Homemade gifts from a loved one are often some of the most treasured presents. They take time and thought to create, and they’re the perfect way to show someone you care. Unfortunately, some people in our city may never receive a homemade gift – but our volunteers are working to change that.

Blankets of Love is a program where volunteers knit blankets for children who are turning 18 and are leaving foster care, so they’ll have something to call their own in their new life. Recently, a mother-daughter pair showed up at FEGS to participate in the program. The woman mentioned that her mother taught her how to knit – and there they were knitting, side-by side, creating a blanket for a New Yorker who needs more warmth in his or her life.

If you know how to knit, you’ll now have more opportunities to do so. Blankets of Love runs twice a month, so sign up today!

The Education Department seems to always have the most fun props. And seeing these fun sights every morning is a good way to get yourself out of bed. One employee speaks from experience.

I am not the type of person who wakes up in the morning, jumps out of bed, and is instantly ready to greet the day with exuberance. My snooze button and I are very close friends. On the subway, I typically read, while trying to adjust to the surrounding activity. When I arrive at the New York Cares office Sandy, our Receptionist, is always ready with a warm and much-needed, “Good Morning!”

I head to the Education Department and take in the sights along the way. I pass a box accepting old cell phones and printer cartridges to be recycled, a table full of wrapped presents waiting to be sent off to fulfill a special wish and a bowl brimming with treats being sold as a Winter Wishes fundraiser by the Volunteer Relations Department. It doesn’t stop there! As I arrive in our department, I see boxes of books being shipped to a shelter for a Bedtime Stories project, Legos waiting to be transformed into robots by students in our Robotics programs, a bridge made of Popsicle sticks used as a model for Mad Scientists Team Leaders and someone in one of our signature red polos gearing up for a corporate project. I can’t help but think to myself, “Oh right, this is why I get up in the morning.” Read the rest of this entry »

For millennials, the actions and speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. can seem far removed. They were stories in history books that happened decades before we were born and before we knew the importance and meaning of giving back to our communities. Unlike our parents, we didn’t hear his inspiring words on the news every night or see his march on Washington as it happened. But just because he spoke before our time, doesn’t mean his words don’t still carry meaning for a whole new generation. His message of service is remembered and practiced every Martin Luther King Day as part of a National Day of Service, when volunteers of every generation give back to their communities.

Yesterday, New York Cares volunteers got to work at PS 375 M – The Mosaic Preparatory Academy in East Harlem. Children at Homes for the Homeless will receive handmade baby blankets created by our volunteers so no one will go cold. New tote bags, place mats and Valentine’s Day cards were also made for seniors at the Dyckman Senior Center. But that wasn’t all – volunteers also busied themselves organizing classrooms and painting canvases to bring new life to the school.

At the end of the day, six scholars recited parts of Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech to remind everyone of the man who inspired this important day of service. Thank you to everyone who spent their day off giving back and keeping Doctor King’s dream alive.

Pictured: Volunteers show off their “Dream Quilt.” Everyone wrote down one of their dreams on a piece of fabric, and sewed them together to make one gorgeous quilt.

For most people, December is the time to give back, and for the people at New York Pass, there is no better city in the world to give back to than New York City. Throughout the month, whenever someone bought a pass online, $1 was donated to New York Cares. At the end of the month, an amazing $17,025 was collected!

To celebrate this great donation, Brian Scullin from New York Pass and Emily Banks from Nicholas & Lence Communications met with Executive Director Gary Bagley to present him with this ceremonial check. As you can see, everyone was all smiles knowing this money will go a long way in supporting our upcoming projects.

Thank you to everyone who supported us by purchasing a New York Pass in December. New York Pass is the way to go to if you want to see more and spend less. We look forward to working with New York Pass again soon!

Takisha Dozier, our leadership development manager, has two small children and can’t imagine what it would be like to have to send them into the cold without a coat. There’s still a week left to support the Coat Drive, and Takisha has a special request.

Imagine being a parent and having to decide between paying this month’s electric bill, putting food on the table or purchasing coats for your children. Many New Yorkers struggle with this dilemma each year when the temperature starts to drop and the harsh winter weather that bombards New York City each year is eminent.

As a mother of a preschooler and an infant, I am constantly dealing with both expected and unexpected growth spurts, packing clothes away that are too small and purchasing the next size or two. The pants I bought last month have since transformed into capris and long sleeve tops are now three-quarter length and fitting like belly shirts!

In New York City, the cold weather can last as long as six months. Who can forget the ice/snowstorm on October 29th of last year? For a growing child, six months of a cold, harsh winter could mean going through at least two coats, not to mention winter boots.

A full tummy or a warm coat? Both should be an option that a parent never has to chose between. Donate a coat to the New York Cares Coat Drive, and help a child stay warm this winter.

By Takisha Dozier

A new year means new resolutions. Just like everyone else, we’re thinking of ways to improve this year, whether in the office or in our personal lives. Here are some of the resolutions we’re dying to keep.

Brittany Perotti in Community Programs wants to learn how to do Zumba – a dance exercise class that is sweeping the nation.

Brianna McGurran in Education Programs wants to start a band with her friend, Chris, and perform in Brooklyn. They’ve been talking about it since high school, and 2012 feels like the year!

Leah Hoffman, one of our community partner relations managers, has two resolutions. She wants to engage more friends to volunteer and take part in service opportunities. She also wants to travel – whether it’s a long trip or just a short outing away from the city.

Susan Torres, our digital marketing manager, wants to become a better cook. After a long hatred of being in the kitchen, she now finds it relaxing and wants to try out more challenging recipes on her friends and family.

Heather McGreevy, our volunteer relations manager, wants to encourage more volunteers to head to our fantastic projects in the Bronx.

Mark Dato, corporate service manager, wants to take a sculpture class at the Brooklyn Museum. And get more use out of his yoga mat.

What are you resolutions for 2012? Volunteer more? Make new friends? Prevent the world from ending? (Sorry, couldn’t resist). Let us know in the comments!

This month on the blog, we will be following New York Cares’ Education Programs department, which coordinates a wide range of education projects for children, teens and adults. Get to know the members of the department, why they love working at New York Cares and what you can do to get involved in academic enrichment and skill-building programs in 2012!

For many people across the city, it was a bit of a challenge to return to work after the holidays. Our offices were closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s and much to the confusion of my roommates, I was excited to get back to work on January 3rd. It is rare to like your job as much as I do, and in breaks between my roommates’ gasps of disbelief, I explained that perhaps what I most looked forward to was seeing my colleagues again – particularly those in the Education Programs department.

EP, as we are called around the office, coordinates some of our signature programs, such as SAT Prep and Tax Prep. We provide academic enrichment opportunities for everyone from kindergartners just learning to read, to seniors looking to gain computer literacy. A typical day in our department might include trying out a new robot to use in the Lego Robotics program, making a model popsicle stick suspension bridge for a volunteer project with Morgan Stanley or piloting Lenny, our inflatable, remote-controlled shark. Assembling Lenny was a serious and worthwhile team-building experience – really, Gary Bagley, we promise! Read the rest of this entry »

For more than a month now, our office has been all Coat Drive, all the time. Even though collection sites are no longer taking coats, there’s still a lot to do. Coats still need to be sorted – if you want to help, sign up to pitch in at the warehouse today. If you still have coats to drop off, please do so as soon as possible. The location of our warehouse and operating hours are here.

This year, we started the Coat Drive earlier and got help collecting coats from a variety of people and places. From hip-hop star Fabolous to the New York Mets, and many more, thank you for keeping New Yorkers warm this winter with your generous donations. So far we’ve collected 56,000 coats, and more are coming in every day.

Local news stations helped out a lot last week, too, giving valuable air time during our final week. NY1 visited the warehouse and emphasized the need for coats. We even stopped by the New York Stock Exchange to ring the Closing Bell and asked for last minute support.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Coat Drive. And remember – it’s not too late to donate. Drop off coats at our warehouse today.

New York Cares works with agencies all around the city. These groups are our Community Partners, and we match them up with volunteers so they can complete their missions. Read the first of our Community Program profiles about The Momentum Project.

The Momentum Project is one of the city’s leading providers of nutritious meals and supportive services for any New Yorker in need, especially those living with AIDS/HIV or other chronic illnesses. With many sites around New York City, The Momentum Project serves 40,000 meals and 30,000 pantry bags to New Yorkers through the help of dedicated New York Cares volunteers. In addition to the delicious meals, The Momentum Project also provides social services counseling, in-house nutrition consultation and housing advocacy.

Read the rest of this entry »

We hope everyone had a relaxing and wonderful holiday and is enjoying spending time with family. At New York Cares, we’ve enjoyed our time off, but we’re also working hard since it’s the last week of the Coat Drive. So far, we’ve collected 50,000 coats – a great number – but still short of our goal of 100,000. Yesterday, Meghan Moloney, our Senior Director of Programs, stopped by the New York Stock Exchange to emphasize our need for coats. Watch the video here.

Thanks to the New York Stock Exchange, we not only were able to raise awareness for the Coat Drive, but some staff were even allowed to ring the closing bell!

A warm winter coat can make all the difference for a low-income New Yorker this winter. There’s only a couple days left – find a drop-off spot and donate today. We’re collecting until the 31st at more than 200 locations.