many of our seniors and Holocaust survivors are experiencing while they stay home to remain safe. We want to remind them that we are here for them, even if we can't sit next to them. We want to send mail to our over 1400 senior residents just to give them a connection every day! You can help from home by creating connections by mail! Kids, teens, adults, anyone who wants to help can send us: Poetry Letters Short stories Plays Essays on interesting topics (High school kids- Start writing your college essays early!!) Cards Illustrations, drawings, art work Anything that can be mailed... or slipped under the door to our seniors in their apartments would help to make our seniors feel connected! Thank you in advance for all your time, thoughts, and help to make sure our seniors and survivors know we are here and thinking about them.    Contact: creatingconnections@metcouncil.org https://www.metcouncil.org/creating-connections Brighten a Seniors Day Letters Against Isolation Date/Time: Ongoing Location: At home project Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies Your family can help brighten the days of a senior citizen by sending letters to seniors in assisted living facilities or care homes. Once a week, we will send you the address of an elderly care facility in the continental US. You can write about whatever you would like, but remember that these letters will be brightening days; try to make them cheerful, and be creative! Do not include your address, phone number or anything else that would identify yourself and do not send gifts. Younger volunteers are welcome to send decorated cards. When you finish writing your letters, carefully copy the address onto your envelope(s), and mail your letters! Once you've mailed your letters, email us at lettersagainstisolation@gmail.com and tell us how many letters you sent. This is really important as it allows us to work with the senior centers and allocate volunteers more efficiently. Learn more here. Contact: lettersagainstisolation@gmail.com. Click here and scroll down to find the Get Involved form. https://www.lettersagainstisolation.com The Longest Day Alzheimer's Association Date/Time: Saturday, June 20 Location: Your home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies The Longest Day is the day with the most light - the summer solstice. On June 20, people from across the world will fight the darkness of Alzheimer's disease through a fundraising activity of their choice. Use your creativity and passion to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. From basketball to baking and card games to crafts, there's an activity for everyone! Plus, nearly any fundraising activity can be done at home or online while practicing physical distancing. Click here for a variety of creative fundraising project ideas! Contact: TLD@alz.org. Registration is available online. https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=13035&pg=entry Getting to Zero - Advocacy EndCoronavirus.org Date/Time: Ongoing Location: At-home project Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies EndCoronavirus (ECV) is an international coalition of over 4,000 volunteers, including scientists, community organizers, caring citizens, business owners, and individuals like you. We have been operating since February 29, 2020, starting at our parent organization, the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI). We develop effective, community-based solutions to end the pandemic. We were one of the first to offer guidelines and advocacy for policy makers, businesses, and individuals. For this task, discuss as a family the steps you're taking to protect your health and help our city crush the curve and get to zero. What are some areas for improvement? What are the hardest parts? How can you help each other to reduce the risk of infection and cope with the current situation? You can look at some of the guidelines we have on our website: https://www.endcoronavirus.org/families  Contact: https://www.endcoronavirus.org/join. You can also contact us through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endcoronavirus.org endcoronavirus.org Create Animal Drawings Animal Care Centers (ACC) Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Send a photo of your artwork to ACC at CommunityOutreach@nyccacc.org Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Animal Care Centers is seeking all artists! Throughout history, artists have used their skills to inspire people to take action. For years, ACC has been using profile pictures to help potential adopters get to know each of our individual animals. By drawing a one-of-a-kind profile portrait for an animal ready for adoption, you can help inspire someone to add a new pet to their family. Take a look through the ACC website or app to find an animal you think would benefit from an awesome portrait; then send a photo of your artwork to ACC at CommunityOutreach@nyccacc.org. Be sure to include the animal's name and ID number. Submissions are limited to one drawing per family and the ACC can include up to three portraits per animal in their adoption profile, but all submissions can be featured and shared on social media. Learn more here: www.nycacc.org/communitykids. Contact: CommunityOutreach@nyccacc.org   https://www.nycacc.org/  Make Cards for Cancer Patients The Scarlet Fund (at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Drop off or mail cards to: Timna Sherman Chefetz c/o The Scarlett Fund 2211 Broadway, Apt 6E New York, New York 10024 Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies The Scarlett Fund (TSF) is calling on our community to help make cards for our friends who are battling cancer. Due to COVID-19, most patients will no longer be allowed to have visitors. These patients need our support more than ever and we are asking that everyone take a moment to write a note, share a poem, draw a picture, or craft an inspirational card to be distributed to patients. These cards will remind them that they are not alone. While we usually focus on our younger patients, for this card drive, we will be sharing our notes with patients of all ages. Our recipients love to know about YOU! If you like, you can share your name, your age, your hometown and even a photo of yourself. Please refrain from referencing the words "Cancer", "COVID-19" and "Get Better" in your cards. This is an ongoing drive so feel free to keep making and sending cards. We will also be supporting our health care workers. Please write cards of thanks and inspiration to our nurses, doctors, technicians and other employees of Memorial Sloan Kettering. They are our frontline and are working harder than ever to care for our most vulnerable patients. You are welcome to make as many cards as you like. If you are a child, please ask an adult to review your cards before you send them  Contact: jenniferjjames@mac.com  https://www.thescarlettfund.com/ Thank You Letter to a Sanitation Worker Department of Sanitation and the Big Reuse Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: At home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Sanitation workers work hard to keep our city clean, healthy, and sustainable. Especially during this time, they are putting themselves at risk to do a job that our city depends on. Please show them your support by writing a letter of thanks. If you know your sanitation worker's name, you can personalize it. And feel free to use drawings, too! Then take a picture of your card, and send it to us. We will then share it with the sanitation garage in your community, (and, if personalized, will do our best to make sure your particular sanitation worker sees it). Send pictures of you thank you letters to baruch@bigreuse.org Contact: Baruch Blum, Outreach Associate, 818.984.6572, baruch@bigreuse.org bigreuse.org At Home Projects Good+Foundation Date/Time: Ongoing project Location: Your home Ages: Projects are recommended for five years and up with adult supervision Time Commitment: Varies depending on project and age-level Our mission at Good+Foundation is to dismantle family poverty by pairing tangible goods like baby diapers, formula and strollers with innovative services for low-income fathers, mothers and caregivers. Good+Foundation is going virtual with our volunteer opportunities! We've developed several opportunities that families can work on together at home. Families can help by creating "No Sew Blankets" or "Braided Pacifier Clips" for Good+Foundation families in need. Right now, our NYC and LA warehouses are only open to receive large-scale emergency donations and supplies for the families we serve, but please remain in contact with us to organize a drop-off or to ship your items when we are able to receive donations again. The families we serve will need these items when we reopen. Contact Anastasia to order your project materials and for full project instructions. Contact: Anastasia Plavnicky, Volunteer Coordinator, anastasia@goodplusfoundation.org https://goodplusfoundation.org/ Park Slope Donation Drive Little Essentials Date/Time: Saturday, June 6, 11am - 2pm Location: Sidewalk outside of Fig Tree, 688 Union Street, Brooklyn Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Little Essentials offers at-risk families living in poverty urgently needed children's supplies and parenting education to promote the health, wellbeing and safety of their children under five years of age. Local Brooklyn friends, we are holding another donation drive outside of the Fig Tree Program. While you are out for fresh air/exercise, you can safely drop off your new and gently used, clean, and sanitized items at our table. Please make sure to observe physical distancing and face covering guidelines so we can keep everyone safe. We especially need:  Diapers (sealed bags only) Wipes (new) Hygiene items Pack 'n Plays & Bassinets Car Seats Snap N' Gos Strollers Carriers Blankets Contact: info@littleessentials.org, 646.850.3611 https://www.littleessentials.org Make Paracord Bracelets Soldiers Angels Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Mail completed bracelets to: Soldiers' Angels 2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107 San Antonio, Texas 78218 Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies The mission of Soldiers' Angels is to provide aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families. Thousands of Soldiers' Angels "Angel" volunteers assist veterans, wounded, deployed personnel, and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways. Making paracord bracelets to share with our military service members and veterans is a fun arts and craft activity that will keep your children busy and help to teach them the power of giving! Paracord bracelets provide an easy-to-carry line of cord that can be used for a variety of survival needs. Ready to get started? Please Note: Paracord bracelets made for military service members have two important rules that must be followed in order for the service member to be allowed to wear the bracelet with their uniform: 1.    They must be in specific colors only: black, olive green, tan, or camo 2.    They must use MIL-SPEC cording Your bracelets will be included in the care packages we are sending to deployed service members around the world. You can find all the supplies you need on Amazon. Click here for more information about paracord bracelets, including detailed instructions for making the bracelets. Contact: Nancy Marshall, 210.629.0020. nmarshall@soldiersangels.org https://soldiersangels.org/ Playdates with a Purpose: International Children's Day Repair the World Harlem Date/Time: Monday, June 1,  3 - 3:40pm Location: Zoom link will be sent upon registration Ages: Geared to families with children 3 - 7 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Time Commitment: About 40 minutes Join Repair the World Harlem and JCC Harlem for a project for our youngest volunteers! Playdates with a Purpose includes facilitated play, learning and story time around issues of equity. We'll be celebrating International Children's Day this month! Join us on Zoom to play and learn at home, together! Generously made possible by PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.  Contact: Kate Thomas, kate.thomas@werepair.org. Registration is available online.   https://werepair.org/harlem/ Father's Day Family Service Project Repair the World Brooklyn Date/Time: Wednesday, June 17, 3 - 3:40pm Location: Zoom link will be sent upon registration Ages: Geared to families with children 6 - 12 years old, but younger and older siblings are welcome. Time Commitment: About 40 minutes Families are invited to learn with Repair the World Brooklyn in an engaging virtual service project! In preparation for Father's Day, we'll celebrate our own fathers and our community heroes! Join us on Zoom for a special project at home, together! Open to the public, free of cost. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY.  Contact: Kate Thomas, kate.thomas@werepair.org. Registration is available online.    https://werepair.org/brooklyn/  How to Help Now Repair the World Brooklyn has transformed our workshop at 808 Nostrand Avenue into a distribution center. Our transformed space has re-opened and we are collecting non-food supplies for our Central Brooklyn neighbors who need them. Some items that we're asking for are feminine products, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, paper goods, and baby supplies. You can purchase items directly from our Target Wishlist, or ship items to: Repair the World: Donation 808 Nostrand Avenue Ave Brooklyn, NY 11216 We are also fundraising for our local service partners: The Campaign Against Hunger, which is in need of donations to purchase the thousands of grocery bags necessary to package wholesome food for clients.  DOROT, which serves more than 3,500 older adults each year who are homebound, homeless or need to be connected to their greater community. Met Council on Housing, which fights to ensure where everyone has access to safe, decent, affordable housing. The Food Bank for New York City, which provides millions of meals to soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the five boroughs by donating here. St. John's Bread & Life, which is serving to-go breakfast and lunch and pantry bags to clients in Brooklyn. Bushwick City Farms, who are continuing to focus on growing healthy free food for the community. Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Customize and co-brand DGT's Kitchen Table Kindness Kits for your organization! As camps close and summer events are cancelled, many organizations are looking for ways to connect to their campers, students, and congregation members. DGT™ is here to help. DGT's popular Kitchen Table Kindness Kits - delivered by mail or downloaded to home computers - contain projects to help families serve others while prompting conversations about empathy, compassion, and the common good. We are pleased to customize these kits for your organization! Each kit created would be co-branded with your logo and include the kindness and service activities most relevant and appealing to the families you serve. Your members can receive the kits via mail or digital download. It's just one more way we are able to promote more kindness and service even as we stay safer at home. Learn more about the kits here: https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/kitchentablekindnesskits To connect with DGT about customizing a kit, please contact Jenny@DoingGoodTogether.org       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

Doing Good Together, 5141 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by mail@doinggoodtogether.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

April 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

April 2020 - NYC   We are all currently experiencing the impact of the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Our lives have changed dramatically in the past few weeks - our schools are closed, community events and everyday activities have been canceled, our homes transformed into schools and workspaces. Many nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations are now struggling to meet their basic needs. Although we like to encourage our subscribers to get out in the community and volunteer, right now fulfilling an organization's wish list or making a financial donation may be the best way that we can help. Below is a list of organizations you can contact in your community, as well as a few national sites you can use to search for additional organizations in your area. We suggest you be cognizant of potential staff shortages and the increased work demands on nonprofit staff and check an organization's website and social media channels for updated information. Here are some organizations that serve our hungry neighbors that can use your financial assistance: West Side Campaign Against Hunger - www.wscah.org  The Campaign Against Hunger - https://www.tcahnyc.org/ Food Bank of NYC - https://www.foodbanknyc.org/, https://www.foodbanknyc.org/covid-19/  City Harvest - https://www.cityharvest.org New York Common Pantry - http://nycommonpantry.org/,  Rescuing Leftover Cuisine - https://www.rescuingleftovercuisine.org  God's Love We Deliver - https://www.glwd.org/  City Meals on Wheels - https://www.citymeals.org National food pantry search site - https://www.foodpantries.org  National homeless shelters and human services search site - https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org  Also, visit the Doing Good Together COVID-19 response page for a growing list of ways your family can share kindness, volunteer, donate, and learn together, even as you stay home together to slow the spread of the pandemic. There is much that we can do from home to lift the spirits of others who are struggling with ongoing issues made more difficult by the current crisis. Let's take this opportunity to turn our gaze outward, to spread joy, to help our neighbors and to be kind to ourselves and others. Everyone at Doing Good Together sends warm wishes for the health and safety of every member of our community. Be well.   Virtual Family Project - Make Greeting Cards for Seniors! Repair the World Date/Time: Monday, April 13, 11am - noon Location: This is an online virtual project on Zoom -  https://zoom.us/j/364279502 Ages: Geared toward children ages 6-12 with an adult, open to younger and older siblings Time Commitment: One hour Join us on Zoom for a special project at home, together! Families are invited to learn with Repair the World in this engaging virtual project. From home, we'll craft greeting cards together for seniors living in Met Council on Jewish Poverty's affordable housing buildings. During this time of physical distancing, let's connect to reach our most socially isolated neighbors! Open to the public, free of cost. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: kate.thomas@weRepair.org. Registration is available online.  https://werepair.org/brooklyn/   Virtual Playdates with a Purpose Repair the World Date/Time: Sunday, April 26, 11:30am - 12:30pm Location: This is an online virtual project on Zoom -  https://zoom.us/j/151830175 Ages: Geared toward children ages 3-6, open to younger and older siblings! Time Commitment: One hour Join Repair the World Harlem and JCC Harlem for a project for our youngest volunteers! Playdates with a Purpose includes facilitated play, learning, and storytime around issues of equity. This month's Playdates will be from the comfort of your own home! Join us on Zoom to play and learn at home, together! Generously made possible by PJ Library, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Contact: kate.thomas@weRepair.org. Registration is available online.  https://werepair.org/harlem/  Thank You Letter to a Sanitation Worker Big Reuse/DSNY Date/Time: Anytime Location: At home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment: Varies Sanitation workers work hard to keep our city clean, healthy, and sustainable. Especially during this time, they are putting themselves at risk to do a job that our city depends on. Please show them your support by writing a letter of thanks. If you know your sanitation worker's name, you can personalize your letter.  Feel free to include drawings, too! Then take a picture of your card, and send it to us. We will share it with the sanitation garage in your community, (and, if personalized, will do our best to make sure your particular sanitation worker sees it). Through the Make Compost, Not Trash campaign, DSNY employees, volunteers, and organizational partners like Big Reuse and the NYC Compost Project, are working to spread the word about the importance of using the NYC curbside composting brown bin. When you put your food and yard waste in a brown bin, you are helping to nourish soils, make energy, fight climate change, and reduce our dependence on landfills. The sanitation workers who collect the waste are an essential part of this operation. Send pictures of your thank you letters to ceorganics@bigreuse.org. Contact: Baruch Blum, Outreach Associate, 818.984.6572, baruch@bigreuse.org bigreuse.org, makecompost.nyc Take a Picture with Your Food Scraps or Create a Food Scrap Sculpture! Big Reuse / DSNY Date/Time: Anytime Location: At home Ages: Everyone can participate Time Commitment:  Varies For families who have the NYC curbside composting brown bin, recycling food (and yard) waste is one of the good deeds you can do from home. Through the Make Compost, Not Trash campaign, DSNY employees, volunteers, and organizational partners like Big Reuse and the NYC Compost Project, are working to spread the word about the importance of using the brown bin. When you put your food and yard waste in a brown bin, you are helping to nourish soils, make energy, fight climate change, and reduce our dependence on landfills. You can help us promote this program by taking a picture of your family with your food scraps or by creating food scrap art! You can create a food scrap sculpture. Or a painting of food scraps. Or any food scrap inspired artwork. Then take pictures of your food scraps or food scrap art and send them to us. We might feature it on our social media and then other families will be inspired to participate, too! Send your photos to ceorganics@bigreuse.org. Contact: Baruch Blum, Outreach Associate, 818.984.6572, baruch@bigreuse.org bigreuse.org, makecompost.nyc Emergency Assistance Fund for College Youth Together We Rise Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Online Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies Together We Rise's mission is to help ease the transitions that foster children experience within the system. The foster care system can be a confusing and sometimes disheartening place for children. Together We Rise's fundraising and network of passionate volunteers strives to give children in foster care a brighter future, a sense of normalcy and belonging. Right now college students formerly in the foster care system are being displaced from their dorms and on-campus housing. The Together We Rise network is working on creating emergency housing, providing travel, utilities, and groceries to these students. You can help by making a financial donation to this emergency fund. Contact: 714.784.6760, info@familyfellows.org.   https://www.togetherwerise.org/  Letters of Gratitude Operation Gratitude Date/Time: Ongoing Location: Put all loose artwork and letters/cards (no individual envelopes) in a large envelope or box according to their recipient type, and ship to: Operation Gratitude ATTN: Letter Writing Program 9409 Owensmouth Avenue Chatsworth, CA 91311 Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Write letters to our military, veterans and first responders. Operation Gratitude sends care packages to our active duty military, veterans, first responders and new recruits. Each package includes a bundle of letters from the American people, thanking them for their service to our country. Package recipients tell us these letters, notes, and drawings are the most cherished items in their box. Visit the Operation Gratitude website for full instructions.     Contact: info@operationgratitude.com www.operationgratitude.com Send Kindness to an Elder Letters of Love Date/Time: Anytime and as often as you'd like Location: Mail cards to: Love For The Elderly P. O. Box 24248 Cleveland, OH 44124 Ages: Everyone can help Time Commitment: Varies The mission of Letters of Love is to bring joy into the lives of the elderly. They do this by collecting cards and mailing these to elders in senior communities across the globe. These include nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices and senior centers. With the outbreak of COVID-19, it's more important than ever to fight loneliness with love for our elders. Here are their letter writing guidelines: Letters must be legible (large print) and handwritten. Avoid religion. Please refrain from including anything religious in your letters, such as religious quotes, words like "God," etc. Exclude the date (day, month, and year). Embrace creativity! Recipients love it when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters detailed, thoughtful and heartfelt. Be kind and thoughtful (more than talking about yourself). This is a one-way letter exchange, meaning you will not receive a letter back, so remember that no reciprocation attached is part of the beauty of your act of kindness, and the recipients don't feel burdened by feeling obligated or being unable to respond. Envelope your letters if you can! It's so much nicer to open up an enveloped card, don't you think? If you're sending more than 1 letter, leave your enveloped letters unsealed and unstamped and put them in a larger envelope or box to send. Learn more here. Contact: https://lovefortheelderly.org/contact https://lovefortheelderly.org/ Feed a Hungry Family Family-to-Family Date/Time: Monthly donation Location: Contact Family-to-Family to sign up to sponsor a family Ages: The whole family can participate Time Commitment: Varies Family-to-Family, Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit 501(c)(3) hunger and poverty relief organization dedicated to providing food, personal hygiene products and other basic life essentials to American families struggling with the challenges of poverty. Your family can help by sponsoring a family in need with a monthly box of groceries. Once you sign up to Sponsor a Family,Family-to-Family will match you with a family in one of the communities they sponsor, and email you information about your "new family." Monthly sponsorships are $36.50 and will help provide enough groceries for an average of 15 meals per month. Families are encouraged to learn more about one another, and you are encouraged to exchange emails and letters with your family. Family-to Family offers other options to help hungry families - click here to learn more. Contact: Nancy Hennessee, nhennessee@family-to-family.org. Sign-up online to sponsor a family. https://www.family-to-family.org/ Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more! Follow along on social media as other families tackle this month's projects and share their stories! Simply join our Facebook group or find us on Instagram (@doinggoodtogether and #sharekindness)   Stay home, teach kindness, make a difference, and have fun! Homebound with your kids? This is the ideal time to teach your children that when our community faces difficult challenges, your family thinks about helping others, too. We've put together a DGT Kindness Kit that allows you and your kids to offer simple acts of generosity right from your own kitchen table. Find all you need to advocate for issues that matter; combat hunger; treat homebound folks to creative artwork; share gratitude with people who mean the world to you; and spark fun, meaningful conversations about empathy, compassion and the common good! Find more information about our Kindness Kit  in our DGT Store and order today: only $9.95, including shipping. (Bulk discounts are available.) We're also offering a digital version for $4.95. However, if the cost is a problem, use the coupon code KINDNESS to download it for free       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

Doing Good Together, 5141 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by mail@doinggoodtogether.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

March 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

March 2020 - NYC Serve a Hot Meal to the Homeless Manhattan Church of Christ Date/Time(s): Saturdays: March 14, 9am - 1:30pm March 21, 10am - 2pm March 28, 9am - 1:30 pm Location: Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 East 80th St., NY Ages: All ages, families are encouraged to volunteer together Time Commitment: Varies, come for a few hours or stay for the entire shift. The Saturday Lunch Program provides hot meals with dignity and compassion to the homeless or those who live marginally.  All shifts are family-friendly, and involve a set-up team to set tables and decorate, a service team to run trays of food back and forth to the guests, and a break down & clean up team. Volunteers help set up, prepare and serve meals, then break down and clean up. Contact: carl@manhattanchurch.org. Volunteers should email Rev. Carl Garrison to sign up. www.manhattanchurch.org Brooklyn Book Bodega Event Brooklyn Book Bodega Date/Time(s): Sunday, March 15, 10am - 4pm. Shift times: 10am - 12:30pm 11:30am - 2pm 1:30 - 4pm  Location: Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building 77, 141 Flushing Avenue, Queens Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome. Volunteers under age 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian Time Commitment: Two to two and one-half hours The mission of Brooklyn Book Bodega is to increase the number of 100+ book homes in Brooklyn. We believe every child in Brooklyn deserves to own the books that they want to read and enjoy. A Bodega Book event is a book collection and distribution event. Volunteer responsibilities at the event include checking in guests, checking out guests, setting up books, helping guests with browsing and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. Contact: Seema Aghera, Brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com. Registration is available online. https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/ Purim Project in Carroll Gardens Repair the World Date/Time: Sunday, March 8, 9am - noon Location: Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith St, Brooklyn Ages: Geared toward families with children from birth to age five Time Commitment: Three hours Repair the World Brooklyn is facilitating a family-friendly project catered to our youngest volunteers in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn! Drop by our table at the Purim celebration for an impactful project and learning experience based in Jewish tradition and social justice. Entrance fee is $5. Generously made possible UJA Federation of NY. Contact: kate.thomas@weRepair.org. Registration is available online. https://werepair.org/brooklyn/   Playdates with a Purpose at JCC Harlem Repair the World Date/Time: Sunday, March 8, 2 - 4pm Location: JCC Harlem, 318 W 118th St, New York Ages: Geared toward families with children ages three to six, but open to younger and older siblings! Time Commitment: Two hours Join us at JCC Harlem's Family Purim Festival with a project geared toward 3-6 year olds! Ready to dance, sing, and celebrate with your little ones? Join us and our friends at PJ Library for this neighborhood celebration! Come play in our costume pop-up corner, make your own mask and get your face painted. There will be fun crafts, a tzedakah (justice) project, games and more! Whether Purim is your favorite holiday or you've never celebrated before, all are welcome! This is a party you don't want to miss. Costumes are encouraged. Let us know you'll be there! Then, we'll go ahead and send you the ticket information by email. Playdates with a Purpose is a PJ Library project. Cost to attend the festival is $25/family (up to 5 people) or $10/person. Contact: kate.thomas@weRepair.org. Registration is available online. http://jccharlem.org Caring Crafts in Cobble Hill! Repair the World Date/Time: Sunday, March 1, noon - 1pm Location: Kane Street Synagogue, 236 Kane St, Brooklyn Ages: Geared toward K-2nd graders with their adults, open to younger and older siblings Time Commitment: One hour Decorate and make a tzedakah box (charity jar) and choose from Repair the World Brooklyn's local community partners for your family to commit to donating to! We'll also have tote bags for you to decorate and then bring home to collect canned and dry goods for one of our pantry partners! We'll celebrate the upcoming Jewish holiday Purim (one of the most fun Jewish holidays!) by learning about the practice of sharing "mishloach manot" and explore how these gifts can extend to our Brooklyn neighbors. Geared to families with children in kindergarten through 2nd grade, but younger and older siblings are welcome too. Open to the public, free of cost. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: kate.thomas@weRepair.org. Registration is available online. https://werepair.org/brooklyn/ DOROT Purim Family Visits DOROT Date/Time: Choose your volunteer day: Sunday, March 17 between 1 -3 pm; and Wednesday, March 20 between 4 - 6pm. Families choose a 30-45-minute window within that time frame for their visit. Location: New family orientations and package pick-up at DOROT, 171 W. 85th St. Families can visit with seniors that live on the Upper West and Upper East Side. Families will receive their senior visiting information when they pick up the package. Families who have not volunteered with DOROT before must attend an orientation at DOROT on one of the following days: Thursday, March 5, 5pm Tuesday, March 10, 5pm Ages: Open to families with children ages 5 - 12 Time Commitment: 40-minute orientation for new families at DOROT. Families who have volunteered with us before can arrange to pick up the package at DOROT during business hours. Visits last 30-45 minutes and take place in the senior's homes (so volunteer time will include travel to and from the older adult's location.) DOROT alleviates social isolation among the elderly and provides services to help them live independently as valued members of the community. We serve the Jewish and wider community, bringing the generations together in a mutually beneficial partnership of elders, volunteers and professionals. Celebrate Purim by delivering gifts of food to our older friends and sharing a wonderful gift - the gift of friendship. Fulfill the mitzvah of giving mishloach manot, a traditional Purim food package filled with goodies, especially hamantaschen. Learn more here. Contact: Quinn Lockwood, qlockwood@dorotusa.org, 917. 441.3714. Families must register online. https://www.dorotusa.org/ Host a Birthday Party for Kids CelebrateU Date/Time: Thursday, March 5, 6 - 7:45pm Location: The Henry Street Settlement, 530 Baruch Place Ages: Sixth grade and older can volunteer on their own; fifth grade and younger can volunteer with their parents. Time Commitment: Approximately two hours The Celebrate U Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to spread happiness by throwing birthday parties for children in shelters or who can't afford to celebrate their birthday in the New York City area. The effect of these celebrations goes way beyond cake and party favors. Celebrate U believes that by showing children that their community truly cares about them, it can raise self-esteem, provide hope for a brighter future and empower children. Early education is essential, but so is building a child's self-esteem, giving them hope for a bright future and knowing society cares about them. And every child deserves a birthday party. Volunteers set up a birthday party with decorations, a banner and paper goods, they do an arts and crafts project with the kids, sing songs and serve cake to the children. The party celebrates any child with a birthday that month and is open to all shelter guests.  A short training session will take place for new volunteers one week prior to each event Contact: Alisonkauder@gmail.com, 917.502.2850 www.celebrateu.org Annual Book Drive Project Cicero Date/Time(s): Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 8. There are a variety of shifts available. Location: The sorting and distribution event will take place in the Gold Ballroom at The Hotel Pennsylvania, at the corner of 33rd Street & 7th Ave. Book drives are held the week of March 2- 5, and all books are picked up by March 6. Check with your school to see if they are participating in the annual drive. Books can also be donated to Project Cicero through their Amazon wishlist page. Ages: Everyone can participate in book drives. Volunteers for sorting and distribution event must be ages 12 and up with an adult. Time Commitment: For the sorting and distribution event, 2 hours or more is preferred. Project Cicero is a partnership of independent, public, and parochial schools, private and public organizations, and corporations whose primary goal is to create and supplement classroom and school libraries for children in under-resourced New York City public schools through an annual citywide book drive. Project Cicero also puts books into homeless shelters, juvenile detention facilities, community centers, before and after school programs, and wherever else there is a need. To date, Project Cicero has placed 3,750,000 new and gently used books into more than 30,000 classrooms and school libraries reaching over 1,000,000 children in under-resourced schools in New York City.  Donated books must be in excellent condition, and only children's book (through young adult/high school level) will be accepted. The sorting and distribution event involves helping to sort, display and organize over 150,000 donated children's books as teachers visit and select books for their classrooms. Contact: projcicero@gmail.com. Registration for the sorting event is available online and slots fill quickly. www.projectcicero.org MV4NY's Book Sorting Event for Project Cicero Muslim Volunteers of New York Date/Time: Saturday, March 7: 11:30am - 12:30pm 12:30 - 1:30pm Location: Project Cicero Sorting and Distribution Event, Hotel Pennsylvania Gold Ballroom, 401 7th Ave, NY Ages: All participants should be in grade 8 or older Time Commitment: One-hour shifts The mission of MV4NY is to engage the community at large, along with the Muslim-American community in a variety of grass-root efforts to give back to New York City and its residents. Project Cicero is an annual event where 1200 NYC teachers at public schools in need personally select as many books as they can to transport to their school and classroom libraries. Since 2001, 3,750,000 new and gently used books have been given to more than 30,000 NYC classrooms, reaching over 1,000,000 students! MV4NY Volunteers is coordinating a group to attend and help with organizing the books donated to Project Cicero according to subject, age and genre. Teachers will select from these sorted books. We will provide a community service letter to volunteers upon request. Contact: 646.267.9410 or muslimvolunteers4ny@gmail.com. Registration is available online. Click your preferred time before to register: Click here for 11:30am - 12:30pm shift Click here for 12:30 - 1:30pm shift https://mv4ny.org/ 'Make Compost, Not Trash' Big Reuse, in Partnership with NY Department of Sanitation Date/Time: Varies Location: Brooklyn Community Boards 2, 6 and 7 Ages: Most of the volunteer opportunities are best suited for teenagers Time Commitment: Two hours We want to grow participation in curbside composting to keep waste out of the landfill, keep methane from our atmosphere, and Make Compost, Not Trash. Join the Make Compost, Not Trash campaign by volunteering at an upcoming event with our team. Opportunities include neighborhood canvassing, street tree care, and park clean ups, and compost distribution events. Neighborhood canvassing involves educating your neighbors on curbside composting by joining us as we knock on doors and speak with New Yorkers about their experiences with the brown bins. Street tree care and park clean ups involve cleaning tree pits and parks and applying compost to plants and trees. All of these events are led by one of our Outreach Associates, who will educate and train all volunteers.     Contact: Maryrose@bigreuse.org. Please complete an online volunteer application. MakeCompost.NYC Support GallopNYC's Therapeutic Riders GallopNYC Date/Time(s): Winter term runs through March 22. The spring term will begin on March 31 and the schedule may vary slightly. Tuesday: Morning, 9:30am - noon Midday, 12:15 -1:45pm Afternoon, 3:30 - 6pm Evening, 6 - 8pm Under 16, 3:30 - 6pm Wednesday: Morning, 9:30am - noon Midday, 12:15 - 2pm Pony Club, 3:30 - 6pm Evening, 5:30 - 8pm Under 16, Pony Club, 3:30 - 6pm Thursday: Morning, 9:30am - noon Midday, 12:15 -1:45pm Evening, 4:30 - 8pm Friday: Morning, 9:30am - noon Midday, 12:15 - 2:30pm Afternoon, 3:30 - 6pm Evening, 5:30 - 8pm Under 16, 3:30 - 6pm Saturday: Morning, 8:30 - 11:15am Midday, 11:15am - 1:45pm Afternoon, 1:45 - 4:15pm Pony Club, 4 - 6pm Under 16, Pony Club, 4 - 6pm Sunday: Morning, 8:30 - 11:15am Under 16, 8:30 - noon Midday, 11:15am - 1:45pm Under 16, noon - 4pm Afternoon, 1:45 - 4pm Evening, 4:30- 7pm   Location: All sessions take place at GallopNYC, 88-03 70th Road, Flushing Ages: 16+; mature younger teens welcome with a parent and after a screening process Time Commitment: Two to four hours per shift. Volunteers are encouraged to commit to the same shift for at least 5 weeks, if possible. GallopNYC is a non-profit organization based in New York City that offers therapeutic horsemanship programs to children and adults with disabilities. We serve over 500 riders a week and operate our riding program at four locations, all within NYC. Schedules at each location vary seasonally. Therapeutic horsemanship teaches the skills of horseback riding and horse knowledge to build developmental, emotional, social, and physical skills for each individual rider. Under the direction of a PATH International certified instructor, supported by trained volunteers, each rider progressively acquires riding skills and measurable improvements in life skills. Through weekly sessions, we help riders walk, talk, learn and have FUN! We also offer hippotherapy services. Therapeutic horsemanship means learning to ride a horse but it means much more - it means building a bond with a horse, learning to care for a horse, understanding how horses perceive the world and respond to people, and ultimately being a leader to a horse. Volunteer Duties may include: Side Walking: Assist the instructor during therapeutic riding sessions by working directly with the riders. Act as an intermediary between the rider and instructor by assisting the rider in carrying out the instructor's directions. Lead Walking: Volunteer will lead horses during therapeutic riding classes, working with a group of side-walkers, keeping primary focus on assigned horse (and not the rider) while maintaining communication with team. No experience is necessary. We provide all required training. Volunteers should make sure to dress in weather appropriate attire and most importantly, volunteers need to wear shoes that covers their entire foot, ideally boots. Contact: Cheriselle Scott, volunteer@gallopnyc.org, 646.518.8699. Registration is available online. volunteer.gallopnyc.org  Do you have a teen who is making an impact in the community? Riley's Way Foundation is asking teens across the country to tell us how they can drive change that inspires kindness and builds meaningful connections in their communities. Working with their school or a nonprofit partner, teens can submit a brand new idea or tell us how they plan to improve or expand an existing teen-led initiative. Riley's Way will award 15 winning projects with $3,000 and the opportunity to join a virtual community of like-minded peers from across the country. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2020. Please visit our website at www.callforkindness.org for more information: Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more!   With your generosity, we can grow a new generation of kind, caring adults: As a member of our Kindness Builders Monthly Giving Circle, you'll provide the tools families need to nurture their children's hearts as well as their minds. This special group of DGT donors builds a more just, compassionate world every day simply by making an affordable, automatic tax-deductible donation each and every month.   To set up a recurring gift, simply fill out our secure online donation form, and select the amount of your gift. If you want to make kindness common, please join us today! https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/donate-monthly       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

Doing Good Together, 5141 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by mail@doinggoodtogether.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

February 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

February 2020 - NYC Brooklyn Book Bodega Events Brooklyn Book Bodega Date/Time(s): Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 9, 10am - 4pm Shift times: 10am - 12:30pm 11:30am - 2pm 1:30 - 3:30pm Location(s): Saturday, February, Ingersoll Community Center, 177 Myrtle Avenue Sunday, February 9, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building 77, 141 Flushing Avenue Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome. Volunteers under age 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian Time Commitment: Two to two and one-half hours   The mission of Brooklyn Book Bodega is to increase the number of 100+ book homes in Brooklyn. We believe every child in Brooklyn deserves to own the books that they want to read and enjoy. A Bodega Book event is a book collection and distribution event. Volunteer responsibilities at the event include checking in guests, checking out guests, setting up books, helping guests with browsing, and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. Contact: Seema Aghera, Brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com. Registration is available online. https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/ Annual Toiletry Drive for Homeless Women (to support Valentine's Day Party gift bags) Brooklyn Community Services Date/Time: All donations must be made by Friday, February 7. Drop off your donations weekdays between 9am and 5pm. Location: BCS Headquarters,151 Lawrence Street, Fl. 4, Brooklyn. Donations can also be mailed to: Janelle Anderson, 151 Lawrence St. 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Every year for Valentine's Day, BCS gives shelter residents Beauty Baskets for personal care, including menstrual, hygiene and wellness products. Beauty Baskets help us alleviate the financial burden for the women we serve. With your support, BCS can empower women on their journey to better self-care. Items to donate can include:  Menstrual products (reusable and otherwise) Body wash Loofahs Combs/brushes Shampoo Conditioner Toothpaste Mouthwash Head scarfs Socks Stockings Deodorant Perfume Lotions Make-up Please do not include any glass items or shaving razors. Items collected make a real difference to the homeless women served by BCS, who come into the shelter with very few personal possessions. All donated items will be included in gift bags distributed at the annual Valentine's Day Party. Items may also be purchased from their Amazon Wishlist.   Contact: volunteer@wearebcs.org https://wearebcs.org/ Sweet Dreams Pajama and Book Drive The Muslim Volunteers for New York (MV4NY) Date/Time: Friday, February 7 through Sunday, February 16 Location: Online Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies   The Muslim Volunteers for New York (MV4NY) is conducting their 3rd annual nationwide "Sweet Dreams" Pajama and Book Drive to benefit underserved babies and children (ranging in ages from 0-16) served by two outstanding programs; The Pajama Program and Room to Grow. The MV4NY pajama and book drive is designed to help at-risk families and young children. Too many kids in our community experience poverty, abandonment, and hunger. The simple comfort that a pair of new pajamas provides and the escape that a lovely book offers is priceless in a world that can seem uncertain and insecure. Your generosity will help provide the comfort of a warm pair of pajamas and cozy bedtime story to at-risk children. Check out Doing Good Together's Picture Books that Illuminate Hunger, Poverty, & Homelessness or Chapter Books that Raise Awareness about Hunger, Poverty, and Homelessness to help your children learn more about poverty and homelessness. Contact: Please make your financial donation for new pajamas and books online at https://fs27.formsite.com/MV4NY/tqm96jw8ln/index.html. Please note - 100% of your financial donations will be spent on pajamas and books, to maximize the number of children served. https://www.facebook.com/mv4ny/    Serve a Hot Meal to the Homeless Manhattan Church of Christ Date/Time(s): Saturday, February 8, 15, 22, 29, 9:30am - 1:30pm Location: Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 East 80th Street Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies, come for a few hours or stay for the entire shift! The Saturday Lunch Program provides hot meals with dignity and compassion to the homeless or those who live marginally. All shifts are family-friendly, and involve a set-up team to set tables and decorate, a service team to run trays of food back and forth to the guests, and a break down & clean up team. Volunteers help set up, prepare and serve meals, then break down and clean up. Contact: Reverend Carl Garrison, carl@manhattanchurch.org https://www.manhattanchurch.org/ Tu B'shevat Festival Project at Brooklyn Children's Museum Repair the World Brooklyn Date/Time: Sunday, February 9: Shift 1, 11 - 11:30am Shift 2,  1 - 1:30pm Shift 3, 2 - 2:30pm Shift 4, 3 - 3:30pm  Location: Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn Ages: Geared toward ages 4-10, but open to younger and older! Time Commitment: 30-minute shifts Repair the World Brooklyn is facilitating a family food justice packaging project at the Brooklyn Children's Museum Tu B'shevat Festival! Package soup for a local food pantry, learn about food insecurity and how it connects with the lessons of the Jewish "New Year of the Trees." Volunteers are encouraged to explore the museum before or after the packaging project. Pay museum admission at the door: $13 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: info@weRepair.org. Registration is available online:  Shift 1, 11 - 11:30am Shift 2,  1 - 1:30pm Shift 3, 2 - 2:30pm Shift 4, 3 - 3:30pm  https://werepair.org/brooklyn/ Share the Love! Valentine's Day Pajama and Stuffed Animal Drive Family-to-Family Date/Time: All deliveries should be made by February 13 Location: Check the Family-to-Family website for a list of locations where you can send your gift. Ages: All ages can participate Time Commitment: Varies New pajamas and a snuggly stuffed animal can make a child living in poverty feel special and secure. Consider sending one new pair of pajamas, any size, along with a new stuffed animal and a Valentine's Day card, to an American child living in poverty in one of the communities Family-to-Family serves. When purchasing pajamas, please makes sure to buy those that meet federal safety regulations. Contact: moreinfo@family-to-family.org https://www.family-to-family.org  Create Valentines for our Veterans Soldiers' Angels Date/Time: Cards should be delivered by February 14 Location: Mail your cards and $1 per card to: Soldiers' Angels 2700 NE Loop 410, Suite 310 San Antonio, TX 78217 Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Holidays like Valentine's Day are fun to celebrate when you have loved ones or friends to share the day with. Unfortunately, our military heroes often find themselves alone or feeling homesick during holidays. The mission of Soldiers' Angels is to make sure no one who serves this country feels unloved - and that's especially true on Valentine's Day! You and your family can help by making or purchasing Valentines cards for our military and veteran heroes. Why do we ask for the $1 per card? The $1 helps cover the cost to distribute the thousands of cards we receive. Have questions? Check out our FAQ's here. Feel free to purchase or make your Valentines. Our heroes love hearing from children. Making Valentines is a good activity to do with the kids one afternoon. It's also a fun activity for your office, club, or civic group. Be sure to write a note of encouragement or thanks on your cards. Don't be afraid to sign your name! Contact: info@soldiersangels.org  www.soldiersangels.org/     Family Packaging Project at Repair the World Brooklyn Repair the World Brooklyn Date/Time: Sunday, February 23, 2:30 - 4pm Location: Repair the World Brooklyn Workshop, 808 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn Ages: Geared toward ages 5-12, but younger and older siblings are welcome too. Time Commitment: 90 minutes Repair the World Brooklyn is facilitating a family packaging project at our Brooklyn workshop! Package necessary items for a local organization and deepen the experience with learning based in Jewish tradition and social justice. More information on the project to be provided soon. Generously made possible by the UJA Federation of NY. Contact: Kate Thomas, Repair the World NYC Education and Family Program Manager kate.thomas@weRepair.org. Registration is available online. https://werepair.org/brooklyn/ DOROT Purim Family Visits DOROT Date/Time: Choose your volunteer day: Thursday, March 5 or Tuesday, March 10. Visits take place from 5 - 6pm. Location: Volunteers sign up to make home visits to older adults who live on the Upper West and Upper East Side of Manhattan. Ages: All youth volunteers must be between 5-17 years old and accompanied by an adult. Time Commitment: Visits last between 30 minutes and one hour. PLEASE NOTE that families who have not volunteered with DOROT before are required to attend an orientation on February 25 from 4:30 - 5:30pm or on March 4 from 5:30 - 6:30pm. Orientations are held at DOROT, 171 West 85th Street.   Make Purim extra special with a visit to a DOROT elder. DOROT provides the mishloach manot, which are prepared by local synagogues and day schools and include hamantaschen. You and your family spend time visiting and celebrating the holiday. It's always fun when volunteers visit in costume! Visits are in Manhattan only. Contact: Quinn Lockwood, qlockwood@dorotusa.org, with any questions. Registration is available online.  dorotusa.org  Fight Hunger at WSCAH! West Side Campaign Against Hunger Date/Time: Monday through Friday, 7am - 4pm  (Open until 7pm on Mondays) Location: 263 West 86th Street, New York Ages: Families with children 10-13 years old may come accompanied by an adult; teens 14-18 may come individually with permission from guardian. Time Commitment: Volunteer shifts range from two-three hours depending on the time of day.   West Side Campaign Against Hunger offers several different programs that respond to immediate hunger and assist our customers on their paths to self-sustainability. A majority of our volunteers support our 86th Street Market, our supermarket-style food pantry, which serves approximately 100-200 customers each day we are open to the public. Volunteers help with deliveries, organize food product, clean and bag food items, and stock our shelves. Contact: Jake Benoit, Youth Engagement Coordinator, at jbenoit@wscah.org. Registration is available online. https://www.wscah.org/ Host a Birthday Party for Kids CelebrateU Date/Time(s): Thursday, February 13, 4:15 - 6pm Wednesday, February 26, 4:30 - 6pm  Location: February 13, Homes for the Homeless, 730 Kelly Street February 26, The Huntington House, 347 East 10th Street Ages: Fifth grade and up Time Commitment: Approximately two hours The Celebrate U Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to spread happiness by throwing birthday parties for children in shelters or who can't afford to celebrate their birthday in the New York City area. The effect of these celebrations goes way beyond cake and party favors. Celebrate U believes that by showing children that their community truly cares about them, it can raise self-esteem, provide hope for a brighter future and empower children. Early education is essential, but so is building a child's self-esteem, giving them hope for a bright future and knowing society cares about them. And every child deserves a birthday party. Volunteers set up a birthday party with decorations, a banner and paper goods, they do an arts and crafts project with the kids, sing songs and serve cake to the children. The party celebrates any child with a birthday that month and is open to all shelter guests.  A short training session will take place for new volunteers one week prior to each event. Contact: Alisonkauder@gmail.com, 917.502.2850 www.celebrateu.org Intergenerational Chess DOROT Date/Time(s): February 3 - May 18, Mondays from 4pm - 5:30pm February: 3, 10, 24 March: 2, 9, 16, 30 April: 6, 13, 20, 27 May: 4, 11 Location: DOROT, 171 West 85th Street Off Amsterdam Avenue Ages: Students in grades 6 through 12 Time Commitment: One and one-half hours each Monday. Volunteers must commit to all sessions.   Share your love of the game, play chess with older adults and help build intergenerational connections across the chess board. Students and DOROT Seniors will get to know each other and play chess together. Chess Masters will demonstrate different strategies at each session. Refreshments will be served. Contact: Quinn Lockwood, qlockwood@dorotusa.org, 917.441.5051. Registration is available online. http://www.dorotusa.org/chess Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more!   The season of kindness calls for more empathy toward "others." Download our "Beyond Our Neighbors" curriculum today! Extend the season of love and kindness by expanding children's circles of concern. Our FREE "Beyond Our Neighbors" curriculum makes it easy. Created in partnership with Making Caring Common, these unique lesson plans include group and take-home activities to inspire kindness and acts of service, along with discussion guides for meaningful reflection. Ideal for students in grades 2-6, these free lesson plans are perfect for faith groups, troops, and after-school programs. Download your free copy today!       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

Doing Good Together, 5141 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by mail@doinggoodtogether.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

January 2020 NYC Family Volunteer Opportunities

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

January 2020 - NYC Book Events Brooklyn Book Bodega Date/Time(s): Friday, January 10, 10am - noon Sunday, January 12 - three shifts: 10am - 12:30pm 11:30am - 2pm 1:30 - 3:30pm  Location: Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building 77, 141 Flushing Avenue Ages: Families are welcome to volunteer together Time Commitment: Two or two and one-half hours On January 10 Brooklyn Book Bodega will be organizing and stamping books in preparation for our events at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Then, on January 12, the first Brooklyn Book Bodega event of the new year will be held. Responsibilities include checking in guests, checking out guests, setting up books, helping guests with browsing and assisting with miscellaneous tasks. The Brooklyn Book Bodega increases the number of 100+ book homes in Brooklyn. Research shows that households with 100+ books boost life outcomes for children and adolescents. Our vision is to create a vibrant and welcoming community that encourages children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds to engage with each other over a shared passion for reading while building their personal libraries. Contact: brooklynbookbodega@gmail.com. Registration is available online.  https://www.brooklynbookbodega.org/ Serve a Hot Meal to the Homeless Manhattan Church of Christ Date/Time(s): Saturday, January 11, 18 and 25, 9am - 1pm Monday, January 20 - MLK Day, 9am - 1pm  Location: Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 East 80th Street Ages: All ages, families are encouraged to volunteer together. Time Commitment: Varies, four to five hours. Volunteers help set up, prepare and serve meals, then break down and clean up. All shifts are family-friendly, and involve a set-up team to set tables and decorate, a service team to run trays of food back and forth to the guests, and a break down & clean up team. Contact: carl@manhattanchurch.org. Volunteers should email Rev. Carl Garrison to sign up. Registration is also available online. www.manhattanchurch.org MulchFest 2020 - TreeCycle! City of New York Parks & Recreation Date/Time: December 26 to January 11 - special Chipping Saturdays on January 4 and January 11, 10am - 2 pm. Location(s): Various locations, search by zip code here. Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies Join the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Sanitation and GreeNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. More than 30,000 trees were recycled last year. You can bring your tree to a chipping location on either Chipping Saturday, January 4 or 11, or to a drop-off location and the city will recycle it for you later. The Sanitation Department also conducts curbside collections. See website for chipping and drop-off locations. Please remember to remove all lights and ornaments. Contact:  If you'd like to volunteer at MulchFest, you may register to join the Green Team and MillionTreesNYC volunteer group. See website for details. https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/mulchfest MLK Day of Services UJA Federation - NY/ Time For Good Initiative Date/Time: Monday, January 20 - Various times and locations across NYC Location(s): Variety of locations, depending on project Ages: There will be projects for families with children of all ages Time Commitment: Varies, depending on project On January 20th, join thousands of New Yorkers and sign up to participate in UJA-Federation/Time for Good sponsored MLK Day of Service volunteer opportunities. There are dozens of ways to give back to the community, in many locations across New York, Westchester and Long Island.     Projects include: Painting a community mural Serving lunch to seniors Gardening activities Making care packages for seniors Assembling food packages And many more! Contact: View family-friendly opportunities and register online. REGISTER EARLY - SPOTS FILL QUICKLY!! https://www.timeforgood.org/mlk-day MLK Weekend of Service 2020 Repair the World Date/Time: Various dates and time. Location: Locations throughout New York City Ages: Most projects are open to all ages Time Commitment: Varies We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and commitment to racial and economic equity. Today, we hold these values in mind as we join together to serve our communities. Together we amplify work that is being done and move towards repairing the world. You can also fill out our group interest form if you know you're bringing a class or group!    Family friendly volunteer opportunities include: Package winter care kits for The Campaign Against Hunger Package high nutrient meals with Muslims Against Hunger Package school supply kits for Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) Assemble hygiene kits and paint a mural at Temple Beth Elohim Contact: Kate Thomas kate.thomas@werepair.org. Explore our project offerings for families in Brooklyn and Harlem at our MLK Day website. Registration is available online. https://werepair.org/ MLK Weekend Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer New York! Date/Time: Saturday, January 18, various times Location(s): Click here for project locations Ages: Many opportunities are family-friendly; check individual opportunities for specific age requirements. Time Commitment: Varies, depending on the opportunity The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service is a day intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a "Beloved Community." MLK Day 2020 will be the 10th year Volunteer New York! has hosted this community-wide action day, which has united thousands of volunteers to serve for shared causes and beliefs, providing tens of thousands of hours of support to local nonprofits and creating countless memories for the families and individuals that have served together in honor of Dr. King. Volunteer New York! is a Westchester-based organization that encourages volunteerism and supports local non-profits. Projects include packing diapers for families in need, making birthday boxes and cards for children, serving meals, paint therapy for seniors and many others. Contact: 914.948.4452, or fill out the online contact form. Registration is available online. Please select the opportunity and follow the registration prompts. https://www.volunteernewyork.org/ Host a PJ and Book Drive! Pajama Program Date/Time: Flexible Location: Your own community Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate Time Commitment: Varies The Pajama Program is a non-profit that provides new pajamas and new books to children in need through a nation-wide network of service agencies. Winter is considered the "danger season" for children in shelter and temporary housing. Snuggling up in cozy, new pajamas with their very own new book, these children are given a secure and nurturing "good night" at bedtime. You can help by organizing a drive to gather new pajamas and books for the children who need them most. Consider hosting a Pajama Party or Book Drive for your child's next Birthday! Invite your guests to a Pajama Party (or any theme party) In lieu of gifts, ask guests to bring a new pair of pajamas or a new book to donate to Pajama Program Pajamas should be new/unused and a complete set or nightgown Decide on an age range to collect (all ages, infant, children to age 5, children 6 - 12, teens, etc.) Posters, signs and brochures can be used for invitations or to decorate the party space, and may be downloaded from the Pajama Program website, https://pajamaprogram.org/pajamas-books/start-a-drive/ Once your drive is complete, report the donation to the Pajama Program through this link on their website Within 7 days, the Pajama Program will contact you with a receiving organization in your area that will accept the donations, and help you get the donation into the hands of the children they serve. Contact: 212.716.9757 www.pajamaprogram.org Winter Package Delivery DOROT Date/Time: Sunday, February 2, 10 am - 2 pm. Be aware that registration will open in January and slots fill quickly. Location: Various locations around the Upper West and Upper East Side. Package pick-up locations will be announced. Ages: Appropriate for families with children above age five. Time Commitment: Two hours Bring warmth and companionship to an older neighbor with a Sunday morning visit. Sign up for the East or West Side location for orientation, package pick-up, and a home visit assignment. Contact: Quinn Lockwood, qlockwood@dorotusa.org. Registration will be available on the DOROT Winter Package Delivery page. www.dorotusa.org  Families Helping Families: Family Day Little Essentials Date/Time: Saturday, January 18, 10:30am - 12:30pm Location: Little Essentials Warehouse, 15 Warren Street, NYC Ages: Families with children age eight and older are welcome to participate. All minors must have a volunteer release form - please contact alex@littleessentials.org for a minor volunteer release form if you or a family member are under 18 years of age. Time Commitment: Two hours Little Essentials offers at-risk families living in poverty urgently needed children's supplies and parenting education to promote the health, well-being and safety of their children under five years of age. Families are welcome to help sort, clean, bundle and count donated items for families living in poverty. Contact: Alex@littleessentials.org. Register early as spots fill quickly! www.littleessentials.org Host a Birthday Party for Kids CelebrateU Date/Time: Thursday, January 23, 6 - 8pm Location: The Henry Street Settlement House, 130 Baruch Place Ages: Fifth grade and up Time Commitment: Approximately two hours The Celebrate U Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to spread happiness by throwing birthday parties for children in shelters or who can't afford to celebrate their birthday in the New York City area. The effect of these celebrations goes way beyond cake and party favors. Celebrate U believes that by showing children that their community truly cares about them, it can raise self-esteem, provide hope for a brighter future and empower children. Early education is essential, but so is building a child's self-esteem, giving them hope for a bright future and knowing society cares about them. And every child deserves a birthday party. Volunteers set up a birthday party with decorations, a banner and paper goods, they do an arts and crafts project with the kids, sing songs and serve cake to the children. The party celebrates any child with a birthday that month and is open to all shelter guests.  A short training session will take place for new volunteers one week prior to each event. Contact: Alisonkauder@gmail.com www.celebrateu.org  Outreach, Serving at a Soup Kitchen or Food Pantry, Advocacy Hunger Free America Date/Time: Events run from Wednesday, January 16 through Wednesday, January 22 Location(s): Throughout New York City Ages: Ages 13 and up, teens under the age of 18 must have a guardian fill out a waiver form. Time Commitment: Varies by project Some 12.3% of Americas struggle with hunger every year, which is why we are holding our 19th Annual MLK Serve- A-Thon. The purpose of our Serve-A-Thon is to provide an opportunity for people to bond over service and to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who struggle with hunger, social injustice, and poverty. Help honor Dr. King's legacy as a civil rights and anti-poverty leader and activist by volunteering to help advance food security in our communities.  Contact: volunteer@hungerfreeamerica.org. Registration is available online. https://www.hungerfreeamerica.org/  Monday, January 20th is Martin Luther King Day of Service "Everybody can be great because everybody can serve" Monday, January 20th is a school and bank holiday to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Instead of just making it a day OFF, make it a day ON and consider participating in a service project with your family. Many organizations provide tips, resources and hands-on opportunities to begin a conversation about social justice around the Holiday. Visit the following sites for more ideas: https://www.pointsoflight.org/mlk-jr-day-of-service/ https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve-your-community/mlk-day-service https://www.nycservice.org/pages/pages/158 Check out our featured Project of the Month!   EXPLORE our growing list of at-home projects you can do whenever you're ready, each with conversation starters, book ideas, and more!     2020 FAMILY RESOLUTION: Join the DGT Membership Circle, and ensure more acts of kindness and community engagement Families across the nation are seeking ways to do more for their community and to make kindness a priority. With the DGT Membership Circle, you can meet your family's goals and do so with the advice and expertise of those who are leaders in the field of kindness and family service. Join now to receive your welcome kit in January!       If you received this email from someone else and would like to subscribe, please click here. This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org)  When calling to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project. Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together.™ Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.                                                                                                                                                                                    © 2020 Doing Good Together™

Doing Good Together, 5141 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417 SafeUnsubscribe™ Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by mail@doinggoodtogether.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!