It’s hard to keep up with our Community Programs department this month. With back to school projects, exciting new programs for seniors, and new additions to the team, September is one of their busiest times. Check out what’s in store for them all month long, and don’t forget to check back and see how they’re doing.

For our Community Programs department, September marks the start of an exciting new school year, rich harvests, and lingering days spent putting final touches on gardens and parks before the impeding cold weather. It’s our time to buckle down and look forward to special projects as we head into our holiday season. This September we have a lot of new exciting things happening, including a new addition to our team, and a focus on new programs for seniors since Grandparents Day is the 9th.

The newest addition to our Children’s Recreation team is Lea Giddins. Lea manages our art, dance, theater, and music programs, in addition to some of our fabulous Urban Adventures programs. Some of you may work with her throughout the year to ensure that our arts programs keep going strong. You can be sure that there will be more to come regarding Lea’s role at New York Cares, so stay tuned.

One senior project that we’re very excited about is happening on September 28th at the Corsi Senior Center in East Harlem. They’re hosting a Hispanic Heritage Celebration, which is a great opportunity to decorate, dance, and socialize with the seniors. Find out some of their favorite things to do while showing off your skills on the dance floor. Of course, no celebration would be complete without the appropriate attire, so feel free to dress in clothing that celebrates Hispanic heritage. Volunteers are still needed, so come out to make this a day they’ll never forget.

We’re also looking to start a seniors Urban Adventure program. Modeled similarly to our monthly trips with children throughout the five boroughs, this program will be an opportunity to allow seniors in our communities to branch out and explore various parts of this fabulous city that we call home. Keep your eye on this special opportunity as we solidify more details.

But we’re not just focusing on seniors this month. No way, it’s back to school time, so there are ton of ways you can give back to the young members in your community. Now’s the perfect time to check out our site to see which of our school-year programs are back up and running, and what’s in store for the fall. Many are still in need of awesome volunteers like you, so check out our Hot Projects page to see what you can do with a couple of hours of free time.

We hope that everyone enjoyed their vacations and days of relaxation. Now that with the dog days of summer are closing, we hope to see you all out there giving back in full force. Sign up today and make your grandparents proud.

By Brittany Perotti