A Helping Hand: Places to Donate/Volunteer in NYC This Holiday Season

Arguably the most wonderful time of the year has come again—the holiday season. You might associate the time period from Thanksgiving until Christmas morning with delicious food, presents, and spending time with your loved ones. But, what really brings the spirit of the season to life is having compassion for others.

There are many individuals and families that are not able to indulge in all of the holiday season luxuries, especially in New York City. The Coalition for the Homeless reports that there are about 55, 036 homeless people (including children) living in New York City shelters.

Everyone deserves to feel the joy that comes with the holidays regardless of their financial situation. If you are fortunate enough to offer a helping hand, we encourage you to give back to those in need. With that said, here are a few places you can donate/volunteer in NYC this season.

Giving Machines at Rockefeller Center

In November of 2021, the Giving Machines debuted at Rockefeller Center. These red vending machines allow people on the go to stop and make a quick donation to those in need.

The Giving Machines offer everything from a pair of warm gloves to Yankees tickets and paying a month’s rent for a struggling family. If you don’t have enough time to volunteer, stopping at one of these machines in Rockefeller Center is a great way to give back.

St. Joe’s Soup Kitchen

Located in Greenwhich Village, the St. Joe’s Soup Kitchen “serves 300+ meals every Saturday to New York City’s homeless and hungry,” as stated on their website. This all-volunteer program has been active for about 40 years and operates all year long.

The holiday season is a great time to get involved with this soup kitchen. If you have a free Saturday, consider volunteering at St. Joe’s.

CityMeals on Wheels

Founded in 1981, Citymeals on Wheels is a volunteer organization that gives back to the isolated and elderly. During the holiday season, this non-profit offers multiple ways to get involved.

Some ways you can volunteer at Citymeals on Wheels include delivering meals on Thanksgiving, making handmade holiday cards, and packaging/serving meals at senior centers.

The Actors Theatre Workshop

In Midtown West resides The Actors Theatre Workshop. Founded in 1990 by Thurman E. Scott, the organization offers acting lessons to less-fortunate children. If you have a passion for theatre, consider volunteering or interning at The Actors Theatre Workshop this holiday season.

New York Cares Winter Wishes

In 1987, a group of New York residents founded the non-profit organization, New York Cares. This organization now has about 65,000 volunteers and offers many holiday programs—including the Winter Wishes initiative.

Winter Wishes allows those in need to put in present requests. New York Cares fulfills about 35,000 wishes annually. Donating a present, or even your time, to this program is a great way to give back.

If you are not in the NYC area and still want to give back this holiday season, there are an abundance of ways you can get involved.

Many of your favorite retail stores have donation programs set up at check-out. For example, throughout the holidays Barnes and Nobel do a book drive where you can purchase a book for someone in need.

You can also choose to get your holiday shopping done with companies that donate a percentage of their profit to philanthropic organizations. Some of these companies include Amazon, Carhartt, Nordstrom, and Warby Parker—but we always suggest looking into every brand you shop with!

If you would rather do some volunteer work, look up soup kitchens, shelters, or even hospitals in your area that offer holiday programs. If you’re struggling to find places to volunteer, start your own food/gift drive or meal delivery service!

A little bit of help goes a long way. So even if you don’t have the means to donate, consider dropping off small warm wishes such as holiday cards to these same organizations. You’re bound to bring a smile to someone’s face.

Compassion is the real reason for the season. No matter where you are in the world, if you are fortunate enough to get involved and give back, we highly suggest you do. Everyone deserves a chance at a happy, healthy holiday season.

How will you be giving back during the holidays? Leave a comment below.