Events Calendar

The Muddy River Cleanup is a part of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup.  Come join fellow Yalies and other volunteers from across the Boston area to pick up litter and remove invasive species in Olmsted Park and the surroundings.  Bring your energy and spirit; the rest (e.g., gloves, bags) will be provided.

The event will be held outdoors, rain or shine, so please wear the appropriate shoes and clothing!  All ages are welcome.

Olmsted Park is accessible by T (Green E line), bike, and car, with parking off of Willow Pond Road (Jamaica Pond Parking lot) and on side streets.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Carolyn Yao '88 MS

Yale Day of Service volunteers will deliver Birthday Boxes to Birthday Wishes HQ for children experiencing homelessness. These pre-assembled boxes provide party supplies and wrapped gifts for children celebrating birthdays. Birthday Wishes believes that all children, regardless of their living situation, should celebrate their birthdays joyfully, surrounded by family, friends, and others who care.

This event is in connection with the virtual birthday box building session on May 1. Volunteers are welcome to participate in one or both sessions depending on availability and comfort with in-person meetings. 

Who's Coming?

Contact: Rob Greenly '83 MBA

Join fellow Yalies and other members of the community to install free smoke alarms and share safety information in this at-risk community.  As volunteers, we all first will get an orientation and training by the Red Cross. Then we will work in small groups--under the aegis of the Red Cross--to visit homes, install smoke alarms, and provide home fire safety education to residents. We may be given scheduled appointments at particular homes on our route, or we may be knocking on doors to offer to install free smoke alarms (or a combination of both). In any case we will be providing a valuable service to the community and helping to save lives--while volunteering alongside other Yalies and community members. Families welcome! Children under 13 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Did you know home fires claim seven lives every day--or thousands of lives per year?  Having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half!
 

Contact: Rob Greenly '83 MBA

LexFarm is a non-profit working farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture, farming education, and food access. Activities may include seeding, transplanting, weeding, small construction projects, installing signage, general farm cleanup and interior/exterior painting. Farm needs depend on growing conditions and weather, so we'll know more about the specific activities closer to the event date. Wear work clothes and boots, and bring work gloves (optional), a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle. Plan on getting dirty!

• Parking: please park on side streets or at the Arlington reservoir, which abuts the LexFarm property. The farm is near the Minuteman bike path at the Arlington-Lexington border. Let Jackie know if you’re seeking a carpool or info about public transportation.
• Water: Bring a water bottle.
• Ages: We welcome volunteers of all ages. Kids younger than 15 require adult supervision. Volunteers age 15-17 will need to print a waiver and bring it along.

Who's Coming?

Contact: Jacqueline Starr '90

Community Servings’ mission is to actively engage the community to provide scratch-made medically tailored meals to individuals and their families experiencing critical or chronic illness and nutrition insecurity. CS relies on volunteer support to help prep, package, and deliver 17,000 meals each week.

Join us to support this important work by helping to prepare and package meals for CS clients. We currently have 20 volunteer spots reserved for this time slot which we will fill on a first come first serve basis.

Anyone ages 13+ can participate so families with older children are welcome and encouraged to join us (I'll be bringing my 13yo).

Please note that you must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and show proof of vaccination in order to volunteer and must follow all Covid-19 and food prep-related health and safety protocols required by CS. Specifics about information you need to provided to CS will be emailed to volunteers closer to the event. We will be trained for our tasks at the beginning of our shift. 

Who's Coming?

Contact: Elisabeth Nevins

The Family Pantry of Cape Cod needs volunteers to help prepare their backyard garden for planting.  Your efforts with the Yale Club of Cape Cod will help the Pantry to supplement their food sources for those in need. The Family Pantry of Cape Cod will provide volunteers with the proper tools needed to help foster their garden.  Bringing boots and gloves is recommended.  

Who's Coming?

Contact: Mark Crociati '88 Mus.M

*Please note: this event has been rescheduled to June 11, 1:30-4pm*

Volunteers will meet with the Drumlin Farms crops staff and help the farmers with the most pressing needs of the day – transplanting, weeding, and/or thinning. Our crops manager will start with a short educational discussion on our sustainable farming techniques.

This opportunity can accommodate up to 20 volunteers.  Volunteers must be 13+, though volunteers often bring a second adult and their children to enjoy and explore the farm while we work. Sturdy clothes, work gloves and hat/sunscreen are recommended but not required. 

Who's Coming?

Contact: Julia Rickert '97, '05 MBA

What better way to do a river cleanup than being out on the river itself? Come join us for a morning of kayaking, service, and fun as we do our part to keep the Charles River clean! 

Kayaks are being generously donated by Paddle Boston for this event, so participation is free. Single or double kayaks are available for use, and children of all ages are welcome to share a kayak with an adult (children over 6 may be able to get their own kid's kayak). Please note your preference for a single, double, or kid's kayak (and how many) when you register.

If kayaking is not for you, all are welcome to get in on the action by doing a shore cleanup along the canal and riverbank. 

Waiver MUST be signed prior to the event if you are kayaking

Info:
Paddle Boston FAQs
Directions

Who's Coming?

Contact: Julianne Parolisi, YC '02

*This service project is closed*

Y2Y provides meals and overnight shelter for homeless young adults in the Cambridge area. Normally staffed by undergraduates, the shelter is always in need of volunteers during school breaks.

This March, YaleBoston has committed to provide volunteer coverage for a dinner shift on Thursday the 16th. Volunteers will prepare and serve meals, clean the space, and assist the shelter staff in other tasks as needed.

For more information visit the Y2Y website!

Contact: Brian Hoefling '12