Volunteer Opportunities at Lincoln Center

Ongoing Programs and Projects

Adult Education
AIDS
Community Development
Criminal Justice
Elderly
Environment
Health
Housing
Hunger
Immigration
Mentoring
Shelter Outreach
Special Needs
Tutoring
Women's Issues

Adult Education

The International Center
http://www.intlcenter.org/
The International Center serves immigrants, refugees, students and other newcomers to the United States with English language training and programs in American culture.  Volunteers serve in a variety of capacities at one of the International Center’s many New York City locations. Volunteers have served as conversation partners, ESL instructors and job coaches for recent immigrants from Latin America, Western Africa, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.

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AIDS

Bailey House
http://www.baileyhouse.org/ 

Gay Men’s Health Crisis
http://www.gmhc.org/
Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians. Volunteers can serve in a variety of capacities – from working in the GMHC’s Food Pantry to educating the public on the realities of HIV. For a comprehensive list, see the GMHC website.

God’s Love We Deliver
http://www.godslovewedeliver.org/
God's Love We Deliver's mission is to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. Volunteers prepare meals in GLWD’s kitchen, deliver meals to clients, assist at events, and pitch in at the Development and Finance Departments. GLWD’s 1,800 dedicated volunteers come from all walks of life and from diverse socioeconomic, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Incarnation Children’s Center
http://www.icc-pedsaids.org/
ICC is New York’s only pediatric skilled nursing facility for HIV-infected children. ICC provides a home-like setting for children who are too sick to be at home, or whose medical needs are too complex to be provided adequately in a home setting. Volunteers offer children help with homework and serve as mentors and companions during recreation time.

Momentum AIDS Project
http://www.momentumaidsproject.org/
Every Wednesday Momentum offers a communal meal and a take-home pantry bag for HIV infected and affected individuals.  Many of the clients are homeless or poverty stricken and Momentum seeks to serve thevaried needs of this rapidly growing population. Lunch and dinner are servedat St. Paul the ApostleChurch on 60^th St and Columbus Ave.  Lunch is offered from 11:30pm-12:30pm and dinner from 5:30pm-6:15pm.  Volunteers are needed before, during, and after each meal. They take part in food preparation and distribution as well as cleanup. Perhaps more important though is the time spentin fellowship with the Momentum community; after the students are finished serving the meal they are able to enjoy a meal and conversation with Momentum clients. See website or swing by the CSP for info on Momentum’s South Bronx Saturday site.

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Community Development

Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS)
http://www.ncsinc.org/
Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS) helps homeless and formerly homeless find food, shelter, counseling, employment, and in many cases, a home to call their own.  NCS provides a full continuum of services aimed at helping people move from the streets to housing and independence. Volunteers assist with the Emporium Project, a social venture project of the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter, Inc.  It is an online store that is operated by homeless and formerly homeless men and women.  They specialize in the sale of new and used CDs, DVDs, video games, VHS, books and more.  The goal is to become a fully self-sufficient business that creates employment and training opportunities for homeless and formerly homeless New Yorkers.  Volunteers assist with computer training and job skills training.

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Criminal Justice

Midtown Community Court
http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/nyc/criminal/specialprojects.shtml
The Midtown Community Court was founded in 1993 to respond to low-level crimes committed in the Times Square, Chelsea and Clinton neighborhoods.  The court takes a holistic approach to criminal justice by linking offenders to services such as drug treatment and requiring offenders to reengage their community through community restitution projects.  Fordham volunteers would contribute to two of MCC’s programs: Times Square Ink. and Times Square Youth. Times Square Ink. provides job training to court involved men and woman between the ages of 18 and 59. Times Square Youth works with individuals aged 17-21 and emphasizes high school graduation, the strengthening of “soft” employment skills, and applying to college.

The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES)
http://www.cases.org/

Women's Prison Association
http://www.wpaonline.org

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Elderly

Hudson Guild Settlement House
http://hudsonguild.org/  
Hudson Guild's mission is to create and sustain a strong, effective community that acknowledges and responds to the potential, achievements and interdependence of its diverse members. Rooted in and primarily focused on the Chelsea neighborhood, Hudson Guild offers a variety of services to its community, with a particular focus on the needs of economically disadvantaged youth, elderly and the recently immigrated. Volunteers have worked in the past as companions and escorts for Hudson Guild’s elderly, though involvement in other areas is also available.

Lennox Hill Neighborhood House
http://www.lenoxhill.org/
Lenox Hill Neighborhood House is the oldest and largest social services and educational organization on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Lenox Hill’s constituents include older adults, homeless and formerly homeless adults, children and families, recent immigrants, disabled persons and thousands more who make up New York City 's wonderful mosaic.  Lenox Hill has a 112-year history rich in community activism and innovation, addressing systemic problems such as the lack of affordable housing, the needs of an aging population and the inadequacies of the public education system. Volunteers help in Lenox Hill’s youth and elderly programming.

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Environment

BisselGardens
Located in the Northeast Bronx, Bissel Gardens consists ofa community garden, a vegetable garden where food is harvested for local soup kitchens and food pantries, a children’s garden anda farmers market. Volunteers participate in planting and clean up projects in the garden, light construction and harvesting vegetables.

Partnership for Parks
http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/

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Health

Project Sunshine
Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization that provides free social,educational and recreational programs to children and families affected by medical challenges.
http://www.projectsunshine.org/

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Housing

Citywide Task Force on Housing Court
http://www.cwtfhc.org/about.html
At Citywide, volunteers work with tenant organizers, staffing an information booth at a County Court House in any one of the boroughs.  Here the volunteers provide tenants close to eviction information on their rights to housing services.  All volunteers first receive training on a variety of housing matters including stipulations in court, eviction notices, housing part actions, and the general court processes and procedures in non-payment and hold-over cases.

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Hunger

Cathedral Community Cares
http://www.stjohndivine.org/ccc_sundaydining.html

Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
http://www.holyapostlesnyc.org/haskhome.htm
Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is committed to feeding the hungry, comforting the afflicted, seeking justice for the homeless, and counseling and providing a sense of hope and opportunity to those in need. Holy Apostles serves over 1,100 meals every day, Monday-Friday, all year around. The problems of hunger and homelessness are very difficult, but the community that has formed among the Soup Kitchen guests, volunteers, and staff is strong, vibrant and supportive. Soup Kitchen volunteers work Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They need 40-50 volunteers daily to help "run" the Soup Kitchen. Volunteers assist in serving on the food line, greeting guests, collecting individual meal tickets, handing out drinks, and clearing and cleaning tables when the guests are finished eating.

Momentum AIDS Project
http://www.momentumaidsproject.org/
Every Wednesday Momentum offers a communal meal and a take-home pantry bag for HIV infected and affected individuals.  Many of the clients are homeless or poverty stricken and Momentum seeks to serve the varied needs of this rapidly growing population. Lunch and dinner are served at St. Paul the Apostle Church on 60^th St and Columbus Ave.  Lunch is offered from 11:30pm-12:30pm and dinner from 5:30pm-6:15pm.  Volunteers are needed before, during, and after each meal. They take part in food preparation and distribution as well as cleanup. Perhaps more important though is the time spent in fellowship with the Momentum community; after the students are finished serving the meal they are able to enjoy a meal and conversation with Momentum clients. See website or swing by the CSP for info on Momentum’s South Bronx Saturday site.

St. Xavier’s Welcome Table
http://www.rc.net/newyork/stfrancisxavier/outreach.html
St. Xavier’s Jesuit Parish on 16^th Street operates a voluntary soup kitchen known as The Welcome Table that serves almost 1,000 meals every Sunday. Volunteers are needed from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm and 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm. Volunteers are also need to staff an Information Table and Welfare Rights Project.

Yorkville Common Food Pantry
http://www.ycp.org/index.html
The Yorkville Common Food Pantry is New York City's largest nonsectarian neighborhood-based emergency food provider. It has served the NYC community since 1981 and it is the only emergency food pantry that never closes. Volunteers help with food packaging, distribution and delivery.

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Mentoring

Peace Games
http://www.peacegames.org/  
Peace Games empowers students to create their own safe classrooms and communities by forming partnerships with elementary schools, families, and young adult volunteers. They seek to empower children with the skills, knowledge, relationships and opportunities to be peacemakers, and they do so through a variety of creative educational techniques.  Fordham students serve as facilitators of this program and typically co-teach one 1 hour class per week. The student also spends time prepping before class and reflecting after class. Peace Games is currently working in PS 191 and PS 87, two elementary schools located on the Upper West Side and is one of our most popular programs.

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Shelter Outreach

ICAHN House              
ICAHN House is a Tier II transitional temporary housing facility for families of single mothers with children up to 12 years old. Volunteers work with children ages 5 to 12 in the after school program tutoring, helping with homework and improving literacy.

First Presbyterian Church Homeless Shelter
http://www.fpcnyc.org/shelter.html
The Shelter provides beds for 10 men, Sunday through Friday nights and was open from November through April during the 2005-2006 year. Overnight volunteers stay from 8:45pm to 7:30am, assist with setting up cots, prepare a light evening snack and breakfast, and help with cleanup. Volunteer coordinators work to recruit and assign overnight volunteers on a weekly basis. Food shoppers buy food each week.

Midnight Runs (run by Community Service Program)
The Midnight Runs organized by the CSP are modeled after the efforts of Midnight Run, Inc, a consortium of churches, synagogues, schools and civic groups with the same mission. Two evenings a month Fordham students package and deliver food, water and toiletries to the homeless poor in the community surrounding Fordham Lincoln Center. The late-night relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, and understanding. The human exchange, rather than the exchange of goods, is the essence of the Midnight Run mission. (summary of mission adapted from Midnight Run, Inc. at http://www.midnightrun.org/index.php)

Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Shelter
http://www.swfs.org/shelter.html
The Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Homeless Shelter has been in operation for almost 20 years and was the first synagogue in NY to open its doors as a shelter for homeless men. The shelter has been operating four nights a week (Monday-Thursday) for approximately 9 months a year since it first opened and continues to provide space for 10 men each night. At the current time, the shelter depends on students to act as coordinators during nighttime hours. Volunteers also help with preparation at night and then greet the men when they arrive. SWOS is always looking for volunteers to help in both the setup process and in sleeping over.  The time commitment for setting up is approximately 2 hours per week, from 6:15-8:15 PM (for one night of setting up), or from 8PM-7:30AM when sleeping over

West End Intergenerational Residence
http://www.intergenerational.org/
West End Intergenerational Residence, (WIR), is a unique mixed-age housing facility catering to three generations.  Through comprehensive development programs, WIR is able to prepare homeless young women with children, for effective lives as parents and as contributing members of society.  In addition, WIR provides dignified affordable housing with supportive services to formerly homeless and low-income older adults. Volunteers work with the program youth in various capacities. 

Women In Need
http://www.women-in-need.org/   
Women In Need, Inc. (WIN) is a New York-based nonprofit organization that serves women and children who are homeless and disadvantaged. At multiple sites, Women In Need's unique, comprehensive program offers the highest quality services, which include transitional shelters and permanent supported housing; supported housing for special populations of mothers with children; job training and placement; domestic violence prevention, counseling and referrals; alcohol and substance abuse treatment clinics; HIV/AIDS prevention and education; child care; and aftercare and alumni programs. Our goal is to help women and their families, who are homeless, realize self-determination. Volunteer opportunities at WIN include tutoring clients in English or math, leading children’s activities, helping with childcare, teaching computer skills, assisting in the offices, teaching English as a Second Language, and leading workshops on writing, career readiness, or budgeting skills.

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Special Needs

The New York Therapeutic Riding Center
http://www.volunteernyc.org/org/3307916.html
The NY Therapeutic Riding Center was established as a pilot program at Claremont Riding Academy in Manhattan in 1998. Now in its 7^th year, The NYTRC conducts a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional disabilities living in the 5 boroughs of NYC. Volunteers walk alongside the riders- reinforcing the instructor’s instructions and offering varying levels of physical support, depending on the student's disability. There is no riding experience necessary.

Sprout
http://www.gosprout.org/
This not-for-profit organization is dedicated to helping people with special needs grow through safe, challenging, creative and fun experiences that enhance mobility, self-confidence and socialization.  Volunteer leaders accompany participantson daily, weekend and weeklong outings.

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Tutoring

Cornelia Connelly Center for Education
http://www.connellycenter.org/

Cornerstone Learning Center
Cornerstone serves economically and academically disadvantaged adolescents.  Most of the Cornerstone students come from low income families and most are two to five years behind grade level in basic skills.  Cornerstone’s primary goal is to help young people improve their skills in reading, writing, and math, so that they have more choices for a fulfilling life.  Volunteer tutors work individually with a child or in groups.

Cristo Rey High School

East Harlem Tutorial Program
http://www.ehtp.org/

Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center
Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center has for over 50 years pursued its mission to meet the social, educational, recreational and cultural needs of the people of Manhattan, particularly the residents of Amsterdam Houses, which includes 13 buildings that span from the square blocks from 61^st to 64^th Streets and Amsterdam to West End Avenue. Fordham students have assisted in the implementation of both Lincoln Square’s Daycare Program and its School Age Program, providing classroom support and relieving some of the burden placed on the teacher and the teaching aide on staff. Students have also participated in the Youth Empowered to Proceed (Y.E.S.) Program – Lincoln Square’s after-school enrichment program. In this context, volunteers have specifically served as tutors of reading, math, writing and social studies.

STAR Learning Center

The Door
http://www.door.org/

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Women's Issues

New York Asian Women’s Center
http://www.nyawc.org/

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