What’s coming up this spring? A lot of projects that need you, but here are some of our favorite. We proudly present the Top 5 Projects and Events to Look Forward to This May.

5. Intergenerational Trip to the Museum of the Moving Image

How do seniors and teens experience movies and moving images? Find out on this new intergenerational project. You’ll enjoy a group lunch, then head to the Museum of the Moving Image to see the differences and similarities between how the group reacts to the visuals at the museum. Spots are still available.

4. Nutrition Education

We’re expanding our programs with our Nutrition Education project, which is our first venture into adult recreation programs. Volunteers work with clients to teach the importance of nutrition, cooking tips, and more. Projects happen all over the city throughout the month.

3. GoogaMooga

The second annual Great GoogaMooga Festival takes place in Prospect Park May 17th through 19th and nonprofits staffing beer and wine stands get a portion of all sales. We’re excited to be taking part this year, so if you’re attending the festival, make sure to drink up – for charity!

2. Healthy Cooking with Seniors

This Sunday, volunteers will get into the kitchen with seniors at Sunnyside Community Services. The program started last month, and the seniors loved working together to practice their cooking skills. It’s our first ever full-fledged cooking program with seniors, and we’re really pumped it got off to such a great start!

1. Youth Service Conference

Every May, we recognize the great efforts of our Youth Service Club participants during a conference at Pace University. The students celebrate their amazing service all year, attend seminars and workshops where they can learn more about volunteering and get post-high school career advice, and more. Read about last year’s conference, and check back soon for more great Youth Service stories.

We’ll all be giving a warm welcome to the month of May next week, so we’d like to bid a fond farewell to April. A lot happened this month, but here were our Top 5 Favorite Moments:

5. National Volunteer Week

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week celebrates service across the country by focusing on the impact volunteering has in our communities. Check out our spot on Thirteen, highlighting how we mobilize volunteers in New York City.

4. Getting Ready for Love a Library

Love a Library is June 8th, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t already started finalizing sites, projects, and recruiting Team Leaders. This is our second year helping to organize this day of service, when we work with the New York Public Library, Queens Library, and Brooklyn Public Library system to reorganize shelves, get local residents registered for a library card, and more. Look for more details in May.

3. A Volunteer from Halfway Around the World

You may think some of our projects are hard to get to, but Angelique Loverso wins the project commuter award. Angelique traveled all the way from Australia to volunteer. After visiting New York on vacation, she became interested in the differences and similarities between our education system and Australia’s. So she got oriented online, booked a flight, and signed up for all kinds of children’s projects. What did she learn? “What I noticed while volunteering is that kids are kids! It doesn’t matter where in the world I was, it’s always easy to inspire a child.”

2. Rockaway Collegiate High School Students Visit the Staten Island Yankees

On April 24th, Legends, a sports marketing firm and new sponsor, took a group of 45 disaster impacted ninth and tenth grade students from Rockaway Collegiate High School to Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of the Staten Island Yankees. The students were relocated to different schools during Sandy, and many lost homes in the storm. The students were given a tour of the ballpark, played tug-of-war, football, and enjoyed baseball game worthy food donated by Legends. It was great to see the teens having such a great time.

1. New York Cares Day Spring

Of course, the top moment from April would have to be New York Cares Day Spring. Last Saturday, nearly 4,000 volunteers cleaned up 12 shorelines, used 400 rakes, painted 500 benches, and revitalized 70 parks and gardens. Pictures are still pouring in, but you can get an overview of the day by checking out our Facebook album.

Here’s to an even better May!

By Susan Torres

Spring has sprung, my little chickadees, and tomorrow 4,000 New Yorkers will wake up early, step outside, blink their mole eyes at a brightly shining sun and smile. They are going to revitalize 70 parks and gardens throughout the city, including these five gems:

1. Abib Newborn Garden
Did you know East New York has more community gardens than any other neighborhood in New York City? And did you further know, that at Abib Newborn Garden, they grow 22 different varieties of peppers each season, including the world’s hottest, the GHOST PEPPER? That pepper is so hot it killed itself.

2. Living Roof Staten Island Ferry
Did you know part of the roof of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal is covered with soil and plant life? Which makes the building more energy efficient and looks pretty awesome on Google Earth? True facts, the both of them. The roof was damaged in the storm, but intrepid volunteers will revitalize it by weeding and being careful not to look down.

3. William Harris Garden
Did you know that the MLB is sending a team of volunteers to this adorable garden in Harlem, from which you can see Yankee Stadium? They will also be grilling their lunch on the garden’s “Yaba Daba Do BBQ”, which is a name so adorkable you just can’t make it up.

4. Inwood Hiill Park
Did you know that A) there is such thing as a group called the M.U.D (Manhattan Ultimate Disc) League, and that B) they donated $5,505 dollars worth of sand and soil to Inwood Hill Park so New York Cares volunteers can restore the lawn upon which all their Frisbee hi-jinks happen? Beautiful.

5. Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Did you know there is a mansion museum in the Bronx? I, quite frankly, did not know this. But there is! And the grounds will be beautified by our volunteers on Saturday and they can even pose joyously next to a wigwam, like one of our former employees did.

See you tomorrow!

By Kim Wilson

In addition to warmer weather (hopefully, someday) there’s a lot to look forward to this April. Most of them involve being outside, which is only one aspect of what makes them so great. We proudly present, the Top 5 Things We’re Looking Forward to This April:

5. National Volunteer Week

April 21st through 27th is National Volunteer Week, when organizations from around the country focus on how service impacts those in need. We know you’re volunteering anyway, but maybe you can sign up for a couple more projects than normal that week to show your support.

4. Social Media Workshop for Volunteers

If you’re a volunteer who loves Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or any other social media site but isn’t sure how to combine your two loves, this is the workshop for you. We’ll discuss how to promote volunteerism, grow your network, and create positive change on main social networks.

3. TD Five Boro Bike Tour

Our Executive Director, Gary Bagley, is in training for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour this month. The race takes place May 5th, and you can still sign up to ride with him throughout April. Email rebecca.gnessin@newyorkcares.org to learn more.

2. Youth Service Night with the Mets

During this year’s Coat Drive, the Youth Service group from Richard R Green High School for Teaching collected the most coats in our program. To honor this great achievement, the Mets have invited the group to a game, where they’ll be honored later in the month.

1. New York Cares Day Spring

The countdown to April 20th is on! You can still help out by signing up to be a Registration Leader. If you’re participating on the day, make sure you follow along on Twitter using #NYCDS13, and Tweet us updates throughout the day. We’re always looking for more pictures too, so send them along to blog@newyorkcares.org and you may see them in a Facebook album after the event!

By Susan Torres

March ends this weekend, so we’re looking back on the month that comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Here are our Top 5 March Moments.

5. The Soirée

On March 14th, we held our 9th annual Soirée. It was a great night of treats, photos, awards, and fundraising for a great cause. This year, the generous attendees helped us raise more than $135,000.

4. Photojournalism Workshop with corporate volunteers

On March 20th, volunteers from Dow Jones/Wall Street Journal hosted a photojournalism workshop with Mosaic Prep. The group read books, completed a photo scavenger hunt, printed the photos, and the children created books using the pictures they took. As you can see from the picture on the right, the kids loved working with the equipment and making their own books.

3. The Top 5 Reasons to Create a Team for New York Cares Day Spring

It’s always fun to get Kim Wilson, one of our Service Events Managers, to write a blog post because she’ll write things like “Al Gore says there might not even be trees any more by 2017, so you should take advantage of the opportunity to hug them now.” We hope these five reasons inspired you to create a team, because today is the last day to do so.

2. Launch of Sports Blogging Project

A new project that launched in March encourages students to turn their love of sports into a loving of writing. One student attended the North Brooklyn Runners McCarren Park Track Classic, and had a great time meeting athletes face to face. She even met an Olympic qualifier. The next Sports Blogging project is in April, sign up today!

1. Volunteers Improve Bronx Parks

A new report by New Yorkers for Parks recently graded 43 of New York City’s large parks, and gave Soundview Park, Crotona Park, and Claremont Park in the Bronx marked improvements. In fact, an employee at Soundview Park contacted us recently to say community patronage increased by 15 percent last year, and credited the hard work of our volunteers for the improvement. While two Bronx parks had their ratings dip, it’s great to see some areas are improving. There’s still lots of work to do, so sign up to clean up a park in the Bronx today.

By Susan Torres

The boogie down Bronx has gone through a lot of changes over the past decades, and has developed a pretty tough reputation. But recent census numbers show the borough is growing. For the first time in decades, the borough’s population rose, with more people moving to the borough than leaving. According to an article in the New York Times, you have to go back to the 1940s to find a time when so many people were moving to the Bronx. So to help you get in on the ground floor of the Bronx renaissance, here are the Top 5 Projects to Get You Excited About the Bronx:

1. Pre-GED Prep

Get students in the Bronx ready for the GED by strengthening their reading, writing, and math skills. Easily accessible off the 4, B, or D, it’s easy to make a difference in a students’ education.

2. English Conversation Partners at the CUNY Language Immersion Program

English can be challenging to learn unless you have someone to speak it with. Help new speakers practice the language simply by having a conversation.

3. Test Prep at PS 107 X

Third and fifth graders at PS 107 X in the Bronx would benefit from some one on one time to practice math. This project guides students through specific worksheets that help them prepare for the statewide math exams. Sign up to get to know the next generation of Bronx math whizzes.

4. Sports, Games, and Crafts with KEEN at St. Mary’s Recreation Center

Get your workout in while supporting children with special needs. You’ll toss a football around, play Duck, Duck, Goose, and tap into your artistic side in Longwood.

5. Snacktivities at Hyde Leadership Academy

Get to know the children of Hunts Point on a Snacktivities project. Prove that healthy snacks can be delicious and fun to make every Wednesday.

By Susan Torres

Our 9th Annual Soirée at Providence last night was a big hit. It was great to mingle with our Junior Committee, who worked so hard to make this event a success, volunteers, and to take advantage of the free drinks and candy. Thanks so much to our sponsors, honorees, staff, and guests who made the event so fun. Here are our Top 5 Most Memorable Moments from the Soirée:

5. The 3 C’s- candy, cupcakes, and cocktails!

4. Capturing the fun on film, in the Modern Photobooth.

3. Honoring 3 amazing people: Josh Glick, DJ M.O.S., and Adam Oestreich for their incredible contributions to New York Cares (pictured top right with our Executive Director, Gary Bagley and Ebonie Johnson Cooper, Vice President of the Junior Committee).

2. A 16 Handles yogurt machine…enough said.

1. Raising a record-breaking amount of money for New York Cares!

By Jennifer Gonzalez-Goldschein

Although it may seem silly to be thinking about spring when a good majority of the country just got hit with a huge snowstorm, we’re doing it anyway. New York Cares Day Spring is a little over a month away, and our staff can’t wait to be outside planting trees and cleaning up parks. But we understand you may need some more motivation, so we proudly present – the Top 5 Reasons to Create a New York Cares Day Spring Team:

5. It’s March, so you’ve been hanging out exclusively indoors for…5 months now? Create a team, and make a plan to go outside 43 days from now! Baby steps!

4. It’s exactly the leverage you’ve been looking for to convince your friends to call you ‘Captain’.

3. Al Gore says there might not even be trees any more by 2017*, so you should take advantage of the opportunity to hug them now.

2. Last year’s team names included such gems as ‘bears!’, ‘President Abra-help Lincoln’, and ‘Spider Pigs’. Can you top those?

1. Trees don’t plant themselves.**

Have any more reasons? Let us know in the comments, but more importantly, create your team today.

By Kim Wilson

*This is absolutely untrue. Al Gore did not say this. But he might be thinking it? Maybe? Create a team anyway.

**Well. Kind of they do. But you should help!

While we’re finishing up mucking out homes in the Rockaways, we’re also beginning to turn our attention to the next phase: mold removal. Our disaster team and Team Leaders have been trained in mold treatment, and have already begun the process. Here are the 5 major steps involved in mold treatment.

1. Scouting the house

The mold treatment offered through New York Cares is free, and residents can request volunteers to remove mold if they can’t afford to pay for the service. Once a resident requests volunteers, our staff goes to check out the site to assess how many volunteers will be needed, how much work needs to be done, and if the house is actually ready for mold removal.

2. Pumping out the air

While mold removal happens, it’s important to set up an air pump to get the mold particles out of the area you’re working in. A huge hepa filter is set up in the room to catch the mold spores.

3. Vacuuming the mold

The first step in treating mold involves vacuuming the affected area. A team of two or three volunteers can tackle vacuuming while other preparations are being made, so a bigger area is ready for the next step.

4. Spraying and scrubbing

After the walls and ceilings are vacuumed, it’s time to spray and scrub. Mold is treated with a nontoxic solution, scrubbed with a brush, and wiped down.

5. Drying period

After the mold is treated, the area treated must dry out.

The entire process can take 4-5 days, and there are a lot of houses that need mold treatment. Sign up today to make sure residents in the Rockaways can continue the rebuilding process.

By Susan Torres

New Yorkers were treated to two “state of the” speeches this week, with President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg giving their State of the Union and State of the City speeches. Both made a point of mentioning education, and how we must have a renewed investment in our children’s future. You can start right now by signing up for our Top 5 Children’s Projects to Boost Education. If you see something, do something.

1. Read to Me

Reading not only increases a child’s vocabulary, but it opens a whole new world of creativity. On our Read to Me program, you’ll read with children living in shelters, visit a library, make crafts, and more. Make reading fun for a child in your neighborhood.

2. Sophomore Skills

High schoolers across the city need your help to get ahead. As a Sophomore Skills tutor, you can give a 10th grader extra help in math or english, so they can excel on the SAT and Regents exam in their junior year. One on one time is crucial to success for many students.

3. Nonfiction Readers in Far Rockaway

Help students affected by Hurricane Sandy catch up, while improving their reading comprehension and analytic skills. The first session focuses on Black History Month with students in grades 4 through 8.

4. Homework Help

Many children in our city don’t have a parent or guardian who can help them with their homework when they get home from school. You can bridge that gap through volunteering. Opportunities are available to give students an extra boost all over the city.

5. Lego Robotics

Make science fun again on our Lego Robotics program. Children in the U.S. are falling behind in science, but you can turn it around every Saturday or Monday. Encourage the next generation of scientists by signing up today.

By Susan Torres