SENIORS
Mission: Abyssinian Development Corporation provides resources and services that empower Harlem residents to realize their goals and dreams. For over 25 years, the Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) has accomplished a great deal through its mission to “rebuild Harlem, brick by brick, block by block.” As we continue our commitment to uplifting the Harlem community through comprehensive programs and services, fortifying the family unit from early childhood to seniors is crucial to completely fulfilling this charge. ADC continues its aggressive plan to transform education in Harlem into a system of high-quality top-performing public schools that ensure all children are prepared for college, the workplace, and success. To engage and inspire the entire Harlem community, ADC works with residents of all ages. Our programs include workforce development for young adults, social services for families, facilities for elderly citizens, and housing for the homeless. ADC’s real estate division manages a portfolio of rental and homeownership opportunities for the Central Harlem community.
Website: http://www.adcorp.org/volunteer
Email: http://www.adcorp.org/contact-us
Phone: 646-442-6599
What volunteers do:
mentor youth for career and college readiness
lead group workshops for ServiceWorks scholars (3-year youth civic-engagement program)
care for seniors
participate in events with students
make improvements to property (gardening, mural painting, beautification)
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: The mission of the Amity Program is to increase engagement with older adults through intergenerational interaction and direct programming. We connect students with older adults through a pen-pal program, a telephone correspondence program, a card-making initiative, and Books, Board Games, and Bonding–connecting students with older adults through games.
Website: https://www.amityprogram.org/programs
Email: n/a
Phone: n/a
Volunteer application form: https://form.jotform.com/hshapard/studentapplication
Books, Board Games, and Bonding application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeX4jLyhx4TDf_Dz9Fuabk6nt7jK6zkRijH9dfA0-szpQYQyw/viewform
What volunteers do:
write letters to seniors (these can be creative, and drawings/illustrations are welcome)
make weekly phone calls to a senior
make cards to send to seniors
play board games and/or discuss books with seniors
FYI:
You must be a high-school student to volunteer with Amity Program.
Books, Board games, and Bonding takes place Sundays at noon.
Borough: All, but the Books, Board Games, and Bonding program is in Manhattan
Mission: BRC recognizes that the effort to end homelessness requires more than passion and experience, but also a sense of organizational responsibility and the strength to manage professionally. BRC is a place of opportunity for the people we serve, sustained and strengthened by their efforts and achievements. We see the potential in each person we meet and welcome them with an individualized plan that leads to personal results. We support our clients with an array of services and programs including street and transit outreach for the unsheltered homeless, substance abuse recovery, reentry from incarceration, health and mental health support, temporary housing and shelter, employment training, permanent housing, and senior support.
Website: http://www.brc.org/volunteer-information
Volunteer registration form: http://www.brc.org/volunteer-registration
Email: Rakin@BRC.org
Phone: Rick Akin 212-803-5720
What volunteers do:
help staff outreach team inform homeless individuals about services and connect them to services (weekly commitment for three months)
assist in food service at residential programs and drop-in centers (food prep and service, cleanup)
administrative assistance (take inventory, file, copy, shred documents, internet research, front-desk reception, data entry); commitment flexible
teach Tai Chi, light yoga, low-impact aerobics to clients
teach ballroom dance
photography/videography
create educational videos for vocational training
create marketing videos
lead creative writing/poetry workshop
English conversation partner with 1-3 seniors, using newspapers and magazines to practice speaking aloud and conversation
assist clients with computers for general use or for job hunting/resume writing
address vocational clients on job-related topics (changing careers in mid-life, challenges in keeping a job, what employers look for, how to resolve work conflicts, how to deal with a difficult boss)
FYI:
registration form and volunteer orientation required
outreach volunteers are Manhattan based and work either 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m to 9:30 p.m. in teams of three to five
for ballroom dance instructors, Mandarin, Cantonese or Fujan very helpful
computer assistants must understand desktop manipulation, creating and saving documents, cutting and pasting, the Internet and basic Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel
Mission: The Carter Burden Center for the Aging (CBCA) is dedicated to promoting the well-being of New Yorkers, aged sixty and over, through a full spectrum of services, advocacy and volunteer programs. The organizational mission is to promote the safety and dignity of seniors, many of whom are moderate to low income, by addressing issues of health, hunger, education, protection, community and culture. CBCA uplifts the lives of 5,000 seniors and their families every year, providing a critically important safety net as well as enriching the lives of those we serve.
Website: http://carterburdencenter.org/individuals/individuals/
Email: Holly Hedemark hedemarkh@carterburdencenter.org
Phone: 212-423-9665 x423
What volunteers do:
social visits with seniors (1-2 hours 2x/month)
grocery shopping for seniors (minimum 2x/month)
telefriend status check with seniors (calls can be brief, 7 days/week, call from anywhere)
serve restaurant-style meals, assist with food prep and cleaning (10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. M-F on UES and 7 days a week in Harlem)
meal delivery to homebound seniors (can do once or regularly, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m Mon-Sat, must be able to carry up to 10 pounds and walk up several flights of stairs)
lead classes in chair yoga, tai chi, computer classes, English as a second language, piano instruction, or other specialized skills
support instructors in sewing, quilting, and painting studios (flexible commitment)
assist in producing holiday parties and events
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Citymeals on Wheels provides a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals and vital companionship to our homebound elderly neighbors. Citymeals delivers weekend, holiday and emergency meals to frail aged New Yorkers, ensuring they never go a day without a nutritious meal and a warm visit.
Website: https://www.citymeals.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us
Application form: https://www.citymeals.org/volunteer
Email: info@citymeals.org
Phone: 212-687-1234
What volunteers do:
deliver meals on foot within walking distance from local senior centers
package and serve meals at local senior centers
friendly visiting with isolated neighbors in need of companionship
contact frail aged neighbors over the phone during a weekly call
respond to mail from meal recipients with warm personalized letters
office help on special project
Boroughs: All
Mission: DOROT is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to alleviate social isolation and provide concrete services to older adults. For more than four decades, DOROT has been an innovative leader in the fields of aging services and volunteerism. DOROT’s diverse set of programs, as well as our focus on providing intergenerational connections to seniors, has ensured that DOROT’s clients have access to the resources they need to age with dignity, independence, and grace. We serve the Jewish and wider community, bringing the generations together in a mutually beneficial partnership of elders, volunteers and professionals.
Website: http://www.dorotusa.org/
Email: info@dorotusa.org
Phone: 212-769-2850
What volunteers do:
holiday package delivery to seniors (one-time commitment)
assist at Thanskgiving banquet (one-time commitment)
conduct a workshop for seniors
tutor seniors in computers (1-4 one-hour sessions)
receive weekly email alerts to run errands for seniors
escort a senior to cultural events
cook for and dine with a homebound senior
weekly visits to senior with matched interests (year-long commitment)
teach a course for seniors via teleconference
host dinners at transitional housing program (weeknights or Sundays, monthly commitment for six months)
wellness group facilitator/instructor (Friday afternoons)
accounting
data entry
receptionist relief
outreach caller
records assistant
FYI:
for all volunteering with seniors other than one-time commitments, orientation and background and/or references check required; training offered for some volunteer positions
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Goddard Riverside Community Center serves some 17,000 people each year through 26 programs on the Upper West Side and throughout Manhattan. We work every day for a fair and just society where all people have the opportunity to make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families.We believe that a fulfilled life extends beyond the basics of food, clothing and shelter to include opportunities for education, continuing education, cultural enrichment and meaningful interaction with others.We believe in nurturing community life and supporting connections and neighbors.
Website: https://www.goddard.org/grcc/volunteer/
Tutoring applications: https://www.goddard.org/grcc/volunteer/starlearning/
Email: Brianne Kilpatrick bkilpatrick@goddard.org or for tutoring Deena Hellman dhellman@goddard.org
Phone: 212-873-6600 x314 or for tutoring x303
What volunteers do:
bring meals to homebound older adults (arrive between 9:30-10, Sunday-Friday, deliver until 2 pm)
in senior program, teach art, lead current events discussion, share meals, offer computer support, read poetry and short stories written by seniors
on Thanskgiving and Christmas, bake pies and cookies, carve turkeys, prepare stuffing, serve meals, deliver meals to homebound seniors
provide one-on-one tutoring to students in grades 2-12 (during the school year or summer program, late June to mid-August, commit 2 hours/week, application required)
unpack and sort books at fundraising book fair
staff book fair
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: GRIOT Circle is a community-based, multigenerational organization serving LGBTQ elders of color. Our mission is to respond to and eliminate all forms of oppression, including: ageism, racism, sexism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, poverty, xenophobia, and their intersections. We achieve this by providing health, wellness, advocacy, and leadership activities to remove isolation and fear, build community, as well as honor racial and ethnic traditions. Most of our members reside in New York’s metropolitan area, though GRIOT has members throughout the country. Nearly all our members are from modest-to-low income households; more than 50% are retired; and about 90% identify as black, African American or Caribbean American. We provide emotional support and quality programming that affirm the lives of this often invisible and marginalized population. GRIOT is committed to honoring and preserving our histories and traditions while reuniting those parts of our selves that have been fragmented by racism and homophobia. We maintain a space, free of discrimination based on age, gender, race, sexuality, spirituality, and ethnic origin. Everyone is welcome.
Website: https://griotcircle.org/support-us#volunteer
Email: Reunion@griotcircle.org
Phone: 718-246-2775
What volunteers do:
Serve on Buddy-2-Buddy coordinating committee
Public Speaking/Outreach/Tabling
Plan events and activities
Fundraising
Monthly calendar mailings
Internal support (field phone calls, welcome guests, assist with programs)
Borough: Brooklyn
Mission: Founded in 1893 by social work and public health pioneer Lillian Wald and based on Manhattan's Lower East Side, Henry Street Settlement delivers a wide range of social service, arts and health care programs to more than 50,000 New Yorkers each year. Distinguished by a profound connection to its neighbors, a willingness to address new problems with swift and innovative solutions, and a strong record of accomplishment, Henry Street challenges the effects of urban poverty by helping families achieve better lives for themselves and their children.
Website: http://www.henrystreet.org/get-involved/internship-and-individual/
Email: brosales@henrystreet.org
Phone: 212-766-9200 x230
What volunteers do:
tutor high-school students one on one or in small groups in algebra, geometry, physics, chemistry, or social sciences (weekly commitment 4:00-6:00 p.m. Mon, Tues, Wed, or Thurs)
tutor students ages 11-19 once a week between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Mon, Tues, Wed, or Thurs
background check and orientation required to work with students)
staff senior café on Sunday 10-3 or 11-4 (serve, set up, socialize with seniors, wash up, staff coffee station) Spanish and Chinese a plus
needs vary over time but often involve working with students or seniors
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center is a non-profit, multi-service organization focusing primarily on the needs of children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth, and aging New Yorkers including the isolated and homebound elderly. Throughout our 50-year history, we have sought to develop programs of quality and distinction in response to the evolving needs of the community we serve.
Website: http://www.isaacscenter.org/lend-a-hand
Email: info@isaacscenter.org
Phone: 212-360-7620
What volunteers do:
start a game club for seniors
serve lunch or deliver meals on wheels to seniors
lead class in health and fitness for seniors
teach seniors technology
teach enrichment activities (visual and creative arts, drama, dance and music) at youth center
lead health and nutrition workshops for youth
help with homework
tutor
sponsor a book drive
mentor in workforce program
lead life skills workshop in workforce program
develop outdoor garden
plan and host holiday celebrations
serve Sunday suppers
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement is a community-based, non-profit organization providing comprehensive services and programs to youth, families, immigrants and seniors in the western Queens community. The mission of Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement is to build and strengthen underserved communities in Western Queens and to act as a catalyst for change.
Website: http://www.riissettlement.org/volunteer-your-time/sign-up-to-volunteer/
Email: info@riissettlement.org
Phone: 718-784-7447 x133
What volunteers do:
conversation partners and tutors for adult English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) learners in the Immigrant Services program
tutoring, homework help, and group project supervision in Riis Academy (after-school and summer youth development program)
tutor for K-12 students between 3-9 weekdays, minimum one hour/week, six-month commitment
mentor older students 6:30-9 weekdays, minimum one/hour/week one-year commitment
collect donations, plan events
translate for non-English speakers at senior center
one-time opportunities include service days, art projects, holiday meals and celebrations, painting at community center, revitalizing community garden
Borough: Queens
Mission: JASA's mission is to sustain and enrich the lives of the aging in the New York metropolitan area so that they can remain in the community with dignity and autonomy. Founded in 1968, JASA is one of New York’s largest and most trusted agencies serving older adults in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. We provide life sustaining programs for seniors and peace of mind for their families and friends. We fulfill the Jewish value of honoring the aging while serving adults of all races, religions, and economic backgrounds.
Website: http://www.jasa.org/volunteer/volunteer-sign-up
Email: volunteer@jasa.org
Phone: 212-273-5353
What volunteers do:
lead a class, lecture, or activity for seniors (e.g. art, creative writing, computer, exercise, Russian bilingual computer coach, current events discussion, ESOL for Russian speakers, ESOL for Spanish speakers, fitness, jewelry, knitting/crochet, sing-along, Tai chi, walking club, choral group)
assist with registration and lunch service
administrative help (file, organize mailings, data entry, scheduling)
assist with group trips for seniors
Borough: Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan
Mission: KCS envisions a world where immigrant communities remain grounded in their heritage and work together with the broader community to build a better society at large. KCS’s mission is to be a bridge for Korean immigrants and the wider Asian community to fully integrate into society and overcome any economic, health and linguistic barriers so that they become independent and thriving members of the community. We accomplish this mission by providing culturally competent programs in the areas of aging, education, immigration, workforce development, and public health.
Website: http://www.kcsny.org/en/volunteer
Email: Teresa Balk, tbalk@kcsny.org
Phone: 718-939-6137
What volunteers do:
communications/newsletter
teach adult literacy
translate/interpret Korean/English
social media
photography
tech support
administrative duties
nursing
web design
Google analytics
fundraise
register voters
assist in senior centers
assist at health fairs
assist in after-school and Saturday school
support job-training/workforce development programs for low-income and limited-English proficient seniors
FYI:
Korean, Cantonese, or Mandarin a plus
Borough: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens
Mission: The Educational Alliance’s historic East Broadway headquarters has been transformed into the Manny Cantor Center: a settlement house of yesterday and a community center for today, and tomorrow. Offering exciting events, award-winning programs, and critical services for people ages 0 to 100+, the Manny Cantor Center is a hub of diversity and inclusivity, of health and fitness, of education and of excellence. We hope the Manny Cantor Center will provide a space for growth, achievement, enjoyment and connection for all Lower East Siders today.
Website: http://mannycantor.org/volunteer/
Email: info@MannyCantor.org
Phone: 646-395-4280
What volunteers do:
serve lunch to older adults (set tables, take tickets, serve, clean) M-F, 11-1
serve dinner to seniors (assist with kitchen prep/cleanup, greet and interact with seniors) 4:30-6:15, M-F, demand highest Mon and Tues
sort and organize donated materials for use in children’s educational programs
pick up donations
assist teachers in school and family workshops using donated materials
discuss careers with teens
work in English conversation group with Chinese speakers, Thursdays, 1:00-2:00
work at theater ticket desk for seniors, once/week, 12:00-2:30
translate school materials into Cantonese or Mandarin, 8-10 hours/month
assist in ESOL classes for low-income parents of young students, commit weekly to either 9:30-11:30am or 11:45-1:15pm shift
tutor core high-school subject areas (English, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, Trignometry, Earth Science & Living Environment, Global & US history, Regents/Test Prep) either one-on-one or in small group (commit one day/week, M-Th, either 4-5pm or 5-6pm)
FYI:
application required for all volunteering (needs change; current needs always posted on site)
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: The Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives. Since 1989, we’ve been helping people with Medicare understand their rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system and secure the quality health care they deserve. We’re the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.
Website: http://www.medicarerights.org/volunteer
Phone: 212-204-6229
Email: info@medicarerights.org
What volunteers do:
receive comprehensive training to run national Medicare hotline
administrative support (file, copy, enter data, graphic design, market research, fundraising, compile reports)
FYI:
volunteers with legal and medical training should contact the organization for specialized opportunities
Mission: The Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty is the voice of the Jewish poor and the first line of defense for our community’s needy. We fight poverty through comprehensive social services and treat every individual with dignity and respect. Our network of grassroots Jewish Community Councils strengthens families and neighborhoods throughout New York City. In the fight against poverty, we serve immigrants, seniors living on fixed incomes, the un- and underemployed and anyone else in need. As an organization founded on Jewish values, we serve everyone with dignity and empathy, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion.
Website: http://www.metcouncil.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Get_Involved_Volunteer_Individual
Email: volunteer@metcouncil.org
Phone: 212-453-9508
What volunteers do:
serve Sunday brunch to seniors
package food for home delivery
accompany seniors to medical appointments
lead workshops for immigrant clients (e.g., tax preparation, budgeting and financial planning, dressing for an interview and negotiating salary, nutrition, cooking, exercise)
Boroughs: all
Mission: New York Foundation for Senior Citizens is dedicated to helping New York’s seniors enjoy healthier, safer, more productive and dignified lives in their own homes and communities and to help them avoid the need for premature institutionalization. Established in 1968, the Foundation is the only non-profit, non-sectarian organization serving New York’s seniors in all five boroughs.
Website: http://www.nyfsc.org/
Email: nyfscinc@aol.com
Phone: 212-962-7559
What volunteers do:
Volunteer Ombudsmen visit residents weekly, advocate for their concerns and serve as liaison with facility staff to help insure that residents maintain their dignity and receive the highest standards of care
Borough: all
Mission: Founded in 1990, the New York Legal Assistance Group provides high quality, free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford attorneys. Our comprehensive range of services includes direct representation, case consultation, advocacy, community education, training, financial counseling, and impact litigation. NYLAG assists victims of domestic violence, immigrants seeking citizenship, elderly New Yorkers in need of public benefits and homecare, children with special needs, tenants at risk of foreclosure and eviction. NYLAG is unique for its ability to serve not only the abject poor, but also individuals and families who earn slightly above the government-designated poverty threshold. We’re able to serve this population because we neither apply for, nor do we receive, Federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding. NYLAG has 125 community offices located in courts, hospitals, and community based organizations in all five boroughs of New York City as well as Westchester, Rockland and Long Island. We also partner with over 600 health and human services agencies across the City to provide cross-referrals and ensure holistic care for New Yorkers in need.
Website: http://nylag.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities
Phone: 212-613-5000
Email: volunteer@NYLAG.org
What volunteers do:
retired attorneys, attorneys in transition, law students and law graduates interact directly with clients and provide legal and factual research, litigation preparation, client advocacy, discovery, motion practice under supervision of NYLAG attorneys (commit to working minimum of 2 days or 15 hours per week either at NYLAG’s Manhattan headquarters or at community offices across the five boroughs)
translate and interpret
administration
development
finance
general operations
Mission: We are committed to listening and understanding the emerging needs and challenges of the diverse groups that comprise our borough and translating those challenges into programs that engage, empower, and create a sense of inclusion and purpose. We offer our neighbors opportunities to change their lives for the better and to become active participants and leaders in their larger communities. For 40 years, we have strived to make Queens communities strong, inclusive, and models of civic life, and we are proud of our borough and its people. Each year, our programs help thousands of Queens residents to thrive in school and make healthy life choices, to succeed in educating themselves and become engaged neighbors, to stabilize their housing situations, and to make the most of their senior years.
Website: http://queenscommunityhouse.org/
Email: volunteer@qchnyc.org
Phone: 347-356-5794
What volunteers do:
pay weekly visits to home-bound seniors in QCH’s Case Management program
Borough: Queens
Mission: Since we started offering services to seniors in Bushwick 50 years ago, we’ve expanded into a holistic community partnership serving people of all ages. RiseBoro was awarded the first Innovative Senior Center in Brooklyn by the NYC Department for the Aging (DFTA). The program recognized for its programming that already offered an extensive calendar of Health Management, Physical Exercise and Nutritional Programs, coordinating with many local hospitals and universities. Our youth center provides local youth and their families with the opportunity to develop new skills, talents and interests, form positive attachments with adult mentors, and have a positive space for continued growth.
Website: https://riseboro.org/program/volunteer-program/
Email: volunteer@riseboro.org
Phone: Jasmine 347-717-5783
What volunteers do:
pack Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
sort and distribute food at RiseBoro’s Food Pantry
mentor 5th-12th grade youth, helping them develop and enhance skill sets and providing support and guidance through individual and group counseling.
paint, landscape, renovate and beautify senior centers
visit a senior weekly (in person or remote)
deliver meals to homebound seniors
light clerical duties: answer phones, file, manage emails.
FYI:
food pantry shifts are Tuesday 1pm-4pm Wednesday 11am-1pm and Thursday 11am-1pm.
youth mentoring shifts are Tuesdays and Thursdays 3pm-6pm
beautification shifts are available Monday-Friday, 9:30-4. Weekend shifts available with advance notice.
senior citizen visiting takes place Monday-Friday, 9-5 and can be in-person or remote
to deliver meals, must have valid driver’s license; vehicle preferred
meal delivery shifts are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.
Borough: Brooklyn
Mission: Selfhelp Community Services was founded in 1936 to help those fleeing Nazi Germany maintain their independence and dignity as they struggled to forge new lives in America. Today, Selfhelp is one of the largest and most respected not-for-profit human service agencies in the New York metropolitan area, with 27 sites offering programs throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Nassau County and Westchester. Selfhelp provides a broad set of services to more than 20,000 elderly, frail, and vulnerable New Yorkers each year, while remaining the largest provider of comprehensive services to Holocaust survivors in North America. We offer a complete network of home care and community-based services with the overarching goal of helping seniors live with dignity and independence and avoid institutionalization.
Website: https://selfhelp.net/get-involved.php
Email: volunteer@selfhelp.net
Phone: 866-735-1234
What volunteers do:
teach classes at senior centers or on the Virtual Senior Center (VSC) to homebound seniors (e.g, exercise, arts and crafts, language)
serve meals
assist at senior center parties and other events
visit Holocaust survivors at home
organize and lead trips
provide friendly visiting or telephone reassurance to homebound seniors
join YoungGen to volunteer with Chinese seniors
Mission: The Senior Planet Exploration Center in New York City is the first of its kind—a stand-alone community center dedicated to leveraging the power of technology to improve the way we age. The Exploration Center hosts free classes, workshops, talks and social and cultural events, offering older New Yorkers age 60 and over a comfortable space to learn, work and explore new ways to thrive in today’s digital world.
Website: https://seniorplanet.org/get-involved/volunteering-at-the-senior-planet-exploration-center/
Volunteer form: https://www.tfaforms.com/261452
Email: info@seniorplanet.org
Phone: 646-590-0615
What volunteers do:
greeters welcome all visitors, articulate the organization's mission and services, ensure that visitors comply with house rules, and help to answer phone and email inquiries
data entry/clerical assistants helps track membership and registration; enter data in database; track RSVPs for special events and workshops; assist with filing
tech talk hosts lead 20-minute one-on-one conversations related to technology with visiting members at the center; assist members to accomplish a technology-related goal for the session;
class assistants help Senior Planet trainers lead formal courses on technology for Senior Planet members; assistants helps students who fall behind to get back on track; help track attendance; reach out to students who are absent; manage equipment distribution in class
FYI:
letter of interest, resume (on electronic form), interview required for everyone; training required for some volunteer positions
volunteer shifts are on weekdays and most last for four hours, from 10am – 2pm or from 1pm – 5pm; minimum commitment is one shift per week, for two months
tech talks are not tutoring sessions or repair consults, but hosts should be comfortable with most commonly used technology products and skilled at communicating about them.
class assistants should have tutoring or teaching experience and be comfortable with most commonly used technology products. Classes generally meet twice a week for for 10 weeks and attendance in each class is crucial
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: SERVICES & ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Our mission is to lead in addressing issues related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) aging. SAGE offers innovative services and programs to LGBT older people throughout New York City and nationwide through our affiliate network, SAGENet. From arts and culture, to health and wellness, employment assistance, and much more, SAGE's innovative services and programs support thousands of LGBT older people in communities around the country.
Website: http://www.sageusa.org/nyc/volunteer/index.cfm
Phone: 212-741-2247
Email: info@sageusa.org
What volunteers do:
friendly visiting
staff events
clerical support
participate in a SAGE Committee
FYI:
monthly volunteer orientation meetings, followed by additional training if necessary
Mission: Search and Care’s mission is to seek out older people in the community who need help in managing life's daily activities or accessing essential services, and to provide them the support and companionship they require to live with security and dignity in the manner they choose. Our emphasis has always been to act as our vulnerable older neighbors’ surrogate family (when they have none), sounding-board, staunchest advocate, and safety net. We strive to ensure that all of our clients can age at home for as long as is safely feasible. Clients often report that our efforts extend their quality of life, dignity, and peace of mind.
Website: http://www.searchandcare.org/volunteers
Email: Robin Strashun SandC@searchandcare.org
Phone: 212-289-5300
What volunteers do:
provide companionship, visiting, and conversation
shop, pick up prescriptions, and run errands—particularly for the homebound
neighborhood strolls
technology tutorials (internet, email, e-books)
socialization and entertainment activities (e.g. board games)
administrative assistance and help at reception desk
FYI:
volunteer application includes interview, questionnaire, reference/background check, and orientation; volunteers are provided with ongoing support
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) is a multi-service, community-based, not-for-profit agency that provides programs for individuals of all ages. Our Youth and Family Services provide educational enrichment to children, teens, and young adults. We help to engage parents as partners in their children’s education, providing them with the tools they need to work with their children’s teachers and to plan for college. For adults, we offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses and Home Health Aide Training. Our senior services help people to stay healthy, active, and independent as they age. Our Center for Active Older Adults offers 30 fitness, arts, educational and recreational activities each week, plus hot, nutritionally-balanced meals. We provide home care services for those with limited mobility and support for individuals caring for an ailing senior as well as social adult day programs for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or physical impairments. As peoples’ needs change over time, we work to provide seamless and ongoing support.
Website: https://www.scsny.org/programs/volunteer/volunteer
Phone: 718-784-6173
Email: info@scsny.org
What volunteers do:
tutor, homework assistance, educational enrichment in youth programs (pre-school through college)
prepare or serve meals in senior center
teach senior classes
help screen seniors for entitlement benefits
assist in day program for cognitively or physically impaired seniors
teach fitness to seniors
visit homebound elder adults (six-month commitment)
administrative support (filing, data entry)
Borough: Queens
Mission: Union Settlement is an on-the-ground resource for East Harlem residents of all ages, and a passionate advocate for the needs of underserved communities. Since opening our doors in 1895, we have brought education, wellness and community-building programs to our neighborhood, empowering New Yorkers with opportunities to better their lives. By helping our neighbors realize their goals, we build the vitality and success of East Harlem. Our offerings—from youth and adult education classes, to Meals-on-Wheels, mental health services and programs for senior citizens—span more than a dozen locations across the neighborhood. They are designed to touch every member of a family and support the interdependent needs of every generation and culture in our neighborhood.
Website: https://unionsettlement.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Email: Cristina Valbuena-Castor cvalbuenacastr@unionsettlement.org
Phone: 646-672-5082
What volunteers do:
homework help with children ages 5-12, M-F, 3-5
help special-needs children with homework, M-F 3-4 (must have special-needs experience)
GED program assistant (commit to a trimester, reading M, W, noon-3; math Mon-Thurs, noon-3)
literacy partner for adults work one-on-one or with small group, one morning shift per week (bilingual a plus)
develop and implement recreational activities for seniors, mornings, commitment at discretion of volunteer
friendly visiting with seniors (3-4 hours/month for 3-6 months)
senior phone chat (2-4 hours/month for 3-6 months)
beautification and maintenance
file, data entry (2-5 hours/week)
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: With families fraying, spread out, or non-existent, a substantial portion of long-time residents of the Lower East Side don’t have family they can count on for the help they need. UJC fills that gap. UJC serves as a coordinating body of neighborhood, secular, civic and fraternal organizations. UJC provides the essential services that seniors and others rely on — housing, meals, social services, and friendship — that make life-changing differences for so many. We work tirelessly day after day to provide a safety net for those who have none. While the majority of programs are oriented to the needs of the elderly, UJC also operates a wide range of programs for families and children.
Website: http://ujceastside.org/get-involved/
Phone: 212-233-6037
Email: volunteer@ujceastside.org
What volunteers do:
pack and deliver meals to homebound seniors
help in food pantry
serve lunch during the week
lead classes for seniors
accompany trips for seniors
help with parties
Mission: Our mission is to help provide a lifeline - keeping seniors independent and connected to the community. We make it possible for older people to enjoy the freedom of living in the familiar surroundings of their own cherished apartments. We befriend our older neighbors, and celebrate their individuality and spirit. Our programs and services help seniors maintain their independence by connecting them with someone who cares. Our goal is to provide a helping hand to our community's elderly who may not have family or friends nearby. "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" has been the guiding concept behind our organization since our founding in 1972 by eight Greenwich Village community members.
Website: http://www.visitingneighbors.org/Activities-for-Seniors-New-York-City-NY.html
Email: HSquareVN@aol.com
Phone: Howie Square at 212-260-6200
What volunteers do:
friendly visiting
telephone support/reassurance
office work
shopping escort
help at street fairs
deliver gifts at holidays
photography
graphic design
fundraising
marketing/PR
writing
computer work
FYI:
can be matched with one senior or be “on call”
commitment can be occasional up to a few hours a week
application and references required
Borough: Manhattan, Queens