What You Can Do: Volunteer Opportunities

The Department of Labor estimates that Kings County has the second highest unemployment rate in New York City and  just launched a new blog on his site devoted to community service.

Tis' the season for New Years resolutions—and the Brooklyn community needs you more than ever. Here are a few places right in the neighborhood where you can volunteer your time and  help out those in need. 

Food Banks and Soup Kitchens

Helping Hands Food Pantry, St. Augustine Church

116 Sixth Avenue, 718-231-2017

The helping hands food pantry provides canned and dry foods for the community every Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm. Food donations can be made at the rectory any time of day throughout the year from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Community members may also volunteer time to pack food bags.

Park Slope Christian Help (Chips)

200 Fourth Avenue, 718-237-2962

Chips is a community organization providing food, shelter, clothing and social service to people in need. Their soup kitchen provides meals Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm. Volunteers are needed to prepare and serve food, clean, supervise and fundraise. In addition, Chips accepts food and monetary donations.

Food Bank NYC is requesting cash donations. According to the website, "Every $1 you donate can help provide 5 meals for New Yorkers in need." 

Imani House Inc.

76A Fifth Avenue, 718-638-2059

Imani House is an organization in South Brooklyn offering education and employment services to adults and youth. They also run a food pantry from 10 am to 11 pm. Donations of clothing or sealed, dry food can be made at the 5th Avenue location Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Call Imani House to find out about additional volunteer opportunities in education or job assistance.

Lending a Hand at Your Local Hospital

Sparks of Life, New York Methodist Hospital

506 Sixth Street, 718-780-5397 ext.104

Sparks of Life is a program that allows members of the community to offer their talent and love to patients of all ages in the hospital. Participants are asked to put their skills to work by playing music, leading an art class, teaching yoga or bringing in their furry and feathered companions for pet therapy. While Sparks of Life hosts many one-time volunteers, especially during the holidays, there is need for volunteers interested in making a long term commitment to visit once a month for six months or more.



339 Hicks Street, 718-780-1982; The Healing Center Center for Grieving Children, 718-780-1899

Hospital volunteers are welcomed at the Long Island College hospital in Cobble Hill. The hospital is looking for volunteers in a variety of fields from nursing assistant and human resources to working in the patient library to visiting with the patients themselves. The Healing Center For Grieving Children at the hospital is also looking for volunteers to work with groups of children who are processing the death of a parent or sibling.

Reach Out to Your Community

Teach Adult Literacy, Brooklyn Public Library

(718) 622-4460, AdultEd@brooklynpubliclibrary.org

BPL is in need of volunteers to teach adult literacy classes. The classes helps people over 17 years of age who do not read at a GED level. The program is oriented towards students who are able to study part-time. Basic reading skills, writing development and technology-assisted learning are all part of the curriculum.

Sean Casey Animal Rescue

153 East 3rd St, 718-436-5163; nyanimalrescue@yahoo.com

Sean Casey Animal Rescue  is in need of volunteers, whenever is convenient for you. Just stop by and they'll find away for you to help out. Whether its walking dogs or helping to clean, you'll only be asked to do what you are comfortable doing. And of course, you can always adopt a pet while you're there!.

The Adult Education Program, 

150 Court St, 718-643-8000

The Adult Education Program at the AAFSC empowers it's predominately female student body in their quest to become independent and knowledgeable participants in society as they transition to life in the United States. The education program teaches financial literacy, health literacy, family literacy, nutrition and fitness and job readiness. 

Center For Anti-Violence Education

327 7th Street, 2nd floor, 718-788-1775

Programs at the Center for Anti-Violence Education work to empower women, transgender people, trans-youth and children to prevent, heal from and counter violence. Volunteers are needed in many areas including flyering, office assistance, website maintenance and data entry. Monetary donations are also accepted.

Planned Parenthood

44 Court Street, 212-965-7000

With clinics all over the city, Planned Parenthood provide health education and services for men and women. Volunteers with Planned Parenthood can work in the clinic, in education programs, in the offices or by providing community outreach. Planned Parenthood Brooklyn is located on Court Street near Borough Hall. 

826NYC

372 Fifth Avenue, 718-499-9884

826 NYC is a non-profit supporting creative and expository writing skills to children ages 6 - 18. Working in tandem with the Brooklyn Super Hero Supply Company, they offer free writing workshops at the writing lab on Fifth Avenue. 826NYC has volunteer opportunities both in the writing lab and the retail store which helps to fund the writing program. Fill out a volunteer application at the store or on their website.