March 2015 - New York City

 

Annual Book Drive  

Project Cicero

 

Date/Time: Sorting and distribution will occur on the weekend of March 6-8. Book donations should be delivered by March 6.

 

Location: Book drive donations should be delivered to: Project Cicero, 53 East 79th Street. Sorting and distribution will take place in the Gold Ballroom at The Hotel Pennsylvania, 401 7th Ave, New York. There are specific age and chaperone requirements for sorting, and all volunteers MUST register through the Project Cicero website

 

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. This past year, its thirteenth year of operation, Project Cicero distributed more than 150,000 books. To date, Project Cicero has placed two million books into more than 11,000 classrooms and school libraries reaching over 500,000 children in under-resourced schools in New York City. Donated books must be in excellent condition, and only children's books (through Young Adult/high school level) will be accepted. 

 

Ages: Everyone can participate in book drives. There are age and chaperone requirements for sorting and distribution volunteers. See instruction sheet for more details.  

 

Time Commitment: Flexible

 

Contact: info@projectcicero.org or 212.288.6900 x 511. Register online for sorting and distribution shifts.
www.projectcicero.org 

 

Junior Volunteer Corps  

Prospect Park Alliance

 

Date/Time: Sunday, March 29, 1:30 - 3:30pm

 

Location: Prospect Park, 9th Street Entrance, Brooklyn  

 

Join the Prospect Park Alliance for a day of giving back. Families are invited to join us to help prepare the park for spring by raking leaves and other activities. Learn the value of service and meet other families and children. Refreshments will be provided.    

 

Ages: All ages 

 

Time Commitment: Two hours 

 

Contact: volunteers@prospectpark.org

www.nycgovparks.org/events/2015/03/29/junior-volunteer-corps 

 

Stock & Shop   

Food Bank New York

 

Date/Time: Tuesday - Friday, various times

 

Location: Food Bank Pantry in West Harlem  

 

During this very long and cold winter, food insecure homes have been especially hard-hit. Volunteer at the Food Bank Pantry in West Harlem and help families "shop" for the ingredients they need to create meals in their own homes. Organize donations, guide families through food selection, and stock food for the next day's pantry.  

 

Ages: Volunteers 13 and older with an adult

 

Time Commitment: Approximately three hours

 

Contact: volunteer@foodbanknyc.org, 212.566.7855 ext. 8350
www.foodbanknyc.org

 

Family Circle Passover Delivery   

DOROT

 

Date/Time: Sunday, March 22, 10am-noon 

 

Location: Seniors homes in Manhattan     

 

Brighten the day of a homebound senior this Passover. Deliver a Passover package and create a lasting memory for your family, as you visit with a senior for about an hour. Pre-registration is required   

 

Ages: Children ages 4 - 12, accompanied by an adult

 

Time Commitment: Two hours 

 

Contact: Shelley Levine, 917.441.5051, slevine@dorotusa.org
www.dorotusa.org 
 

Time Out for Hunger 2014  

Food Bank NYC and Time Out New York

 

Date/Time: Sunday, March 29    

 

Location: Participating local restaurants 

 

On Sunday, March 29th, Time Out New York and Food Bank For New York City are teaming up for the 12th annual Time Out For Hunger campaign! On March 29, participating restaurants in the five boroughs will be donating 10% of their daily proceeds to Food Bank For New York City, so dine out for a cause and help in our efforts to end hunger in our city! 100% of the donated proceeds go to the Food Bank For New York City, and every $1 donated helps provide 5 meals for New Yorkers in need. Every dollar matters!

 

Contact: Check the Food Bank NYC website for a list of participating restaurants.

www.foodbanknyc.org 

 

Keeping it Green for Families  

Central Park Conservancy

 

Date/Time: Every other Sunday, starting March 15, 10am-noon 

 

Location: Projects are located throughout Central Park  

 

After a long winter, spring is finally in the air. If you are itching to get outdoors and volunteer with your kids, Central Park will welcome you! At 843 acres, there's a lot that goes into maintaining New York City's "backyard" - Central Park - everyday. The Central Park Conservancy's dedicated staff keeps the Park lush and vibrant, but they need your help, too. Spend quality time with your family helping keep Central Park green by spreading mulch or raking leaves. Led by environmental educators, projects are located throughout the Park. Space is limited - please register in advance. All participants must have a signed consent form. Arrive early for check-in. This program is made possibly by the GM Foundation.  

 

Ages: Ages five and up. Families only, maximum of three children per parent/guardian; no groups. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult

 

Time Commitment: Two hours 

 

Contact: For more information or to register for a session, email discovery@centralparknyc.org

www.centralparknyc.org/about/programs/youth-programs/keeping-it-green-for-families.html

 

Annual Hippo Playground Project Spring Fair  

Hippo Playground Project

 

Date/Time: Sunday May 3, 9:45am-1pm or 12:45-4pm. Advanced registration required. 

 

Location:  Hippo Playground - entrance is at Riverside between 87th or 90th streets  

 

Sign up early for this fun family volunteer opportunity, working at the Hippo Playground Project Spring Fair. Volunteers are needed to take tickets, distribute prizes and assist children with fair activities and games.   

 

Ages: Children 8-14 accompanied by parents and anyone 15 years old and up.  

 

Time Commitment: Three hours and a quarter hours 

 

Contact: Talietra@gmail.com

www.riversideparknyc.org/groups/hippo-playground 

 

Moms In Training - 2015 Kick-off Event!  

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)

 

Date/Time: Saturday, March 28, 9 - 10am

 

Location: 92Y (1395 Lexington Avenue between 91st and 92nd Streets)  

 

Have fun, get in shape, engage your children in fitness and fundraising and raise money for LLS! Moms In Training is a social, flexible ten-week workout program in Central Park and nine additional NYC locations on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings. The program includes a family fitness class in May and a kid's fun run in June, and culminates with the opportunity to compete in an all women's 6.2 mile run/walk on Saturday, June 13 in Central Park. Refreshments will be served and t-shirts will be distributed at the kick-off event. Training begins in April.

 

Ages: Everyone can participate

 

Time Commitment: One-hour kickoff event, training takes place over eight weeks

 

Contact: Email momsnyc@lls.org to register and for more information, 212.376.7758
www.teamintraining.org/nyc/moms 

 

Host a Clothing & Shoe Drive  

Soles4Souls

 

Date/Time: Flexible

 

Location: Check the Sole4Soles website for drop-off locations or to purchase shipping labels.  

 

Almost time for some Spring Cleaning? Consider hosting a clothing and shoe drive, and donate gently used items you collect to Soles4Souls. By recycling gently worn shoes with the Soles4Souls, the discarded footwear will be given a second chance at life. By being redistributed through the organization's international micro-enterprise partners, men and women will be given the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty by earning a sustainable income. Soles4Souls receives millions of articles of used shoes and clothing that have been collected by individuals, schools, faith-based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners. To get started, determine the dates of your drive and complete the application on the website. Download the press release and promotional materials and use our logo and pictures to make your own collection boxes! Soles4Souls recommends collecting $1.00 per pound of items collected to help offset the fees of shipping to the warehouse.  

 

Ages: Everyone can participate 

 

Time Commitment: Varies

 

Contact: info@giveshoes.org, 615.391.5723 or 866.521.SHOE
www.soles4souls.org

 

Visiting the Elderly  

 

Date/Time: Flexible

 

Location: Various New York City area locations 

 

Many seniors in our community face loneliness every day. You and your family can share the kindness of a personal connection with an older adult. When your family visits a senior you help your children become comfortable with our aging population and bring cheer to those who are isolated and lonely. Regular visits with a senior can help enhance the lives of both the senior you visit and your family. Many programs provide training and ongoing support for volunteers; some will ask for a minimum time commitment, typically at least six months. Doing Good Together's Visit the Elderly project page offers lots of suggestions for visiting with seniors, reflection questions for your family, and additional resources. You can contact a local nursing home,  care facility or an organization in New York City that offer senior visiting programs like DOROT, or the UJA Federation of New York.  

 

Ages: Organizations may have differing age requirements but most will welcome families with children.

 

Time Commitment: Varies

 

Contact: DOROT, slevine@dorotusa.org. UJA Federation of New York, 212.836.1883 or volunteer@ujafedny.org

You can also search for nursing homes in your area on the New York State Nursing Home Profile website 

 

 

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Find us on Pinterest  

 

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. 
                                                                            

                                                                                                     © 2015 Doing Good Together™