Best Places to Volunteer in New York City This Christmas Season

The great American author, Washington Irving, said "Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart". If you live in the New York area, there are numerous opportunities to give the gift of help this holiday season. Here are are some suggestions:

God's Love We Deliver is a wonderful organization that delivers hot meals to people living with AIDS, cancer, and other serious illnesses all year round. For their Christmas meal deliveries, they need extra volunteers to work in the early part of the day, delivering meals in all five boroughs, and Hudson County, New Jersey. Call 212-294-8169

The Salvation Army Times Square Corps is looking for volunteer bell-ringers for the Christmas holiday in the Times Square area to raise funds to help those in need. Those interested in bell ringing must be 18 years of age, or be under the supervision of an adult during times of bell ringing. Call Matt Williams at 212-975-9988.

Toys for Tots is a program of the United States Marine Corps, which distributes toys to underprivileged New York City children. The toys are collected from toy drives and donations from corporations, individuals and community-based groups and families. They need volunteers all over New York City to pick up and deliver boxes of toys so that approximately 100,000 needy children can have a happier Christmas. Interested in volunteering? Call 718-338-9695 or email coordinator@toysfortotsnyc.org

On the Sunday before Chanukah, DOROT, a Jewish charitable organization on the West Side of Manhattan, sends volunteers to visit seniors in their homes and bring gift packages of traditional foods and holiday items. Since 1976, DOROT's Holiday Package Deliveries program has serviced seniors on both the West and East Sides of Manhattan as well as in Westchester. The time commitment is three hours. Call 212-769-2850.

Give the gift of blood! No kidding! The New York Blood Center reports that their blood supply is always lowest around the Christmas season. So, if you want to volunteer for a short amount of time, but give a gift that can save a life, call the New York Blood Center.

The best volunteer opportunity might be a few blocks away from home. Is there a small community hospital in your area? Go in and inquire about any Christmas efforts. Especially if the hospital has a children's unit, they usually have at least one party for patients to celebrate the holiday season, and often need volunteers to help. Inquire at your local senior center or nursing home as well. Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa are holidays that honor charity, and a time when the elderly, sick, and needy could use your help to brighten their spirits!