Anti-Hunger Coalition Web Site Matches City Volunteers, Programs
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
New Yorkers interested in helping out at soup kitchens and food pantries can now go online to search for volunteer opportunities.
The New York City Coalition Against Hunger launched a Web site yesterday that allows people to search by neighborhood or nearby subway lines for a program that best suits their schedule or skills.
“There are a lot of good Web sites to find volunteer opportunities, but then you have to call or e-mail and they have to e-mail back,” the coalition’s executive director, Joel Berg, said. “Here you pick a specific spot at a specific site and you are automatically signed up, like buying a plane ticket.”
New York has some 1,200 food pantries, soup kitchens and agencies that serve the poor. The better-known charities, or those in midtown Manhattan, usually have enough volunteers, Mr. Berg said, while those in the outer boroughs often need help.
In addition to line workers, the aid groups are also looking for volunteers with professional skills including lawyers, graphic designers and writers.
“Five hours of accounting is worth 20 hours of serving soup to many of these agencies,” Mr. Berg said. He noted that charities have the greatest need for help after January 1.
