Holiday season is in full swing, and while you may be scrambling to find the best place for Christmas dinner, or even planning an adventure out to a festive pop-up bar, there’s still time to give back this holiday season! There’s nothing more wholesome than helping out during the giving season, and NYC charities make it so easy to lend a hand.
From toy drives to coat donations, there’s so many options to help families across the city. Check out some great volunteer opportunities you can be a part of this Thanksgiving season!
1. Hope for New York
For over 25 years, Hope for New York’s His Toy Store campaign has been an annual Christmas outreach program that provides toys to families in needs. This year, it’s once again returning with a goal of $150,000 to help create on-site toy stores and other holiday grants for children. From now through Christmas Day, you can donate to the great cause or volunteer on site across NYC (ranges from Harlem to Crown Heights to Upper West side and beyond!). Check out all of the opportunities here.
2. New York Cares Coat Drive
New York Cares is making sure all New Yorkers are warm this winter, launching their generous coat drives across the city! With the help of WE ❤️ NYC and NYC’s sports teams, their goal is to have their biggest coat drive yet! Through December 31, you can warm someone up by dropping off a coat (or a few!) at a local drop-off point, volunteering at one of these locations, or starting your own virtual fundraiser (every $25 goes towards a coat). Learn more about their initiative and get involved here.
3. God’s Love We Deliver
God’s Love We Deliver is looking for holiday helpers for their annual Winter Feast, where you can join them in the kitchen for additional food prep shifts, decorate holiday tote bags from home, or deliver meals with friends and family. The best part is that there are distribution centers in all 5 boroughs! Learn more and sign up here.
4. Coalition for the Homeless
The Coalition of the Homeless recently opened their holiday toy drive with a goal of 10,000 gifts for children and teens living in city shelters. With over 30,000 children in shelters during the holiday season, their goal is to gather toys to be delivered to shelters for Christmas. You can purchase something off the Amazon Wishlist or make a monetary donation to support the drive. This organization also offers separate volunteering opportunities too! Learn more about everything here.
5. Toys for Tots
This nationwide program is always looking for new, unwrapped toys for children, as well as volunteers to help collect. There’s drop-off sites all over New York City where you can get involved. Check out all the info about Toys for Tots in NYC here!
6. The Bowery Mission
Volunteer with The Bowery Mission this holiday season, and join in on serving festival meals to in-need New Yorkers. Their goal of feeding the homeless and hungry this holiday season is in the works, and you can either volunteer to help prep food or donate to the cause. Learn more about their holiday meals campaign here.
7. Citymeals on Wheels
After providing over 39,000 meals last year, Citymeals on Wheels is a great charity to help out during holiday season. Citymeals helps serve festive home-delivered holiday meals to older adults who live alone or are homebound seniors. Anyone can volunteer to deliver meals, and children can even help out by making holiday cards for the seniors. Learn more and sign up here.
Where: 355 Lexington Ave
8. Masbia Soup Kitchen Network
This non-profit has 2 location in both Queens and Brooklyn, and they serve up hot meals to those who enter from Sunday-Thursday. Volunteers can be age 12+ (accompanied by parent) and can help out in all sorts of ways…like preparing meals, helping serve food, and any other miscellaneous tasks. Learn more and sign up here.