July 2020 - New York 

 
 
Raising an Anti-Racist Generation
Doing Good Together (DGT)

Date/Time: Ongoing


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, [email protected]
www.DoingGoodTogether.org

 
Host a Book Drive
Brooklyn Book Bodega

Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity

Location: Once you're ready to donate your books, contact [email protected] 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: 
  1. Pick your dates: We recommend a length of two weeks, including two weekends, for your book drive. 
  2. Set a goal: Make it meaningful and reach for the highest number you can.
  3. Fill out the form: We want to share the news of your book drive.
  4. Print, Download, Share a sign: Hang up on donation bins and spread the word on social media sites.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Label the boxes. Don't forget to label each box with the book type/category.
  8. 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.
  9. Bring your book donations to us! At the conclusion of your book drive, contact us [email protected] to arrange a drop off time to our storage location.
Contact: [email protected]. 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. 
 

 
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.

 
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.


 
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.


 
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 [email protected]

 
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!

 

 

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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™