Family Volunteering
Did you know? We have family-friendly volunteer opportunities all across NYC!
Growing a heart of service and love for neighbors starts early. Check out some ways to volunteer together as a family, plus family-friendly resources.
Resources for Families
- Resource cards: Give to neighbors you encounter as a family
- Questions or ideas? Email volunteer@hfny.org. We’d love to hear from you!
Every week, All Angels offers people a meal, showers and fresh clothing, mail service, medical and social services, prayer, and a place to belong. Come serve a meal and get to know UWS neighbors experiencing homelessness. To serve coffee or prepare the food, minor volunteers must be at least 13 and accompanied by an adult. For serving the meals, younger kids are welcome with an adult.
Next Step Community Church (Downtown Brooklyn) - Children welcome with an adult
Next Step Community Church creates environments to help hurting people heal, from providing holistic care to those experiencing or recovering from addiction to meeting the practical needs of individuals and families in Downtown Brooklyn.
Living Waters Fellowship (Bushwick) - Children welcome with an adult
Living Waters Fellowship is a church serving the community around them with fresh breakfast.
Citymeals on Wheels - Children welcome with an adult
Citymeals on Wheels provides nutritious food and company to homebound elderly New Yorkers in need, helping them to live with dignity in their own familiar homes and communities. Kids of all ages can make cards for these adults and/or accompany adult volunteers in delivering meals.
Project 12.31 (UES) - Ages 3+ with an adult
Project 12.31 hosts family-friendly packing parties to create Dignity Bags for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Come pack some bags and learn how your family can connect with unhoused neighbors with dignity!
- Pack Dignity Bags with Project 12.31
- Note: packing parties will resume in the fall semester
Dream Center NYC (LIC & city-wide) - Ages 8+ with an adult
Dream Center NYC partners with local churches to put on pop-up, block-party-style community markets. Your family can help pack for these parties, or you can join the party to distribute flyers, groceries, diapers, and other resources, pray with families, help with kids' activities, and more.
St. Paul's House has been serving meals, providing respite, and sharing God’s love since 1945.
The Father’s Heart Ministries (East Village) - Ages 14+ with an adult
Every Saturday, The Father’s Heart serves over a thousand hot meals, plus ESL and GED classes and various social services. Come serve a hot meal together.
REACH Family and Education Center - Ages 16+
REACH Family and Education Center helps children, youth, and families experience the Gospel of Jesus while helping to develop in them a love of education.
More Ways to Serve
This list highlights our go-to family service opportunities, but new ways to volunteer are listed on our site all the time. Don’t see a perfect fit here? Go to hfny.org/serve and choose “My family is…” on the drop-down filter opportunities on the left to see even more ways your family can serve together.
