A Guide to New York City Volunteering
Volunteering in NYC helps teach kids the value of what they have and why it’s important to help those who don’t have so much. It also helps build strong family bonds as you work together as a family to do good. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, giving back spreads goodwill and happiness in the community.
In a city as big as New York, finding ways to volunteer as a family can be a bit difficult. This is the double-edged sword of New York City living. Everything is here, but that means everything is here.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to volunteer in New York City as a family. This borough by borough list will help you find the perfect way to give back.
Psst… Here’s one Cold Weather Safety Guide as the temperature drops.
Manhattan
Taking care of New York – Financial District
65 Broadway, 19th Floor, NY, NY 10006
212-228-5000
New York Cares is an excellent vehicle for giving back with your family. Kids ages 14 and up can join an adult group leader for a variety of activities, while family-friendly projects are available for everyone to participate in, even the little ones. .
Age: All ages
Food Bank for New York City – Financial District
39 Broadway, 10th Floor, NY, NY 10006
212-566-7855 ext. 5
This organization provides support to the underserved throughout New York.
To help them with their many charitable works, they welcome volunteers of all ages. Even children as young as 5 are welcome for the organization’s Weekend Repack to help sort donated and bulk items into specific categories.
Age: Five years and up
Toys for Tots – All over Manhattan
888-848-2596
One of the easiest ways to volunteer in New York City is to do it yourself.
Parents and their children can give back together by donating toys to Toys for Tots. Bring the kids and make a day of buying requested toys and donating them to your local Toys for Tots drop-off center.
Age: All ages
God’s Love We Deliver – SoHo
166 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10013
212-294-8100
Offering a variety of ways for families to do good as a family, God’s Love We Deliver offers all kinds of giving opportunities from seasonal to year-round.
Children 16 and older can help with activities such as packing and serving. Those 18 and older can deliver food. Meanwhile, children under 16 can participate in Crafting Love projects such as making beaded bracelets and birthday and holiday cards.
Age: All ages
New York Common Pantry – East Harlem
8 East 109th Street, NY, NY 10029
917-720-9700
Giving back as a family by volunteering at the New York Common Pantry is a great way to do good.
This pantry depends on volunteer help to allow for the continued distribution of thousands of meals each year. Children ages 16 and up are welcome and can help distribute pantry items, serve food, or pack pantry items.
Age: 16 and up
Friends of Governors Island – Financial District
10 South Street, Slip 7, NY, NY 10007
Friends of Governors Island only accepts volunteers 16 years and older, so this New York City volunteer opportunity is limited to those with older children.
It’s a great way to enjoy time outside, stay active, and help one of NYC’s most beautiful areas stay beautiful.
Age: 16 and up
Partnerships for Parks – All over Manhattan
212-360-1399
Partnerships for Parks is dedicated to helping neighborhood parks thrive. A diverse network of dedicated park volunteers continues to expand, making it possible to do more to restore and restore parks throughout the city.
This joint program of the City Parks Foundation and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is always looking for more volunteers.
Age: All ages
Jewish Association for Services for the Aged – Garment District
247 West 37th Street, New York, NY 10018
212-273-5200
Accepting volunteers of all ages, JASA offers a variety of services that help improve the lives of seniors across the city.
Offering everything from meals to legal services, JASA is committed to empowering and accepting New York’s senior community.
Age: All ages
Carter Burden Network – Lenox Hilll
415 E. 73rd St., NY, NY 10021
212-423-9665 ext. 423
Another excellent resource for volunteering in New York City as a family, the Carter Burden Network offers a variety of services to seniors and their families, including grocery shopping, computer training, and more. The organization welcomes adult and youth volunteers.
Age: All ages
Citymeals On-Wheels – Murray Hill
355 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10017
212-687-1234
Providing food and company to homeless seniors throughout New York City, Citymeal On-Wheels is a volunteer group that welcomes volunteers of all ages to help deliver meals. Children can be involved by writing cards and letters, helping to prepare meals, and more.
Age: All ages
Brooklyn
Toys for Tots – Across Brookyln
888-848-2596
One of the easiest ways to volunteer in New York City is to do it yourself.
Parents and their children can give back together by donating toys to Toys for Tots. Bring the kids and make a day of buying requested toys and donating them to your local Toys for Tots drop-off center.
Age: All ages
Partnerships for Parks – All over Brooklyn
212-360-1399
Partnerships for Parks is dedicated to helping neighborhood parks thrive. A diverse network of dedicated park volunteers continues to expand, making it possible to do more to restore and restore parks throughout the city.
This joint program of the City Parks Foundation and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is always looking for more volunteers.
Age: All ages
Harvest in the City – Borough Park
150 52n.d Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232
646-412-0600
City Harvest’s farmers market-style distribution centers provide fresh produce to those in need in all five of the city’s boroughs.
Along with other activities, they promote more food being used and less wasted. City Harvest offers volunteer opportunities for adults and youth.
Age: Check their voluntary FAQs for specifics.
Gallop NYC – Prospect Park
Prospect Park, corner of Canton Ave. & Coney Island Ave
855-925-5661
If your kids are 16 and up, and you love horses, Gallop NYC is a great opportunity to Volunteer in New York City as a family.
This group offers therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with developmental, emotional, social, and physical challenges. Volunteers help in a variety of ways, and training is provided.
Age: 16 and up
Queens
Toys for Tots – All over Queens
888-848-2596
One of the easiest ways to volunteer in New York City is to do it yourself.
Parents and their children can give back together by donating toys to Toys for Tots. Bring the kids and make a day of buying requested toys and donating them to your local Toys for Tots drop-off center.
Age: All ages
Citymeals On-Wheels – All over Queens
212-687-1234
Citymeals On-Wheels provides food and companionship to seniors in New York City. The organization is a great one for giving back because they accept volunteers of all ages.
Age: All ages
Grow in NYC Greenmarkets – Wallabout
Washington Park &, Dekalb Ave., 212-788-7900
Grow NYC Greenmarkets are located throughout New York City where families can donate their gently used clothing, shoes, and textiles. Practice giving back as a family by going through the closets and donating things you and your children don’t use.
Age: All ages
Partnerships for Parks – All over Queens
212-360-1399
Partnerships for Parks is a citywide initiative aimed at restoring and maintaining neighborhood parks so that everyone can have green spaces to enjoy.
Age: All ages
Queens Botanical Garden – Flush
43-50 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355
718-886-3800
The Queens Botanical Garden makes it easy to give back as a family.
Their regular volunteer opportunities are designed to accommodate ages from 14 to adult, while younger children can help out at seasonal community days if they are accompanied by an adult. Opportunities range from gardening to office work.
Age: All ages
Gallop NYC – Forest Hills
88-03 70th Road, Forest Hills, NY 11375
855-925-5661
As previously mentioned, Gallop NYC offers a variety of New York City volunteer opportunities for people 16 and older. That service is focused on helping people with physical, mental, and emotional developmental disabilities.
Age: 16 and up
Bronx
While most of the family-oriented opportunities for volunteering in New York City are in other boroughs, the Bronx has a variety of volunteer opportunities for adults. Check out any of the cross-borough programs above to learn about their opportunities in the Bronx.
Many Opportunities for Volunteering in New York City as a Family
All it takes is one click or phone call to start teaching your kids the importance of giving back. Most of the organizations we just listed accept children of different ages, so it should be easy to find a way for New York City volunteering that fits your family.
Giving is better than receiving so use this list to help you find the joy of giving back as a family!