[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the holidays are around the corner, so many of us are thinking about buying gifts, seeing family, cooking turkeys, and other festive activities. But the holiday season is also a time of stress and hardship for many people, and it can be even more challenging for those who struggle to make ends meet and feed their families every day. Fortunately, many also embrace the giving spirit and look for ways to help others during this time of year. It’s also a great chance to get kids involved in charitable activities and teach valuable lessons about helping others.
We have put together a list of great organizations that make the holidays a little easier and add a little holiday cheer to the lives of struggling New Yorkers. If you are looking for ways to help others this holiday season, please check out these opportunities to do good during the holidays… and get your kids involved however you can!
Please note that many of these organizations do amazing work year-round and also need help after the holidays. If you can’t help out now (holiday volunteer slots do fill up!), please contact them at other times of year and ask how you can help. If you have the energy and resources, it’s also great to become a regular volunteer or donor. But just a few hours of volunteering or one donation can make a huge difference for our neighbors in need and make their lives a little brighter. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Where to Volunteer for the Holidays
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Neighbors Together Soup Kitchen (Bed-Stuy)
Neighbors Together is committed to ending hunger and poverty in Ocean Hill, Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant, three of the lowest-income areas in New York City. Their soup kitchen (The Community Cafe) provides 400 healthy meals a day and needs volunteers to help prepare and serve lunches and dinners. They also need volunteers the week before Thanksgiving (Monday-Wednesday, 2:30-6:30 PM) to help prepare for their Thanksgiving Day meal. To volunteer, fill out this online form or contact them at 718-498-7256 with questions.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Where to Donate and Other Ways to Help
CAMBA provides a variety of necessary social services to support thousands of New Yorkers who are hungry, homeless, raising children, and struggling to establish stable homes. They’re always in need of cash donations as well as non-cash gifts to support their clients at over 80 locations around the city. Please check the website for lists of items that are needed before dropping them off at one of their many shelters and donation points all over in Brooklyn.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Doing Good Together offers lots of resources to help you teach your kids about kindness and they also make it easy for families to volunteer together. For more information, subscribe to their free monthly newsletter with local family-friendly volunteer opportunities here. They have listings all over the country, including New York. The newsletter includes clever and creative family volunteer projects in the New York area and at least five different family volunteer opportunities each month.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry can help you raise money for hungry kids while enjoying Thanksgiving with your friends. Just sign up to host a Friendsgiving celebration for No Kid Hungry and they will help you plan and raise money with their easy online tools. Every $1 you raise can provide 10 meals for a child in need. You can also donate to Friendsgiving for No Kid Hungry. Your tax-deductible gift will provide kids with nutritious food and teach their families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. A $50 donation to No Kid Hungry can provide up to 500 meals to hungry kids in need.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
God’s Love We Deliver delivers special holiday meals to clients with serious illnesses and their families on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Right now they can use help with decorating holiday cards that will be delivered to clients with their festive Winter Holiday Dinner in December. Please email volunteer@glwd.org for more information.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
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 children under five years old. You can donate children’s supplies like pack n’ plays, bassinets, single strollers, winter clothing and coats, diapers, and more – please see their website for the updated list of supplies they are accepting. Or you can volunteer to help sort donations in their warehouse with kids 10+ years old or stroller-bound infants. They also accept monetary donations and give you tips on other ways to help including organizing a drive, hosting a personal fundraiser, and more on their website.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
New York Cares Coat Drive collects gently used coats of all sizes from November 13th to December 31st and distributes them to homeless and low-income families around the city. Over 300 collection sites can be found all over the city in transportation hubs, police stations, and participating stores. You can also start your own coat drive in your building/school/community. Check the website for more information including a complete list of collection sites (after the drive starts 11/13) and other ways to help out.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
NY Common Food Pantry Turkey Drive will distribute Thanksgiving packages to nearly 2,700 households this year. You can support them by making a monetary donation ($40 provides one family with a complete holiday meal) or organizing a food drive to collect Thanksgiving food items. They are specifically looking for donations of canned cranberry sauce, gravy, rice, corn bread mix, stuffing mix, pasta, canned beans, dry beans, juice, and shelf-stable milk. Please note that you must schedule a pick up using this online form and the last day they can pick up items is November 14th.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
Room to Grow is a non-profit that works with families living in poverty from pre-birth to age three to offer structured coaching, material goods, and community connections to support parents so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow is welcoming 100 new families into their program and have an urgent need for baby products. You can check out their Amazon Wishlist here to donate an item that will be sent directly to their family center and given to a family.
Related Posts:
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]