Events Calendar

West Side Campaign Against Hunger alleviates hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access with dignity to a choice of healthy food and supportive services.  

Volunteers are needed for the following jobs: 

• Food distribution to customers (8:30-10:45 am, age requirement 18+, Spanish helpful - 6 volunteers max)
• Sorting food donations (9:00-11:00, no age requirement, 2 volunteers max)
• Packing food for distribution (9:00-11:00, no age requirement, 10 volunteers max, should have ability to lift up to 10 pounds)

Who's Coming?

Contact: Rachel Laibson (WSCAH) / Cynthia Roney '84 MBA

*Please note: This site has reached its maximum volunteer capacity. Please consider signing up for another NYC service project.*

The Saturday Lunch Program at the Manhattan Church of Christ provides hot meals to the homeless with dignity and compassion.  

All shifts are family-friendly. Volunteers help prepare meals, place meals in to go containers, place to go containers in bags, and distribute meals to guests, as well as distribute coffee, tea & bottled water, while observing safety protocols. 

Volunteers may also come early to help cook the food that will be distributed. Interested parties should reach out to Rev. Carl Garrison for more information.

Volunteers must wear masks and gloves, and adhere to social distancing and wipe down policies. 

There are only 12 spots for volunteers. We expect that there will be a waiting list, so please notify us by phone or email as early as possible if (after registration) you are unable to attend. 

Who's Coming?

Contact: Katie Kirkwood '08 MS

*Please note: This site is at capacity for volunteers. Please consider registering for another service project in the NYC area.*

West Side Campaign Against Hunger alleviates hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access with dignity to a choice of healthy food and supportive services.  

Volunteers are needed for the following jobs: 

Two Shifts: 9:00-11:00 am & 11:00 am-1:00 pm (All activities are family-friendly)

• Packing food for distribution Max 6 on each shift
  • Capacity: 6 volunteers maximum per shift
  • Description: Assemble individual household bags of shelf-stable food products. Volunteers should feel comfortable performing the same task repeatedly, using hand/finger dexterity, lifting around 10 pounds and working on their feet for the entire shift. 
• Sorting donations 
  • Capacity: 2 volunteers maximum per shift
  • Description: Check expiration dates of shelf-stable food(s) and categorize donations by food type. 
• Writing cards to customers to be placed into food bags or boxes
  • Capacity: Unlimited
  • Description: Write personal messages on cards to be placed into food bags for distribution to customers.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Rachel Laibson (WSCAH) / Cynthia Roney '84 MBA

Participate in preparing lunch at the Bowery Mission, which has been serving New Yorkers experiencing hunger and homelessness since 1870.  

Please plan to arrive by 9:45 am.  All volunteers must be vaccinated and must sign a waiver prior to arrival.    

Who's Coming?

Contact: Astrid Andre '94

Coastal Preservation Network is dedicated to restoring and protecting the coastal environment in Northeast Queens, improving local waterfront parks through hands-on action and advocacy, increasing public access to local waters, providing environmental education, and empowering residents to be greener in their daily lives.

Clean the beach and help get it ready for Coastal Preservation Network’s Family Earth Fair & Kayak Launch in June. Coastal Preservation Network will provide gloves, tools and bags. Family-friendly.

Coastal Preservation Network is giving away 180 40 pound bags of compost at this event.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Sam Rubin '95

Nido de Esperanza is a non-profit organization that seeks to break the cycle of poverty by changing the first 1,000 days of a child’s life through nutrition, education, community and support and materials goods.

Volunteer roles will include sorting and bundling donated clothing, packing food bags, and sorting children's books.

• Families welcome - minimum age is 10 years old
• Volunteers should dress comfortably and bring a water bottle
• Nido de Esperanza is located at 41111 Broadway between 173rd and 174th streets, inside Christ Church Washington Heights. There is a red door to the left of the gates with a doorbell that has "Nido de Esperanza" on it.
• Getting there
  • By train: A train to 175th or 1 train to 168th
  • By car: metered street parking in the area is usually available, but allow 10-15 minutes for parking if you plan to drive.
• Volunteers are welcome to gather at a nearby place for lunch afterwards - details TBA

Who's Coming?

Contact: Alison Gardy '88

Help prepare Rockaway Beach for the 2022 beach season! We'll be clearing sand off of access ramps and planting native perennials if we get a good crowd.  

Afterwards, we'll have a snack on the boardwalk.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Eric Peterson '99

Co-Sponsored by Yale Blue Green

*Please note: This site is full with a waiting list. Please consider registering for another NYC-based Day of Service Project.*

THIS EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE

Spruce up Prospect Park on this national day of service by taking part in a variety of Prospect Park Alliance improvements, from painting benches, edging pathways, cleaning litter and more.  Join Prospect Park Alliance as we support this effort in Brooklyn’s Backyard.

To register, please contact Andrew Burgie directly to make sure you are on the Yale Alumni team.

COVID-19 Update
In order to accommodate community groups, the staff at Prospect Park will need the following support from group leaders during volunteer events:
● Full vaccination against COVID-19 is now required for volunteers ages 5 and up in order to attend volunteer events at Prospect Park.
● Face coverings (masks) are not required for volunteers during outdoor projects.

Contact: Andrew Burgie '87

New York Common Pantry reduces hunger and promotes dignity, health and self-sufficiency. Our Choice Pantry Program offers fresh, culturally appropriate and nutritious food free to participants who qualify. Pantry packages are supplemental grocery packages in five food categories: protein, dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables, proportional to the number of individuals in the family and provided every two weeks. 

Volunteer roles for the Harlem Choice Pantry include:

- Distribution of food bags to pantry clients. This job is done outdoors.

- Sorting and packing of fresh produce and shelf stable groceries in an assembly-line style process to ensure social distancing standards.

 All volunteers must (i) be 16 years of age or older, (ii) wear clothing that can get dirty and closed-toed shoes, like sneakers, (iii) be vaccinated, (iv) sanitize, and (v) wear masks and gloves, which the New York Common Pantry can provide if necessary. The pantry also has a hand-sanitizing station in the Pantry, and volunteers are encouraged to stand for 3.5 hours and handle 30lb bags of groceries.

By signing up, volunteers are expected to commit to the entire shift. If you find that you can no longer keep your commitment, please provide a minimum of 24 hours notice from the start time of the shift. Additionally, a waiver must be signed by all volunteers in advance. Please see the NY Common Pantry Volunteer Hub for more information.

Who's Coming? 

Contact: Taureen Newland, Yale College