Do you want to do something that will make you feel good? Why not get together with some friends or…read morebusiness partners and go volunteer in your community? Today, one of the professional organizations I belong to sponsored a Community Service Day at CUMAC in Paterson, NJ. Their website describes CUMAC as a "non-profit organization dedicated to feeding people and changing lives. Our team works to alleviate hunger and its root causes for those in need in Paterson, Passaic County and northern New Jersey." Our team worked on breaking down the fruits and vegetables donated by local supermarkets into individual family-sized bags. What a wonderful feeling it is to help people and make a difference in someone's life. I know we did today. CUMAC also has a thrift store on site, but lots of the clothing are given away to families under stress. Business suits are also available for client's job interviews. It is a very humbling experience to spend a few hours in service to others. Now it's your turn......

'Tis the season to lend a helping hand. What a great time I had being able to help those in need…read more The event started at 6 p.m. and ran through 8 p.m. We were given a tour of the place (which is pretty spacious) The staff here consists of about 19 people I believe who spend their day doing a wide variety of things. In the two hour time span I was at the event you're really working all the way through so I can only imagine what the people that work here on a daily basis go through to make sure that every client has what they need. Simply put, this was a great event. I give this place 5 stars all around for what they stand for and represent. Helping the community is #majorKEY. So, if you're ever in the area stop by, donate, and perhaps check out their thrift shop that they have. Since this is a non- profit organization sometimes supplies and money can be tight. So a lot of the thrift shop money is used to buy other goods, etc. So definitely get out and help if you're able.

New York Cares claims to be the largest non-profit organization in the city. I know it's one…read moreorganization that helps the youth and any one else that needs assistance for whatever reason. When I worked in social services I referred many people and youth to their offices. NY Cares is a great place to volunteer or work off community service requirements! You can do anything from serving food to tutoring children. I'm highly recommending you contact them when you are in need or if you want to volunteer.

While I am out pulling weeds, four executives make over 900,000 thousand between them. So as…read moresuckers like me work, they sit in offices collecting huge salaries. how awful. Looks like everyone volunteers except them. Here are the four people that your money goes to while you stuff backpacks for free: Executive Director (Sapreet K. Saluja): $342,683 base salary plus $27,931 in additional benefits.Chief Fund Development Officer: $220,000 base salary (with current open role listings ranging up to $240,000).Chief Finance & Operations Officer: $210,021 base salary plus $44,953 in benefits.Chief Talent Officer: $191,983 base salary. You are nuts if you give these charlatans your time or money!

I went to go get groceries this morning from the common pantry. The pantry I went to is on…read moreShakespeare Avenue in the Bronx. I am a senior citizen I have not been well and I told them that they said to me I was not getting any groceries today because it was their policy because I haven't been there in 3 months. I had no one to help me and I do everything by myself. This is absolutely ridiculous and I would give them a zero rating if I could. It's not fair and it's not right after I sat there for 2 hours and they allow people to come in and get the other people four and five people at a time so you're sitting there waking your f****** time. Never again

New York Common Pantry at 109 Street is my favorite food pantry in my hood…read more The experience at this or any food pantry is much different for someone that's donating and the individual that is seeking a donation. I'm fortunate that I go here to donate canned and other non permissible items. Now my daughter just informed me that they have a partnership with Fresh Direct. They take the reusable bags that she keeps accumulating from our weekly grocery delivery. We're going to bring them as soon as weather warms up. Another reason we can assist our local food pantry besides our food donations. I really appreciate their hard work and dedication to the community.

Wow. Never again. Who would have thought a nice deed first thing in the morning would leave a bad…read moretaste in my mouth. I spoke with Oscar the week before to confirm I could drop off this Wednesday 9am-1pm. I arrive at the building (930) and ask the doorman (Juan) if the bottomless closet was in this building. He said yes but that no one was there. I explained that I confirmed the day and time. I put the bags down to call and see if I can get someone on the line. He immediately said NO YOU CANNOT WAIT HERE and grabs his radio as if he was going to call someone else for backup?? Extremely rude and hostile. I live in a doorman building in midtown and have never seen them act like this when receiving guests. I understand the need to keep the space open with covid but it took me less than 5 minutes to contact Oscar. I walked all the way from 10th for this reception. Never again. I'll be looking for other places to donate clothing and will make sure to pass along the message.

Bottomless Closet is a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged women in NYC get…read moreprofessional jobs. They are a woman led organization that offers help in interviewing skills, allows women to get free business clothing for interviews and helps them learn how to function in a professional workplace. The goal is for the women to become self-sufficient, an aim I can certainly get behind. One of the things Bottomless Closet does is take clothing donations for women from the general public. I recently stopped by here to donate business clothing that was too big on me. There are a number of things I like about this organization: 1. They have their public records available online so you can review where any financial donation you give goes to. I did not see corporate greed when I investigated. 2. They are a local charity helping local women. I firmly believe charity begins at home & for those who feel likewise, this seems a good place to take respectable business clothing that no longer fits. 3. The staff I dealt with were polite, friendly and informative, particularly the woman I spoke to on the phone before dropping off my clothes. I did not get the attitude that my clothing donation meant nothing to them & they just wanted to get money. They have a high demand for plus sizes but the woman I spoke to said my size 5-7 items would be appreciated. 4. They have evening hours on Tuesday evenings so if you do not have time to do their regular clothing drop off (Monday-Thursday from 9-5 p.m.), you can call and arrange a drop off then. Now, it IS a little tricky to get here but all you have to do is go into the Hotel Pennsylvania and take the elevator to their suite (a lower level from the main floor). They have tax forms right at the front desk and they will let you leave the clothing right there. Another important detail: you can NOT get clothing here unless you are one of their clients. This means whatever you donate will actually go to a woman in NYC who needs it. They also DO NOT take men's clothing. This is STRICTLY women's business clothing. I may end up donating more items here if I can't get alterations on some things that I've never or rarely been able to wear.

The staff was very helpful with me since I am handicapped and they got the food for me which was…read morevery helpful and the food was very good.

Charity Navigator gives this organization highest rating. They do wonderfully community work,…read moreparticularly helping those with food insecurity and social programs. On a small scale, so fortunate to be able to support their mission,

I have volunteered at this location of GLWD over many years with my dear colleagues and friends…read more We worked in the kitchen packing meals for those in need who are afflicted with severe and chronic illnesses. The staff are a wonderful group. Always very helpful and generous. GLWD goes above and beyond since they started during the AIDS epidemic in 1985. I remember when Joan Rivers was the biggest sponsor and spokesperson of GLWD. Wishing you and yours a blessed healthy Holiday season. Please remember to volunteer and donate to those less fortunate. PEACE ON EARTH

I volunteered here today with a few of my coworkers and we really enjoyed ourselves. The staff…read morethoroughly explained everything in detail which included a brief orientation that was super informative and helpful. This is a truly beautiful organization that helps people in need and I am happy to have been a small part of it today. God bless you all!

Very respectable here ! Very clean and honest people working here! They have 3 feeding times listed…read moreand dinner is at 5:30 pm , they have table seating inside ..

But for the grace of God go any of us. The blood red doors, blood red, it's said, for a reason…read more The firm I joined early two years back now volunteers. That meant a great deal to me but I never had found the time to go. Today I found that time. One reason I went was in direct response to the SNAP benefits cruel debacle. This, I thought was better than marching - walking beside and offering a helping hand. Mercy, empathy and compassion are the marrow in the national spine - the international backbone. What was to have been an act of personal protest morphed into something unexpectedly different. We've become an outwardly more calloused land of late, where selfishness and insensitivity are worn like badges of honor. They're not; they're a stain on our image to the world - worse: to ourselves. I didn't do much day except hand out chips and offer supportive subtle enthusiasm. No one will remember me nor should they - I was fortunate enough to arrive and depart as a day tripper. But it's the faces that haunted me. You never knew what lead each man and woman there or what their fate would ultimately be. Yet here we were. Crossing fates in the same hall. And there was this unspeakably overwhelming sense as nearly two hundred hungry souls filed by us as we doled out chips and hot dogs and apples that we the dilettantes were happy to do. I felt we stood at the edge of a vast sea of unknowable suffering - that our few hours were a drop of living kindness, as the Buddhists call it, in this sea that's always threatened to drown the world. I can't put my finger on this sense of today except to say I'll return to learn perhaps a greater understanding. And the staff. They reminded me of that humbled awe I felt for 9/11 and covid first responders. I may not change a single life for the better except mine handing out child but I know that offering a helping hand to those struggling in need is what defines humanity and defies inhumanity. I'm grateful I experienced this. And even catching the glimpse of so many as they passed was a bracing wake up call to what's really going on. Thank you.

I've been a volunteer with One Brick over 6 years now and still love this organization! The…read morevariety of volunteer events, the other nonprofits we work with and the people are amazing. This is a great way to meet people with similar interest and give back to the community. Come join us! The sales pitch: one night stand volunteering (sign up when you can) The fever pitch: one event is not enough (you'll want to volunteer more) The addiction pitch: chapters across the country means you can volunteer anytime, anywhere We would like to say a special THANK YOU to the Yelp community for supporting us during the Country Club event at Randall's Island. www.onebrick.org

One Brick is a really great option for those of us who want to volunteer but don't have…read morecareers/schedules that allow us to commit to organizations on a regular basis. With One Brick, you get your free sign up on their website (no spam ever) and you check the monthly calendar to RSVP to the events you're interested in. They cap off the number of volunteers according to how many are needed for each event. I appreciate this since I hate going to volunteer and standing around not contributing because there are too many cooks in the kitchen. My only qualm is that you can only sign up two weeks ahead of time for their events. I'd prefer to sign up for everything at the beginning of the month. But I assume they do this because it's rare for a NYCer to be able to commit more than two weeks out. Their method surely minimizes cancellations/no-shows. That being said, they're really awesome about understanding your need to cancel, even if it's last minute due to work or the unexpected. They also make it very easy for you to email the person in charge of your event in case you have questions or need to cancel.