Join in on the fun and give back by volunteering some of your time in New York City! There’s a ton of organizations that offer volunteer opportunities – here are five awesome opportunities to get you started.
1. BronxWorks – BronxWorks helps to improve families’ quality of life to build a stronger community. They work with all kinds of people, including those in youth programs, service programs for seniors, immigration services, and more! They have a list of volunteer opportunities, but the easiest way to volunteer with them during your stay in NYC is by giving some of your time at their food pantry or help serve lunch or dinner. It’s an easy way to get involved just for a day or two on the fly!
2. Bike New York – If you’re someone who likes to bike around when they travel, then you should check out the volunteer opportunities with Bike New York! Bike New York is all about teaching people of all ages how to ride a bike and how to stay safe while doing so. They taught over 17,000 people how to bike safely in NYC through numerous events and educational biking seminars that are run frequently throughout the year. You can sign up to volunteer at one of these bike education seminars as long as you’re over 16 years of age. The only other prerequisite is that you register and complete a one-hour training course ahead of time.
3. Change For Kids – One of the most impactful things that you can do for the future and well-being of whatever community you’re traveling to is investing in the youth of the area that will grow up to shape the community. So if you like working with kids, then check out Change For Kids volunteer opportunities to help children in lesser-fortunate communities get an improved education. They have plenty of volunteer opportunities ranging from family wellness nights to arts and sports clinics, to science nights!
4. New York Cares – Another great volunteer opportunity for NYC travelers looking to make a difference during their stay is getting involved with New York Cares! New York Cares offers a huge amount of volunteer opportunities through various events, projects, and community outreach efforts. You can volunteer by serving meals at a church or soup kitchen, waiting tables at a senior home, or running in a fitness event. Help New York Cares with its mission of moving NYC forward through education, immediate needs, and public spaces initiatives to be apart of something bigger!
5. Organize your own Fundraiser – Can’t find a volunteer opportunity you’re interested in during your trip to NYC but still want to find a way to make a positive impact during your trip? Why not plan your own fundraiser! You could organize a cleanup event at an NYC park, coordinate with a community center to host a bottle drive, or maybe even book a charity golf tournament at a nearby course! Since you’ll be organizing your fundraiser remotely, make sure you’re using a fundraising event management tool to organize all your invites, RSVPs, share information about the actual event with attendees, and market your event to the local area. Since you’re in control of the event, you can decide what charity or non-profit organization you’d like to donate the money to!
Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!
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