25 Days Of Holiday Volunteering — Day 25: Helping The Community

TARRYTOWN, NY — The season for giving is truly all year round, and there are needs in our communities that need to be addressed.

Hunger, homelessness, domestic violence, food insecurity, senior issues, at-risk youth, drug addiction — the list goes on and on.

Volunteer New York! serves as a way to connect people who want to help by giving them myriad ways to help.

Every day since Dec. 1, in this series, Patch has shown ways that anyone — of any age and ability — can help their community.

All you have to do is decide what you want to do. And, as we have shown, many volunteer opportunities don't even require you to leave your home in order to do good in the community.

On the last day of 25 Days of Holiday Volunteering, as we always do, we give Jeanette Gisbert, Volunteer New York!'s executive director, the final word.

“We have big challenges to tackle in our community. At Volunteer New York! we believe that harnessing ‘people power’ through volunteerism and civic engagement can help. Our community is full of individuals who want to help others, during the holidays and every day, but need a pathway to transform their good intentions into action. Volunteer New York! builds these pathways 365 days a year.

"In 2022, Volunteer New York! mobilized a record number 37,000 volunteers who gave time and expertise throughout Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. Together, they contributed more than 388,000 hours providing a value of $13.7 million back into the community.

"Volunteer New York! will pause to celebrate volunteerism and people power at the 43rd Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards on Friday morning, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. Hundreds of attendees will stop and celebrate the power of local volunteerism.

"Volunteer New York! makes it easy for you to find your way to create a vibrant, resilient, and equitable community. Here are a few ways way you can get started in 2023:

• Visit our website.
• Make an appointment to meet with a placement specialist.
• Sign up for the Martin Luther King Day of Service.