WHERE TO VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR KIDS IN ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY

Lend a little hand in your community, and make it a family affair! We've put together a guide to some places around Rockland County that need your help, including non-profit organizations, nursing homes, animal shelters, food pantries, and many more. Volunteer opportunities are available for children and adults alike. And remember - big or small, everyone has the power to make a difference

When your child asks, “Why should I volunteer?” you might not have an answer at the ready. Sure, your instinct is to say something like “Because it’s the right thing to do,” but that really sounds like “Because I said so,” and we all know how that response generally causes kids to do the exact opposite.

Moral implications aside, though, the benefits of volunteering—especially from a young age—are nearly endless: Make new friends, build confidence and self-esteem, connect with your community, learn any number of skills that could come in handy later in life, gain an edge for your college applications…

Our advice: Skip the whole “why you should volunteer” lecture altogether and teach your kids by example. Whether you do it once a year or once a week, make volunteering a family affair. Below is a list of local organizations looking for a little extra help, from hands big and small.

ACT LOCAL...

Support a Neighbor in Need

March is Red Cross Month: The Red Cross provides relief to individuals affected by disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Parents and kids ages 14 and older can help with mailings, hand out flyers at fundraising walks, help with fundraising events, or come up with their own projects to raise money for the Red Cross. To volunteer, fill out the application at nyredcross.org. 143 North Broadway, Nyack. 845-358-0833.

People to People helps Rockland County residents through difficult times by providing food, clothing, and school supplies. Kids ages 14 and older, accompanied by a parent, can volunteer in the food pantry, where they’ll shelve, bag, and check expiration dates on food; or in the clothing room, where they’ll sort and rack donated clothing. The pantry is open Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm. All volunteers must complete an application process. To get started, call the volunteer program office at 845-623-4900 x213. 121 West Nyack Road, Nanuet. peopletopeopleinc.org.

Meals on Wheels Programs & Services of Rockland, Inc. provides “more than a meal” to the housebound, seniors, and others in need through nutritional, recreational, and social support programs. Parents and children of any age can assist by delivering meals for one hour, once a week; deliveries are made Monday-Friday 11am-12pm. Parents and children ages 12 and older can also assist in preparing and packaging food, Monday-Friday 7am-11:30am. Parents and children of any age can perform music and bring cheer to various groups in Rockland County in the Music Makers program. To get started, contact Carissa Coslit at 845-624-6325. 121 West Nyack Road, Nanuet. mowrockland.com.

Make a Wish Come True

Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength, and joy. The Kids For Wish Kidsprogram allows children to help those closest to them: classmates or other kids in the community. Local children do it all—organize, raise funds, and manage their own program with support from parents and/or teacher advisors. This hands-on experience shows children how their commitment and generosity can impact another child’s life and help grant a wish. The Make-A-Wish Foundation will provide balloons, buttons, banners, and other MAW items to sell. For more information on the Kids for Wish Kids program, contact Tara Thorne at 914-478-9474 or email tthorne@hudson.wish.org. For other volunteer opportunities, contact Abraham Almanza, volunteer manager, at 914-478-9503 or aalmanza@hudson.wish.org. The Wish House, 832 South Broadway, Tarrytown. hudson.wish.org.

Go Green

Keep Rockland Beautiful promotes a cleaner and more beautiful county. Families can participate in the Great American Cleanup from April 9-24 by joining or leading cleanup crews that will bag trash from the streets, parks, and streams. Cleanup volunteers are also welcome year round; register online. Parents (PTA members) and elementary and middle school-aged children can also bring Earth B.E.A.T. (Basic Environmental Awareness Training) to their schools. Earth B.E.A.T. is an interactive environmental program that teaches kids about environmental topics like the effects of pollutants on our watershed and the benefits of reducing, reusing, and recycling. To get involved with Keep Rockland Beautiful, call Sonia Cairo at 845-623-1534. Rockland BOCES, 65 Parrott Road, Building 12, West Nyack. keeprocklandbeautiful.org.

Help the Homeless

Grace Episcopal Church helps organize food and shelter for the homeless in our county. Parents and children can volunteer through the church’s Helping Hands program, which provides a hot dinner and overnight shelter for homeless individuals on the nights of March 27-29. Volunteers can also participate in the Midnight Run program. To volunteer or get more information, call the church and leave your name: 845-358-1297. 130 1st Avenue, Nyack.

Living Christ Church provides nondenominational suppers at 5pm each Sunday, year-round. Parents and children ages 12 and older can help with food preparation, serving, and cleanup. Children younger than high school age must be accompanied by a parent. Please call ahead of time to see if more volunteers are needed on a particular Sunday. Contact Gary Hecht at 914-419-5450. 150 Piermont Avenue, Nyack.

Christ Episcopal Church runs a food pantry, soup kitchen, and thrift shop, each of which accepts volunteers ages 13 and older. Contact Connie Maslik at 845-357-1615 x16. The thrift shop welcomes donations of gently used clothes and furniture; contact Lory at 845-357-1615 x17. 65 Washington Avenue, Suffern.

Walk for a Cause

Head to nymetroparents.com/walks to find fundraising walks in your community. Walking together for a cause can bring your family closer together while supporting a worthy organization. It’s also a great way to get outdoors, add exercise, and make new friends. Most charity walks in the New York metro area take place in the spring and fall. Be sure to plan ahead, because the sooner you register, the longer you have to raise money for the cause.

Do Something

DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the United States that helps young people rock causes they care about. Kids ages 12 and older can join or start their own Do Something Club in their community and take action all year through Do Something’s campaigns and their own projects (apply at dosomething.org/clubs). You can also apply for a Do Something grant (dosomething.org/grants) to start your own community project—the organization gives out two $500 grants per week. For more information, call 212- 254-2390 or visit dosomething.org.

To further encourage your children to volunteer, check out this great contest opportunity from Kids Who Give.

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