With public services that are already strapped for resources facing even more budget cuts this year, the work that volunteers will do on Hands On New York Day is crucial to keeping our city’s public spaces clean and green.

This incredible day of service is also a critical fundraiser that enables New York Cares to put volunteers to work all year long at struggling city agencies, community centers, and public schools.

Take the $150 Challenge and help us reach our goal. If all Hands On New York Day volunteers raise $150 in honor of their service, New York Cares could provide $4.5 million in service to the community. Set your goal even higher and join the Team Green fundraising club.

There’s still time to register for Hands On New York Day, but even if you can’t attend the event, you can make a big impact by fundraising as a Virtual Volunteer or making a donation. Learn more about what we can accomplish with your donations.

New York City doesn’t usually bring waterfalls to mind, but Seton Falls Park in the Bronx is home to a beautiful creek and waterfall that 100 volunteers will get ready for spring on Hands On New York Day. Check out some photos of the sites we’ve been visiting for the last couple of weeks in preparation.

We’ll be sending adventurous volunteers to the far reaches of Staten Island to clean up land for a new park development (pictured above), and volunteers will be working at community gardens all across the city — from Poppa and Momma Jones Garden in East New York to Jenny’s Garden in Washington Heights — to paint benches and picnic tables, clean away winter debris, weed, mulch, and more.

Sign up now to volunteer on Hands On New York Day and explore parts of the city you’ve never seen. You may find yourself removing invasive and exotic species along the shoreline of the pond in Morningside Park!

Volunteer to give New York City a good spring greening and raise critical funds for New York Cares.

Join 5,000 volunteers to revitalize our city’s parks, gardens, playgrounds, community centers, and other public spaces, making them cleaner, greener, and ready for summer.

Hands On New York Day is an incredible day of service and a critical fundraiser for New York Cares. The money you raise will support 11,000 volunteer projects at New York Cares each year. Learn how you can get involved with this serve-a-thon www.handsonnewyorkday.org.

Give New York City a good spring greening on Hands On New York Day: Saturday, April 24.

On our annual spring day of service, you’ll join friends, family, or coworkers to revitalize New York City parks, gardens, and public spaces and fundraise for New York Cares’ year-round programs. This event is generously sponsored by HSBC Bank.

Check back soon for more information – registration begins February 17. Find out more.

Check out our photos from a recent revitalization project at the NYCHA South Jamaica Houses in Queens.

Mayor Bloomberg and our ED, Gary Bagley, put on their gardening gloves to work alongside 1,000 youth who beautified NYCHA sites and city parks in every borough. Read the rest of this entry »

For their last project of the school year, the children and volunteers at P.S. 297 K took a break from their usual Sports Explorers program to revitalize one of their local community gardens. The kids had a blast beautifying Patrick J. Van Doren Pocket Park, especially painting new signs for the garden.

Can you think of more fun crossover projects like this that we could try? Post your suggestions here as a comment.

A new volunteer blogged about his recent experience revitalizing a Harlem community garden. He learned, like all New York Cares volunteers do, that a few people can really make a difference.

Read what he had to say.

Searching for the perfect gift for your favorite caring New Yorker? Give something that makes a difference.

New York Cares has some great spring gift ideas at Changing the Present that will help spruce up New York City’s public parks and gardens and keep them well maintained throughout the year.

You can make a donation in a friend’s name, or create your own unique registry with gifts for others to donate in your name. It’s a great way to give and receive.

Check out the New York Cares Facebook gifts as well. For just $1 you can give a virtual gift to a friend and help continue to improve our city.