Awesome Volunteers

We asked Thrive Collective founder, Jeremy Del Rio, to tell us a little about how Thrive came to be, why art, and what kind of impact they’re making—and hoping to make—on the city. Join us in welcoming Thrive as our newest affiliate!

When Greg Hockenbrocht wanted to go deeper in the mission to spread mercy and justice throughout NYC, he joined our Community Grants Circle, a collective of people who participate and advise in our grant-making process. Here’s a bit about what he’s experienced since then.

If you’re ready to make mercy and justice a regular part of your life, here are two ways we invite you to go deeper in giving of your time, talents, and treasures.

I had always thought of Christian community as the act of sharing life together—until volunteering together reminded us that the primary purpose of community is not for our own fulfillment, but to be outward facing and make the city more whole by pointing to Christ.

Volunteering with victims of sex trafficking has helped Jon Kakaley see that God’s Kingdom isn’t some lofty, philosophical goal. Rather, it’s built with actual work on a day-to-day basis.

Andrea Yee has lived in NYC for eight years. It wasn't until last year, when she volunteered with Don't Walk By, that she really felt a sense of ownership of the city. It changed the way she views her home, and she believes all New Yorkers should participate in this outreach at least once!

When my husband and I moved to New York for his job, I decided I would tithe my work, so to speak, by volunteering. As worried as we were for the first few months and as crazy as my husband thought I was for volunteering when I “should be getting paid,” God has so perfectly provided these past two years.

Meet Calvin, who serves with Mont Lawn City Camp to mentor youth in East Harlem. We are proud of Calvin and volunteers like him who show kids how valued and loved they truly are!

Meet Blake DeBoer, a web developer and part of the Redeemer Downtown congregation. For the past three years, Blake has been faithfully serving with HFNY at the Exodus Transitional Community.

At Hope for New York, we love our volunteers! You may not even know the different ways that our volunteers serve the poor and marginalized of our city, so here are just a few things our amazing volunteers have accomplished this past (fiscal) year.