Leading with Kindness
As a middle school educator at J.H.S. 167 Robert F. Wagner, Karen Feldman sought to find innovative ways to improve student behavior and cultivate a positive school culture. This led her to create the Leading with Kindness program which emphasizes inclusion, empathy, and understanding while empowering students to give back to their communities. In collaboration with Bear Givers Inc., Ms. Feldman developed a curriculum that encourages students to learn about a vulnerable population and then create and donate "kindness bears" to those in need. Since its inception in 2022, the program has made a meaningful impact with over 2,000 bears donated to various organizations and schools. The program’s influence has continued to grow, as many of Ms. Feldman’s middle school graduates have launched their own Leading with Kindness clubs in high school. These dedicated students are carrying the message of kindness forward, with clubs currently active at Stuyvesant High School, Academy of Television and Film, Nest+M, Birch Wathen Lenox, and Saint Vincent Ferrer High School. If you are interested in hosting a Leading with Kindness workshop or starting a club at your school, contact Karen Feldman or Bear Givers Inc. at (212) 224-0140.
|
Seal of the Recognition of Service
The NYC Department of Education offers a locally-approved diploma seal of recognition for youth service. The Seal of Recognition for Service, or Service Seal, recognizes high school students who accumulate a minimum of 100 hours of service over their high school years. Service hours may include community service completed independently or as part of service-learning and/or a school-led service program. For further guidance on the Service Seal, teachers and school-based staff can refer to the Seal of Recognition for Service guidance document behind login on the InfoHub. We hope all high schools will support students in pursuing and achieving the Service Seal. For questions, email ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov.
| |
Serve Meals to New Yorkers in Need at The Bowery Mission
Without friends like you, The Bowery Mission simply could not meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness and hunger in the New York metro area. Whether it’s serving a meal, tutoring and mentoring clients, or offering a special or professional skill, you can make an impact in someone's life today. Volunteers are tasked with preparing, serving, and cleaning after guests during the breakfast, lunch, and dinner services. The Bowery Mission also offers the opportunity for volunteers to sort clothing donations and pack care kits for the community. Volunteer today by visiting their website.
| |
West Side Campaign Against Hunger
West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) operates a client-choice, supermarket style food pantry. They also provide social and wellness services including housing support and education. Sign up on the New York Cares website to volunteer with WSCAH to help all New Yorkers put healthy food on the table. Volunteers for distribution shifts must be at least 18 years old, and volunteers for other shifts must be at least 16 years old.
| |
Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine Sunday Soup Kitchen
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine seeks to reduce poverty and hunger through education, advocacy, and health services as part of their Cathedral Community Cares program. The church offers meal services to all without regard to age, gender, race, income, or denominational affiliation. Sunday Soup Kitchen meals consist of a healthy, diverse menu that includes fresh produce, a wide variety of meat/proteins, and low-salt, heart-healthy food options. Become a volunteer by signing up on the New York Cares website.
| |
Backpacks For The Street
Backpacks For The Street provides life-saving assistance to New Yorkers struggling with homelessness through its well-known backpacks program, along with assistance with food, clothing, as well as help with employment, health care, and housing. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old with an adult, and 18 years old without an adult. Learn more about volunteering on their website and sign up now to help people in need.
| |
Inky Blue
If you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, Inky Blue is searching for dedicated volunteers to help maintain a sanitary environment inside their cat adoption center. Volunteers will clean cat spaces in a cat condo habitat, feed/replenish food and water, and change cat litter. Prior experience with cats is required. If you are interested in volunteering, send a short note to Inky Blue with your name and contact number. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old.
| |
Beautify Soundview Park
The Bronx is Blooming (BIB) aims to engage the Bronx community in their green spaces through park restorations, youth leadership, and environmental education programs. Help keep Bronx green spaces clean and beautiful for residents to enjoy throughout the year. Volunteers participate in planting, mulching, removing invasive species, or perhaps painting benches and fences. Find a volunteer event and sign up on the BIB website.
| |
The Campaign Against Hunger
As early innovators of client choice, The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH) has ensured that the families it serves have access to food with dignity. TCAH’s client-choice pantry in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn serves an average of 250 households daily. The pantry carries a variety of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, lean protein-rich meats, whole grains, and other popular grocery items, and is organized according to the USDA My Plate system to ensure families access all the food groups they need for a balanced diet. Families also shop according to their household size and dietary needs. TCAH prides itself in being a leader in choice to preserve the dignity of the families it serves through the provision of culturally appropriate foods that meet their needs. Volunteers are essential to this success. Sign up on the TCAH website to be on the front lines of food justice.
| |
The Hope Center Development Corporation
The mission of the Hope Center Development Corporation (HCDC) is to provide hope and empowerment to the community by providing holistic services that address the needs of the whole person and the whole family. HCDC meets this mission by providing resources and support for low-income individuals and families in need from East New York and the surrounding communities. Volunteer opportunities are available in the food pantry to unload, pack, and distribute food, as well as in the soup kitchen preparing and distributing meals. Complete this online form to volunteer.
| |
Contact the Service in Schools Team | |
Does your school have a great service project to share? If so, the Service in Schools team wants to know!
Invite the Service in Schools team to visit your service project. We want to see your students and school community in action. Email the Service in Schools team at ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov with two weeks’ notice, and we will schedule a visit to your school to learn about your project and see the impact you are making on the community.
Visit our website. Follow @ServiceinSchools on Twitter and @ServiceinSchools on Instagram to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use X and Instagram and are interested in service opportunities to follow us.
Mission: Service in Schools strives to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.
| | | | |