We’re proud to partner with MyGoodDeed again for two special projects in honor of the 9/11 National Day of Service.

In observance of the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, together we’re encouraging New Yorkers to support charitable causes, perform good deeds or engage in other service activities.

Volunteer with us in honor of 9/11 and rekindle the spirit of service, tolerance, and compassion that unified the world after the 9/11 attacks. You don’t need to be an oriented New York Cares volunteer, so everyone who wants to can sign up today to make a difference in the world.

Since 1989, the New York Cares Coat Drive has collected over 1 million coats for New Yorkers in need – between 70,000 and 80,000 coats each year. A crucial element in making this happen is the availability of donated warehouse space where we receive, sort, and distribute the contributed coats to hundreds of nonprofit agencies.

Unfortunately, the space we’ve used for the past three years is no longer available, so we are now urgently seeking alternative space. The Coat Drive warehouse is the logistics hub for the entire operation. Can you help?

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Are you a dog or cat person? Perhaps you love playing with kids? Does getting your hands dirty make you feel accomplished?

New York Cares is launching a new community on Crowdrise, an online fundraising platform created by actor and activist Edward Norton, that allows you to raise money and awareness for the programs you care about. Join our team and use Facebook, Twitter, and good old-fashion email to ask people you know for a few bucks to support your volunteer work.

Crowdrise offers awesome prizes to the top fundraisers and point earners. Go head to head with Will Farrell and Seth Rogen to compete for an iPad – new laptop anyone? Even better, your efforts will expand our volunteer opportunities, helping more New Yorkers in need.

What are you waiting for? Give it a try!

It’s finally here – have you found your paintbrushes yet? Register now for New York Cares Day 2010 and join 7,000 volunteers to paint murals and decorate classrooms, organize libraries, and spruce up playgrounds at over 75 New York City public schools!

The work you put in on New York Cares Day is worth well over $1 million in service to the New York City public school system, and its priceless to the kids who get to come back to their brand, shiny new schools in the fall.

New York Cares Day is an amazing day of service and a critical fundraiser for New York Cares. The $20 registration fee is dedicated towards buying supplies for the event and ensuring that New York Cares’ 11,000 other projects keep running throughout the year.

So, don’t forget to register! You can sign up with friends or colleagues as a team or come on your own. We can’t make you come, but we can guarantee you’ll have an awesome, fulfilling time if you do.

New York City – a city of diverse peoples; a city of never-ending life; a city of bountiful opportunities; a city of…water? Absolutely!

The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance’s annual City of Water Day is coming up on Saturday, July 24^th. City of Water Day is annual environmental fest with free harbor boat tours, a free children’s fair, free live music, and more. It’s a full day dedicated to celebrating the potential of New York City’s waterfront! Did we mention it’s free?

New York Cares is looking for 100 volunteers to enjoy the festivities and help City of Water Day run smoothly by performing crowd control, greeting, staffing the information booth, distributing tickets for tours, and acting as the public face of the event. There are two shifts available from 8 AM – 1:30 PM and 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM. You can also opt to set up the day before! Sign up here.

There’s a lot of fun to be had at City of Water Day. Don’t miss out!

We’re planning to give newyorkcares.org a facelift over the next year. As the folks who use it the most, your feedback is essential to helping us improve your online experience.

Please take a few minutes to fill out a quick online survey and tell us what you think.

Help us better serve you -  Take the New York Cares Volunteers Survey and tell us what matters to you most.  Up for grabs, two tickets to the Earth Day premiere of the documentary Climate of Change at the Tribeca Film Festival!

Tickets compliments of our friends at the Members Project from American Express and Take Part.

Do you have unused clothing that you’ve been meaning to give away? This Saturday, February 6, a group of volunteers will be going door-to-door in Manhattan and Brooklyn to pick up your clothing donations as a part of the NYClothingDrive.

All you need to do to schedule a pick-up is visit www.NYClothingDrive.org and make a donation. All financial proceeds will benefit New York Cares.

We’re partnering with the NYC Department of Transportation to liven up jersey barriers on NYC streets this spring.

The NYCDOT Urban Art Program is looking for artists to submit colorful mural designs to turn these ordinary traffic dividers into creative street art installations, which will be painted by Hands On New York Day 2010 volunteers.

Submit your design by March 1, and you could have your work seen by millions of New Yorkers!

The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday has affected an estimated 3 million people that desperately need your help.

Emergency relief organizations are already on site providing water, shelter, medical care, sanitation facilities, and other supplies. Help them aid survivors by making a donation today to one of these organizations or the nonprofit of your choice.