opportunities for renewal
We are relationally connected to a broad range of terrific organizations supporting New Yorkers in need. Please get involved and invite your family, friends, life group, neighbors, and coworkers to join your volunteer project. Questions, edits, or additions to the directory? Please let us know.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ChiPS Brooklyn Women’s Shelter
Description: The Frances Residence needs volunteers who can teach young mothers about maternal/child health, career development, and important life skills such as parenting, meal planning and cooking, and budgeting. We can also use volunteers who are available to stay overnight in case of emergencies. Also welcomes volunteers in Advertising; Marketing; PR/Media/Communications; Nonprofit management; Fundraising/Grant writing; Education; Administrative duties.
Location: Gowanus/North Slope; 200 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217-3180
Commitment Level: One time or regularly; Must attend one info session before volunteering.
AvailNYC - Pregancy Care Network
Description: AvailNYC exists to be a safe haven for women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy in NYC. Our client advocates will provide you with the information and support you need to make a decision about how to move forward. AvailNYC places an emphasis on helping both women and men experiencing unplanned pregnancies, so there is space for both women and men to volunteer.
Location: 115 W. 45th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036
Commitment Level: Varies and is specific to the type of volunteering someone would like to do, see website for more information.
HOMELESSNESS
The Friends Shelter
Description: We need two volunteers each night to stay over and keep the shelter running. Volunteers arrive at 8pm to set up the shelter, the twelve nightly guests arrive by bus around 8:30 pm. Lights are out by 10pm, with wake up at 6AM. A light breakfast is served, everybody cleans up together, and the shelter is packed away by 7AM.
Location: Union Square Area; 15 Rutherford Place, New York City
Commitment Level: Varied; Attend one-hour evening training session (offered once a month). Then they are able to sign up and volunteer as often or infrequently as they like per night basis. Great to do with a friend!
ChiPS Brooklyn Soup Kitchen
Description: In the soup kitchen, we can use your help with food prep, portioning meals, setting tables, serving at lunchtime, and cleaning up. There are lunch bags to be packed every day, and pantry bags of donated canned goods to be assembled for our guests to take home on Fridays.
Location: Gowanus/North Slope; 200 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217-3180
Commitment Level: One time or regularly; Must attend one info session before volunteering.
Food Pantries
Description: Find a food distribution organization in Brooklyn located near you.
Location: Throughout Brooklyn neighborhoods.
Commitment Level: One time or regularly; varies by location.
TRAFFICKING
Restore NYC
Description: Restore NYC serves foreign national survivors of sex trafficking with a holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive approach. Their commitment is that these women experience greater independence and well-being. As one of the primary nonprofits providing counseling and advocacy through the Human Trafficking Intervention Courts, our services include educating clients about their legal rights, trafficking, and community resources. Their partnerships with law enforcement, community groups, and churches allow them to identify and connect survivors of sex trafficking to a range of resources, including their Client Services, Safehome program and Economic Empowerment program.
Location: P.O. Box 1003; Bowling Green Station; New York, NY 10274
Commitment Level: All direct client services positions require an application, interview, background check, training, and 6-month commitment.
Report Suspicious Activity: Restore Hotline Call: (917) 688-5392 or contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Call: (888) 373-7888 (NHTRC) or Text: “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733
IMMIGRATION
Mother to Mother
Description: A group of women working in partnership with Mixteca Organization on the border of Sunset Park and Park Slope, using our skills to help empower other moms and women in the area. We meet every Thursday morning from 10am-1pm to teach English and provide and space for conversation and learning.
Location: South Slope; 245 23rd st, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Commitment Level: Varied - from once a week to once a month; First attend one ESL class session to see what is offered.
MENTORING
Young Life Red Hook — wyldlife
Description: We are aching to build a team to start WyldLife in Red Hook! WyldLife is Young Life's ministry to tweens and teens in middle school. Middle school is a time when kids make important decisions about who they are and what they believe. And so WyldLife leaders seek to model and express God's love to our young friends by learning their names, hearing their stories and honoring their God-given desire for a life of fun, adventure and purpose. We do this practically through mentoring in weekly clubs, small groups, one on one hangouts, and seasonal camp trips.
Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn
Commitment Level: Varied. 2-4 hours a week as a mentor.
Young Life Brooklyn - YoungLives
Description: Momentum for YoungLives is building in Brooklyn. More than 20 years ago, Young Life answered God’s call to run headfirst into the chaos of teenage motherhood with the hope of Jesus ... and YoungLives was born. YoungLives has never wavered from the original vision to reach teen moms by entering their world, modeling the unconditional love of Christ, and encouraging them to become the women and mothers God created them to be. We do this practically through life-on-life mentoring, empowering teen moms to make positive choices, set and achieve goals, and live a future rooted in Christ. https://vimeo.com/99182504
Location: Brooklyn
Commitment Level: Varied. 2-4 hours a week as a mentor.
Young Life Brooklyn — Metro Committee
Description: Genevieve Smith has been leading Young Life in Brooklyn for 6 years, first in Red Hook, now as the Metro Director over all of Brooklyn. As the Metro Director, Gee, as her friends affectionately call her, is passionate about making sure that every teen in Brooklyn has had the opportunity to hear the Good News of the Gospel. She couldn't do this without the amazing support and involvement of her Committee. Committee is the foundation for Young Life in a local area. A committee person can be a parent, a Young Life alum, a church member or leader, or an urban professional. The committee provides a foundation of financial, administrative and moral support for the local Young Life team. Oftentimes, new Young Life clubs start because of the interest and awareness created by the committee.
Location: Brooklyn
Commitment Level: 5 hours a month.
tgc youth group
Description: The student ministry at Trinity Grace Church is devoted to caring for junior high and high school students living in and around Park Slope who are grappling with how the Kingdom of God comes to bear on their lives in their generation. Led by men and women from our parish, this ministry equips students to move out into the city with a strong foundation in the Christian faith and a personal vision of renewal.
Location: Park Slope; TGC Church Office (506 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215)
Commitment Level: Weekly; 12:30pm Sunday afternoons.
Prison
Boys Town New York
Description: Monthly dinners served potluck-style to up to 13 boys (12-17 years old) who have gotten in trouble with the law and are awaiting court dates. Your group will also be serving the staff who live with and serve these boys. In total you will feed between 10-20 people once a month on a regular day of the week (i.e. Second Wednesday of the month). Other volunteer possibilities include: regular basketball games, art classes (to start this summer), supply donation (look for announcements during seasons of need).
Location: North Slope; between Bergen and Dean and 3rd and 4th Ave
Commitment Level: 6 months (once a month); great for Life Groups.