Service Opportunities

Look below for service opportunities as well as resources for yourself and your parish.

Families, Pregnancy Centers & Sanctity of Life

Good Counsel Homes
(Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties)
Home for homeless, expectant, and new mothers to support them through pregnancy and motherhood. Contact your local organization to inquire about ways that individuals, classrooms, or families can serve or items that you can donate.

Contact: Sandra Jones, (201) 795-0637 or sandra_jones@goodcounselhomes.org

https://www.goodcounselhomes.org/

Orange County Right to Life 
(Orange and Dutchess Counties ) Assemble “Blessing Bags” of small gifts or tokens of love that will be given to women visiting abortion facilities. The bags communicate care and love to each woman as well as providing an opportunity for a conversation. Groups, families, or classrooms can contact Right to Life to discuss materials needed and the procedure for assembling bags.

Contact: Wendy Wood, (845) 820-4366 or ocrtl@ocrighttolifeny.com

Sisters of Life
Rockland County and Manhattan

Religious community dedicated to protecting and enhancing the sacredness of human life. Volunteer days are periodically held at the Motherhouse to support this mission.

Contact: Coworkers of Life, (646) 882-1087.

htthttps://sistersoflife.org/what-we-do/serve-with-us/

40 Days for Life 
Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Orange, Dutchess and Staten Island
Volunteers sign up for slots to pray and hold vigil outside of abortion facilities for 40-day-long campaigns twice a year.

Contact: Visit the website to find a campaign near you.

https://www.40daysforlife.com

Elder Care & Nursing Homes

ArchCare
Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx, Dutchess County, 15+
Individual volunteers build relationships with elderly residents through conversation and activities. Younger students can also inquire about making holiday cards for residents.

Contact: (855) 951‑2273 or volunteer@archcare.org

https://www.archcare.org/volunteer

Rosary Hill Home
Westchester County, all ages
Home for individuals suffering from terminal cancer. Volunteers help with snack cart and general activities. Handmade holiday-themed cards sent in packs of 30 are also appreciated.

Contact: Sr. Mary Thanh, (914) 769-0114 or srmjoseph@hawthorne-dominicans.org

https://www.rosaryhillhome.org/index.html

Meals on Wheels
Deliver meals and offer a friendly face to homebound elderly individuals. Apply to your local chapter through the website

https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

City Meals
Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, 16+ or all ages with adult
Deliver meals to homebound elderly individuals, help with meal preparation in a local senior center, or make holiday-themed or birthday cards to be delivered by volunteers. Anyone can donate cards, apply through the website to volunteer.

www.citymeals.org

Celebrate Someone in Your Life! 
Interview a grandparent or another elderly person in your life! Ask about their childhood, their family, and the lessons that they have learned in their journey through life. This interview can even be transcribed and preserved to contribute to your family history.

Special Needs

Best Buddies
Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, Bronx 10+
Friendship program fosters one-on-one friendships between students with and without intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) through group and individual activities. E-buddies program is a safe place online for these friendships to be built through a pen-pal program. Sign up through the website.

https://www.bestbuddies.org/what-we-do/friendship

KEEN New York
Manhattan, Bronx, 16+
Serve as a personal coach for athletes with special needs. Apply through the website.

Contact: (212) 768-6785

https://www.keennewyork.org/volunteers

Pegasus Therapeutic Riding
Putnam County, 13+ or special projects for younger students
Provides horse-riding therapy for individuals with special needs. There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities and many do not require horse experience. Sign up through the website.

https://www.pegasustr.org/

https://www.pegasustr.org/files/9514/0493/2761/pegasus_volunteer.pdf

John A. Coleman School
Westchester County, 14+
School for children with special needs ages 1-7. Volunteers assist in classrooms, help at special events, and work at the reception desk.

Contact: (914) 294-6114

https://www.scny.org/join-us/become-a-volunteer/

Cardinal Hayes Home
Westchester County, 15+
Home and school for youth with disabilities. Individual volunteers join in classroom activities.

Contact: Cathy Varano, cvarano@cardinalhayeshome.org

https://cardinalhayeshome.org/

Poverty, Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens

Diocesan Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens
Contact your local food pantry or soup kitchen for information about donating food or volunteering.

https://catholiccharitiesny.org/feeding-our-neighbors-food-pantries-soup-kitchens

Don Bosco Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry
Westchester County, 15+ or 10+ with adult
Volunteers needed on weekday and Saturday mornings to help with food distribution.

Contact: Carmen Linero, (914) 552-9541 or clinero1963@gmail.com

https://www.donboscocenter.org/

Part of the Solution (POTS) 
Bronx
Assists individuals living in poverty with a wide range of services. Volunteers needed for dining room serving, meal prep, and food pantry stocking. Sign up through the website.

www.potsbronx.org

Global Medical Relief Fund
Staten Island, 13+ or 1 adult for 5 kids under 12
Helps children from war-torn areas who come to the US for medical treatment. Volunteers might help with cleaning, yard work, or reading to the kids.

Contact: (718) 448-6984 ext. 103

https://gmrfchildren.org

Gospel of Life Curriculum

The Gospel of Life Curriculum is a multimedia, life-affirming and age-appropriate curriculum for grades PK-12. It offers a vision of the beauty and dignity of the human person through a variety of topics, for use in schools, parishes or families.

Curriculum for Teachers
Curriculum for DRE’s/Catechists
Curriculum for Youth Ministers

GOSPEL OF LIFE CURRICULUM PRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF RESPECT LIFE

“As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

– Matthew 25:40

Our faith challenges us not only to acknowledge the dignity of each human person in our minds but also in our lives and hearts through the way we serve others. The following local service opportunities will allow students to put into practice the truths they have learned about the dignity of the human person through the Gospel of Life Curriculum.

Local Service Opportunities

These opportunities correspond to the topics of the lessons and indicate the appropriate age level. They can be completed as a class or individually.

Caring for Creation

Nature preserves and parks:

  • Keep your local parks and nature preserves clean by picking up trash and recycling discarded cans and bottles.
  • Find a nearby nature preserve here: The Nature Conservancy

Advocacy campaign:

  • As a classroom or group, create a recycling advocacy campaign for your school.
  • Find ideas here: Advocacy Action Kit

Serpentine Art & Nature Commons | Staten Island | All ages with adult

  • Volunteers help clean and maintain the nature preserve and community garden.
  • Contact: John Garcia at (646) 217-2499 or john.garcia35@gmail.com

Caring for Those in Need

Catholic Charities: Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens

  • Contact your local food pantry or soup kitchen for information about donating food or volunteering.

Don Bosco Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen | Westchester County | 10+ with adult

  • Volunteers needed on weekdays and Saturday mornings to help with food distribution.
  • Contact: info@donboscocenter.org

Global Medical Relief Fund | Staten Island | 13+ or 1 adult for 5 kids under 12

  • Helps children from war-torn areas who come to the United States for medical treatment. Volunteers might help with cleaning, yard work, or reading to the kids.
  • Contact: (718) 448-6984 x 103

Part of the Solution (POTS) | Bronx | 14+

  • Assists individuals living in poverty with a wide range of services. Volunteers needed for dining room serving, meal prep, and food pantry stocking.

Celebrating Special Needs

Pegasus Therapeutic Riding | Putnam County

  • Provides horse-riding therapy for individuals with special needs. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities for younger students and classrooms.

Best Buddies | Rockland County or anywhere for E-Buddies | 10+

  • Friendship program that fosters one-on-one friendships between students with and without intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) through group and individual activities. E-buddies program is a safe place online for these friendships to be built through a pen-pal program.

Elizabeth Seton Children’s School | Westchester County | 16+

KEEN New York | Manhattan and Bronx | 16+

  • Serve as a personal coach for athletes with special needs.

Cardinal Hayes Home | Westchester County | 15+

  • Home and school for youth with disabilities. Individual volunteers join in classroom activities.

Dignity at Every Age

Celebrate the beauty of old age in your own life:

  • Interview a grandparent or another elderly person in your life!
  • Ask about their childhood, their family, and the lessons that they have learned in their journey through life. This interview can even be transcribed and preserved to contribute to your family history.

ArchCare | Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx, Dutchess County | 15+

  • Individual volunteers build relationships with elderly residents through conversation and activities. Younger students can also inquire about making holiday cards for residents.
  • Contact: (855) 951‑2273 or volunteer@archcare.org

Rosary Hill Home | Westchester County | All ages

  • Home for individuals suffering from terminal cancer. Volunteers help with snack cart and general activities. Handmade holiday-themed cards sent in packs of 30 are also appreciated.
  • Contact: (914) 769-0114

Meals on Wheels | 16+ or all ages with adult

  • Deliver meals and offer a friendly face to homebound elderly individuals.

Citymeals on Wheels | Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island | 16+ or all ages with adult

  • Deliver meals to homebound elderly individuals, help with meal preparation in a local senior center, or make holiday-themed or birthday cards to be delivered by volunteers.

Immigration

Mercy Center | Bronx

  • Community center that serves immigrants and needs volunteers for childcare or tutoring support.
  • Contact: (718) 993-2789 or info@mercycenterbronx.org

Global Medical Relief Fund | Staten Island | 13+ or 1 adult for 5 kids under 12

  • Helps children from war-torn areas who come to the United States for medical treatment. Volunteers might help with cleaning, yard work, or reading to the kids.
  • Contact: (718) 448-6984 x 103

Neighbors Link | Westchester County | 15+

Justice for Immigrants

  • USCCB campaign to unite Catholics in the fight for immigration reform.

Welcome Refugees to the United States

  • Contact your local refugee resettlement agency to ask if they would be open to your class making “welcome to the USA cards” or donating other needed items.

Honor Immigrants of the Past | Manhattan | All ages

  • Visit Ellis Island to learn more about the men, women, and children who made the United States their home from 1892 to 1954. If you can’t visit, explore their website to learn about the rich history of immigration in our country.

Learning to Forgive

Forgiveness in your own life:

  • Write a letter or call someone to whom you need to offer forgiveness.

Thrive for Life Prison Project | Manhattan, Bronx

  • Donations are needed for prison libraries and Welcome Home care packages for individuals who have been released from prison. Find information about requested books, clothing, toiletries, and food on the website.

Catholic Mobilizing Network | 12+

  • Advocates for restorative justice and an end to the death penalty. The website highlights current campaigns and opportunities to speak out and take action in your own community.

Life is a Gift

Orange County Right to Life | Orange & Dutchess Counties

  • Assemble “Blessing Bags” of small gifts or tokens of love that will be given to women visiting abortion facilities. The bags communicate care and love to each woman as well as provide an opportunity for a conversation.
  • Groups, families, or classrooms can contact Right to Life to discuss materials needed and the procedure for assembling bags. Contact: Wendy Wood at (845) 820-4366 or ocrtl@ocrighttolifeny.com.

Sisters of Life | Manhattan, Bronx, Rockland County | All ages with adult

  • Religious community dedicated to protecting and enhancing the sacredness of human life. Volunteer days are periodically held to support this mission and donations such as diapers are always appreciated.
  • Contact: Coworkers of Life at (646) 882-1087

Good Counsel Homes | Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties

  • Homes for homeless, expectant, and new mothers that support them through pregnancy and motherhood. Contact your local organization to inquire about ways that individuals, classrooms, or families can serve or items that you can donate.
  • Contact: (201) 795-0637

40 Days for Life | Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, Orange, and Dutchess Counties

  • Volunteers sign up to pray and hold vigil outside of abortion facilities during 40 day campaigns twice a year.

Marriage

Celebrate family in your own life:

  • Plan an activity or outing for your family!

Pray for marriages in your own life:

  • Pray the rosary for your family, or with your family!

Receiving Mercy

Reconciliation Monday

  • The Archdiocese of New York offers a full day of confessions in all parishes throughout the entire Archdiocese before Easter and Christmas.

Perpetual Adoration