The important work that Project Hospitality accomplishes each and every day requires the efforts of a great many talented and dedicated members of the community. You can volunteer as an individual or as part of a group. To learn how you can help, please see below. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us at (718) 448-1544 ext. 173 or e-mail at gnovoa@projecthospitality.org
Individuals
Project Hospitality is always looking for committed people to join our dedicated team of community volunteers. Community volunteers represent all adult age groups (16 and older) and ethnic backgrounds. Volunteers may:
• Assist with meal preparation, service, and clean up in the soup kitchen
• Take clients shopping in the food pantry
• Tutor, assist with recreational activities, and take care of children in the homeless family shelter
• Help with the meal and clothing pantry services in our homeless Drop-In Center
• Serve our Wednesday evening Positive Living Dinner for Staten Island’s HIV+ community
• Assist with planning and implementing community and fundraising events
• Provide clerical help to our programs and administrative office
Community volunteer positions are available mostly during weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For soup kitchen, food pantry, and Drop-In Center volunteers, we are looking for a minimum commitment of 2 hours per month. For volunteer opportunities in our homeless family shelter, we ask for a 1 1/2 hours minimum commitment one day a week. Volunteers with special talents can create an activity of their own to conduct (e.g., leading a writing or art group or teaching ESL).
Click here for copy of volunteer application form to print and mail.
Groups
Community groups of all of types can help support Project Hospitality’s programs. High school groups, scout groups, church youth groups, adult groups, religious groups, senior citizen groups, and civic or corporate groups can partner with us in a variety of ways. We need groups to:
• Prepare evening meals for the homeless men and women who use our Drop-In Center. This can be on an ongoing basis (e.g., once a month) or as a one-time event
• Prepare meals on Wednesday evenings for both our Positive Living Dinner and for El Centro del Inmigrante, which serves immigrant day laborers and their families
• Serve food in the soup kitchen on either Tuesdays or Thursdays. Group members should be available from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The ideal group size is 8, although smaller or larger groups (up to 20 people) can be accommodated. Help is most needed on non-holidays during the fall and winter seasons. Groups often arrange special events (e.g., a party or trip for children in one of our programs or a major clean-up or maintenance effort). Groups can come up with their own ideas as well (e.g., one local church grows a community garden for the food pantry
Groups Of Children
Getting children involved in community service at a young age is critical to teaching them the value of service to others. Even though our volunteer opportunities are mainly for older youth and adults, we encourage groups of children from upper elementary and middle schools to get involved:
• Children can run food drives, then deliver the items to the food pantry
• Children’s groups can visit our food pantry and soup kitchen facility and hear about how Project Hospitality helps children just like them
• Children’s groups can make reading kits or collect new books, which they can bring to our family shelter to see where the items will be used
• Children’s groups can make decorations for various events, or come to sing at one of our sites
Donate Food & Supplies
Faith In Action
Each year, Project Hospitality welcomes nearly 30 high school, college, and adult groups from across the United States to our weeklong educational mission program. These Faith in Action groups:
• Serve in the soup kitchen and food pantry
• Assist with cleaning, repair, and painting of agency buildings and clients’ homes
• Prepare meals and help in the clothing pantry at our Outreach Center
• Help in the recreation program at the family shelter
• Lead our summer day camp program
• Assist in many ways at our emergency, transitional, and family shelters
• Meet and talk with people who have experienced homelessness, hunger, and disability
• Learn about homelessness, hunger, HIV/AIDS, and faith perspectives on poverty and justice through workshop sessions
• Experience the great social and cultural mosaic that makes New York City what it is through visits to different neighborhoods and to museums, theaters, and historic sites
Groups typically arrive on a Sunday evening and leave the following Saturday morning. Most groups take one day off during the week to go sightseeing. Meals and housing are provided. A donation of $250 per person is requested in order to help us cover costs. We occasionally have groups who cannot spend an entire week with us, but choose to work with us for 1, 2, or 3 days. To receive more information and a registration packet, please call us at (718) 448-1544, ext. 173, or e-mail at gnovoa@projecthospitality.org
Donate Food
Because of the continuing economic slump and the high cost of housing, more people are coming to Project Hospitality for emergency food than ever before. We depend greatly on the generosity of our neighbors in the community to keep food on the shelves of our food pantry. If you need help organizing a food drive, or would like us to pick up what your group has collected, please call Gloria Novoa at (718) 448-1544 ext. 173 or e-mail her at gnovoa@projecthospitality.org
Please bring food donations to our Community Services Center at 211 Canal Street on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The types of items that are in greatest demand are:
• canned meats, fish and vegetables
• canned or dried fruits
• fruit or vegetable juices
• pasta and tomato sauce
• non-perishable milk
• cereals and rice
• canned or dried beans
• peanut butter and jelly
• coffee and tea
Do you garden? We are always in need of fresh fruits and vegetables to distribute to our food pantry customers. Items can be dropped off at 211 Canal Street on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Donate Holiday Supplies
The holiday seasons of the year can be difficult for families that are just making ends meet on a daily basis. Because of generous seasonal holiday donations from friends of Project Hospitality, the children, men, and women in our housing and other programs are able to celebrate holidays along with everyone else in the community.
Please call Gloria Novoa at (718) 448-1544, ext. 173, or e-mail her at gnovoa@projecthospitality.org if you can help with any of the following holiday needs:
• Halloween – Costumes, decorations, treats (especially, healthy treats), and pumpkins
• Thanksgiving – Turkeys and all the other food items needed for a holiday feast
• Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/3 Kings - Gifts are needed for men, women, and children. Most needed, and often the hardest to get, are items for adults, such as caps, gloves, scarves, sweaters, flannel shirts, thermal underwear, and other clothing. Of course, gifts are also needed for children; in addition to toys, gifts such as books, arts and crafts kits, and clothing are appropriate. Gifts should be new and unwrapped.
• Easter/Passover – Treats (healthy treats preferred), baskets, and basket grass.