Volunteering this week and all year-round

Eight new volunteer interns of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance (VCPA) donned neon green jackets on a chilly day in March to clean up the invasive plants of the park. During Volunteer Appreciation Week, their dedication, along with thousands of others is recognized and celebrated. 

Founded in 1974 by President Richard Nixon, the initiative is recognized the last week of April. Daniela Lopez, a Mexican filmmaker and volunteer at Van Cortlandt, takes advantage of the opportunity to give back throughout the year.

"Volunteering helps because in a place like the Bronx, if things happen, it’s because the community makes them happen. I’ve been living in the Bronx for five years and I feel that within the community, we all look out for each other," she said.

She believes donating time strengthens social and emotional ties to the community and fosters the integration of the Hispanic population in the area, which makes up 43 percent of the demographic, according to Census Reporter from 2023.

Organizations in your neighborhood are always looking for volunteers to help. Whether its tending to the fourth largest park in NYC through the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, donating toys and clothing through KRVC, beautifying your community with the Riverdale Neighborhood House or the dozens of grassroots community gardens – there I sno shortage where you can help. 

KRVC has nearly 100 adult and more than 20 student volunteers a year, mostly active between October and December. They perform duties in social, cultural, health, housing and educational programs, with the most popular events being stuffing easter eggs and wrapping Christmas gifts. 

“Volunteering brings people a sense of joy and purpose,” Levine-Pinedo told The Press, KRVC’s executive director. 

Christina Taylor, deputy director of VCPA said volunteers come with different levels of commitment, but all play a vital role.

“Some volunteers come once a month, some come once in a while and others come on a regular basis,” she said. 

In 2024, the alliance had 1,602 volunteers, one of the highest participation numbers in recent years, highlighting the need for care of the 1,146-acre park across a variety of programs. Launched in 2020, Vital Volunteers is designed for park lovers who want to maintain a path or nature trail on a monthly basis. Litter Patrol or the Trail Maintainer has less of a commitment where individuals can help remove trash and report vandalism.

Founded in 1872, the Riverdale Neighborhood House has been contributing to the welfare of the area for more than 100 hundred years when Grace Dodge started a lending library out of her greenhouse. In 2018, RNH joined with the Riverdale Community Center to encourage the involvement of cultural, recreational and academic activities.

Currently, they are seeking volunteer tutors help high school students with test prep and homework.

Rita Freed has been tending to the Kappock Street Garden for 15 years and is seeking volunteers as well.

“The spirit of volunteerism, one of the hallmarks of American life, has rarely been stronger than it is today,” President Nixon wrote in his proclamation. “These efforts most frequently touch the lives of the poor, the young, the aged and the sick, but in the process, the lives of all men and women are made richer.”  

If you are looking for institutions to share your time with, reach out to the ones mentioned or contact The Press for more information.