Riverbank Playground Gardening

Riverside Park Conservancy

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 7 and October 21, 8:30–11 a.m.

Location: 695 West 142nd Street, New York.

Ages: Families with children of ages are welcome.

Time Commitment: Two and a half hours.

During this event, we’ll be working together to clean up the park, weed out introduced species, and remove woody debris. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, enjoy the outdoors, and contribute to the well-being of our community.

No prior experience is necessary – just bring your energy and enthusiasm! We’ll provide all the necessary tools and equipment. Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

Contact: mail@riversideparknyc.org, 212.870.3070, Click here for online registration. 

riversideparknyc.org/

Community Club

The Service Collective

Date/Time: Thursdays, October 1- December 10, 4–5:30 p.m.

Location: Chop Cook Cake, 11 Meserole St., Brooklyn.

Ages: Volunteers should be between 10 and 14 years old.

Time Commitment: One and a half hours.

Each week, middle schoolers have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in their community by supporting Brooklyn nonprofits and the neighbors they serve. Every session begins with an exploration of the organization’s mission, the challenges it addresses, and why community engagement matters. Then, we roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Through hands-on service, participants build empathy, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Along the way, they discover new interests, develop confidence, forge friendships, and experience the power of using their time and talents to create positive change.

Contact: lauren@theservicecollective.org. Sign up by registering on our website.

theservicecollective.org

Drop In Community Club

The Service Collective

Date/Time: Tuesdays, October 6 and 20, November 3 and 17, and December 1 and 15, 3–4:30 p.m.

Location: Northside Charter High School, 424 Leonard St., Brooklyn.

Ages: Volunteers should be between 10 and 17 years old.

Time Commitment: One and a half hours.

Each week, middle schoolers and high schoolers have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in their community by supporting Brooklyn nonprofits and the neighbors they serve. Every session begins with an exploration of the organization’s mission, the challenges it addresses, and why community engagement matters. Then, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Projects include park cleanup, daffodil planting, support for the Animal Care Center of NYC (pet portraits and cat toys) among other projects.

Through hands-on service, participants build empathy, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. Along the way, they discover new interests, develop confidence, forge friendships, and experience the power of using their time and talents to create positive change.

Contact: lauren@theservicecollective.org. Sign up by registering on our website.

theservicecollective.org

Serve a Hot Meal to the Homeless

Manhattan Church of Christ

Date/Time(s): Saturday, October 10, 17, 24 and 31, 9 a.m.–noon. 

Location: Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 East 80th Street.

Ages: Everyone can participate. 

Time Commitment: Varies.

The Saturday Lunch Program provides hot meals to people experiencing homelessness with dignity and compassion. All shifts are family-friendly. Volunteers help set up, prepare, and serve meals, then break down and clean up. The Manhattan Church of Christ is also collecting clothing for migrant families. Contact Rev. Carl for more information.

Contact: Reverend Carl Garrison at carl@manhattanchurch.org.

manhattanchurch.org/coh

Raise Compassionate Kids: Join a Produce Party 

Grassroots Grocery

Date/Time: Every Saturday! Now through October: Join us from 9–11 a.m. Volunteers unload, sort, and pack fresh fruits and vegetables. Volunteer drivers then help deliver the produce to community distribution sites across NYC. Families may participate in one or both activities.

Location: 1750 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx, NY (Urban Edge shopping center parking lot, behind Dunkin Donuts.)

Ages: Everyone is welcome! Produce Parties are designed for volunteers of all ages, making them a great way for children and adults to serve side by side.

Time Commitment: Two hours for a Produce Party. Delivery time varies by route.

Looking for a meaningful way to raise kids who care and contribute? Join Grassroots Grocery for a Saturday Produce Party, where families work side by side to help rescue and distribute thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to New Yorkers facing food insecurity.

Produce Parties are joyful, hands-on service learning in action. Kids don’t just hear about hunger. They roll up their sleeves and become part of the solution, while experiencing the power of neighbors helping neighbors.

And the learning can grow with them. Young people can return, take on greater responsibility, and begin developing service leadership skills like empathy, teamwork, initiative, and community responsibility.

Together, your family will help transform rescued produce into nourishment, dignity, and connection for fellow New Yorkers, while showing kids something they’ll carry with them: you’re never too young to make a difference.

Contact: Sheri Lyons, sheri@grassrootsgrocery.org. Register online here.

grassrootsgrocery.org

Monday Morning Pitch In to Pick Up

Bronx River Alliance and NYC Parks

Date/Time: Monday, October 19 and 26, from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Location: Bronx River House in Starlight Park,1490 Sheridan Blvd, Bronx.

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.

Time Commitment: Two and a half hours.

Come volunteer with us! We will be cleaning up litter to prevent it from entering the Bronx River. Your efforts not only protect wildlife and the rest of the Bronx River ecosystem, but they also help us identify the sources of trash so we can stop the pollution where it starts. We will provide gloves and tools for collecting the trash.

Contact: anike.cherry@bronxriver.org or call 718.542.4124. Registration is available online. Click through the calendar of events to find the date(s) you would like to volunteer.

bronxriver.org

Repack Events

City Harvest

Date/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, both morning (10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) and afternoon shifts (2–4:30 p.m.) are available.

Location: The Volunteer Center at City Harvest, 171 53rd Street, Brooklyn

Ages: Volunteers must be ten years old or older and accompanied by a chaperone.

Time Commitment: Two and a half hours.

Much of the food that City Harvest procures through partnerships with farmers and wholesalers arrives in large capacity containers, which can be challenging to distribute equitably. Help City Harvest take thousands of pounds of produce and repack it from large, bulk containers into smaller, family-sized units that community food programs can easily distribute to clients.

Contact: Click here to register for an online volunteer orientation.

www.cityharvest.org

Meal Delivery, Meal Service, Meal Packing, and Handmade Card Projects

Citymeals on Wheels

Date/Time(s): There are a variety of shifts available Monday through Sunday, depending on the volunteer activity.

Location(s): Various locations in Manhattan, Queens (vehicle required), and Brooklyn.

Ages: Youth volunteers 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult to deliver meals.

Time Commitment: Up to two hours, depending on the activity.

Citymeals Mission: To provide a continuous lifeline of nutritious food and vital companionship for older New Yorkers. Our volunteer programs support these efforts by offering meaningful ways to connect with homebound and congregate older adults.

Current volunteer opportunities include:

• Meal Delivery: Volunteers deliver nutritious meals to homebound older adults on foot, within walking distance of the designated meal center.
• Meal Service: Volunteers will serve meals restaurant-style to older adults at the center. Responsibilities include greeting older adults upon arrival, plating food, and assisting with cleanup.
• Meal Packing: On-site activity where volunteers package muffins/fruit, bread, and milk/juice into Ziploc bags.
• Shopping Assistance Program: Pairs volunteers with older neighbors who need help getting to the store, carrying groceries home, and keeping their pantries stocked.
• Fresh Connections: Volunteers will help package and distribute fresh produce and spend time connecting with older adults at the center.
• Handmade Card Project: Volunteers create one-of-a-kind, all-occasion greeting cards for older adult neighbors. Learn more and participate here: www.citymeals.org/get-involved/greeting-cards.

Contact: volunteer@citymeals.org. Click this link to create a volunteer profile.

citymeals.org

Soup Kitchen Volunteer

Broadway Community, Inc.

Date/Time: Two shifts each on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Shifts are from 9 a.m.-noon and noon-3 p.m.

Location: Broadway Presbyterian Church, 601 114th Street, New York.

Ages: Families with children 5 years old and older are welcome to volunteer. Anyone younger than 14 years old needs parent or guardian supervision to participate.

Time Commitment: Three hours per shift.

Soup kitchen volunteers are needed to help prepare meals, wait tables, wash dishes, and socialize with our guests. Responsibilities include:

• Helping to prepare and distribute breakfast and lunch to hundreds soup kitchen guests.
• Working with our Chef and other volunteers to create elements of our lunch menu.
• Waiting tables and socializing with soup kitchen guests.
• Cleaning dishes and other working areas.

Contact: tbrock@broadwaycommunity.org or volunteer@broadwaycommunity.org. Register online here.

broadwaycommunity.org

Make a Lasagna for a Neighbor in Need

Lasagna Love

Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity.

Location: Varies.

Ages: Families with children of all ages are encouraged to participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Lasagna Love is a grassroots movement powered by thousands of volunteers cooking and delivering lasagna to neighbors in need. We are united by our commitment to offer a tangible act of love, compassion, and hope in communities often marked by uncertainty and stress. Together, we are proving that kindness has the power to nourish not only bodies, but also hearts and communities everywhere. Our purpose is simple yet profound: feed neighbors, spread kindness, strengthen communities.  

How does the process work? After answering a few simple questions on the portal (including how far you are able to drive), you are ready to be matched with a family in need. Once matched, volunteers communicate directly with their matched family to set up a drop-off date/time. When these details are set, volunteers purchase ingredients and make the meal. When the time comes for delivery, meals are dropped off on the porch/doorstep to ensure a safe and contactless delivery. If you prefer not to cook, you may also donate lasagna ingredients to local Lasagna Love volunteers. You can also help Lasagna Love spread the love by nominating a friend or family who may need a home-cooked meal.

Contact: info@lasagnalove.org with any additional questions. Check here to see if Lasagna Love is currently in your neighborhood.

lasagnalove.org