How You Can Help for the Holidays – Volunteer Opportunities

The holidays encourage us to think about others and give back, not just to our nearest and dearest but also to the wider community. If you have some time to spare this holiday season, put it to good use by volunteering with some of these wonderful organizations.

Cook Meals With Second Chance Foods

You can assist at Second Chance Foods if you’re a talented gourmet chef or simply love spending time in the kitchen. This non-profit, based in Brewster, nine minutes southeast of Carmel, reduces food waste by making dishes from unsold, unserved, and aesthetically imperfect food sourced from local restaurants, farms, and grocery stores. It then distributes the completed meals to local community outreach organizations dedicated to feeding people in need. If you don’t have culinary talents, don’t worry. You can help distribute meals, wash dishes, clean the kitchen, collect ingredients, label and pack meals, and perform simple meal prep.

Location: 116 Federal Hill Road, Brewster.
Requirements: Age 13+ who can spare at least 2.5 hours, although children under 18 need parental supervision.
How to apply: Apply online for the role you’re interested in via Signup Genius .

Help Out at Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center

Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center in Mahopac, 10 minutes southwest of Carmel, has a variety of volunteer opportunities for people passionate about helping women. If you’re interested in advocacy, you could help survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence at the center or at local hospitals, police stations, shelters, and courtrooms. You could also assist the center with its fundraising efforts, perform data entry, work the hotline, or perform basic administrative tasks. The center also encourages high school and college students to apply for its internships. The center provides professional training, in-service workshops, and supervision to help you find your feet.

Location: 935 South Lake Blvd. Suite #2, Mahopac.
Requirements: Age 18+ for trained roles. There is also a community service program for volunteers aged 14 to 18.
How to apply: Call the center at 845-628-9284.

Assist at the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden

The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden in North Salem, 20 minutes southeast of Carmel, welcomes volunteers with various skills. It’s especially interested in people with expertise in gardening, carpentry, painting, marketing, planning, and accounting. However, anyone with the drive to help could assist the museum by running its programs or tending the Japanese Stroll Garden. Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden also accepts high school and college students in its volunteer internship program.

Location: 28 Deveau Road, North Salem.
Requirements: Anyone motivated to help.
How to apply: Email the director of the Hammond Museum at director@hammondmuseum.org .

Support the Arts at Katonah Museum of Art

Katonah Museum of Art is another local museum that welcomes volunteers. Located in Katonah, 20 minutes south of Carmel, this museum has embraced the contributions of motivated community members since its inception. Depending on your skills and available time, you might lead tours, greet visitors, promote the museum, run special programs or events, or get involved in administration. Volunteers enjoy a special annual luncheon and year-round perks.

Location: 134 Jay St., Katonah.
Requirements: Pass an interview and attend orientation.
How to apply: Complete the application form , mail it to the museum, or email it to education@katonahmuseum.org .

Lend a Hand at Danbury Hospital

The global pandemic made us all stop and appreciate the vital work that hospital employees do. While volunteer opportunities in health care are still limited, Danbury Hospital in Danbury, 21 minutes from Carmel, accepts a select number of volunteers. Join around 400 people who give their time to help the hospital’s employees, patients, and their families. Volunteer program organizers take the time to get to know applicants and find them positions that match their interests and skills.

Location: 24 Hospital Ave., Danbury.
Requirements: Complete the mandatory orientation and online training before you begin volunteering.
How to apply: Call Amy Faith Lionheart, the hospital’s volunteer services program manager, at 203-739-7277.

Beautify the Local Area With Keep Putnam Beautiful

Carmel residents live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. However, litter can detract from the area’s allure. You can do your part by volunteering with the Keep Putnam Beautiful program. Rally a group of friends or family and hit the streets, parks, or anywhere you feel needs some TLC. Log a pickup report via the Keep Putnam Beautiful website, indicating where you cleaned up, how many bags of trash you collected, and the time you spent beautifying the area. Lead as many clean-ups as you like to make your local neighborhood ship-shape this holiday season.

Location: Anywhere you see the need.
Requirements: Anyone can participate.
How to apply: Complete the form on the Keep Putnam Beautiful website.

Volunteer Virtually With the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dutchess County

You don’t need to leave the house to lend a helping hand if you have a reliable internet connection. RSVP of Dutchess County is best known for distributing nutritious meals to seniors, but it also provides friendship and a link to the community. The organization needs virtual volunteers who will log on and chat with the people this program helps. This opportunity fits in with your lifestyle. You can choose how many days you volunteer, up to two hours a day. RSVP of Dutchess County also provides orientation and training programs to help you feel confident in your role.

Location: Virtual opportunity.
Requirements: Seniors 55+ with a driver’s license.
How to apply: Call RSVP of Dutchess County at 845-452-5104 ext. 101.

When others count on you, you don’t want your car to let you down. If your vehicle is less than reliable, visit our friendly team at Meadowland of Carmel. We’ve got the latest vehicles from Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram and quality pre-owned cars and trucks. No matter what you’re looking for, we can offer you a fair trade-in and help you find the right set of wheels this holiday season.

Photo Credit: katonah museum of art by istolethetv is licensed with CC BY 2.0

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