Thanksgiving in New York is a time for many to spend quality time with family and friends, being thankful for what they have in life. However, it is also the perfect opportunity to focus on those in need who are less fortunate than many. With the holiday almost here, there are countless opportunities in New York City and throughout the state for those looking to give back by helping people in need.
At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our legal team is committed to helping New York residents both in and out of the courtroom. If you are considering volunteer work this Thanksgiving but don’t know where to go, consider the following opportunities.
Soup Kitchen Volunteering
There are countless soup kitchens, food banks, and food pantries throughout New York. These institutions are charities and rely on the support and volunteer work of New Yorkers. Throughout the year, these locations collect food and hand it out to the homeless and poor without charge. Whether it is a single meal or a collection of food meant to last for days, these places help keep people from starving.
Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to begin helping those in need all year long. To find a food bank near you, go to https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/foodbanks/NYfoodbanks.html.
Meal Delivery
As part of Thanksgiving, various organizations collect entire meals or other donations of needed items and pass them out. These can be Thanksgiving meals for families who do not have enough money to afford a celebration or packages of essential items for the poor, like soap, clothes, toothpaste, and more.
While individuals can collect and distribute these gifts on their own, there are plenty of organizations throughout New York that can help coordinate the giving. These places will find families and individuals in need and make sure that they receive the items they truly need. Opportunities can be found at The Bowery Mission (https://www.bowery.org/donate/donate-goods/ ), Feeding NYC, Hope for New York (https://www.hfny.org/donate ), God’s Love We Deliver (https://www.glwd.org/volunteer/holidays-special-events/ ), and more.
Fundraising/Donating
During Thanksgiving, various restaurants will be providing special dinners that give proceeds to charities throughout New York.
If you would prefer to raise money that supports charitable organizations or pay for Thanksgiving-related outreach programs, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Organizations that ask for volunteers also commonly accept money donations in order to pay for food and the bills that come with keeping their locations open. Look into the focuses of organizations, find out more about their causes and goals, and support one that you think is doing great work.