Give & Get Open Forum

On April 24th, New York Cares will host it’s annual Hands On New York Day. On this day dedicated to beautifying our city’s parks, community centers and gardens, you can join 5,000+ volunteers as we make these spaces cleaner, greener, and ready for summer. From 9:30 to 3pm you’ll be weeding, planting, painting, or otherwise participating in a great day of service for the city; so roll up your sleeves and enjoy a nice spring day in the park.

For more information about Hands On New York Day, visit the event home page here. You can sign up as an individual, or create your own team of volunteers. The $20 registration fee goes towards defraying the costs associated with the day; someone had to pay for all those shovels and garbage bags you’re using. This is also one of the largest fundraising days for New York Cares, which relies on money like this to maintain and run over 11,000 volunteer projects year-round; so don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family to ante up and donate.

If you’re interested in joining the Give and Get NYC team, email me at info@giveandgetnyc.com

What: work on educational art projects with kids, through New York Cares

Where: El Faro Beacon School, East Harlem

When: Saturdays, 11:30am-3:30pm

When you first get to the Beacon School, you’ll sign in and head downstairs to the basement cafeteria. Besides that one detail, I’m pretty sure what awaits you will be different every time you volunteer with the Creative Arts Workshop Saturday Art Works program. The project we had for the day I was volunteering was to make a giant-sized puppet of an iconic African-American, in honor of Black History Month. The volunteers spent the first 45 minutes or so sorting through scraps of fabric, markers, crayons, and putting together the wood bases that would serve as a skeleton of sorts for the puppet. We then got a brief introduction to the program and some guidelines on working with children (don’t go anywhere alone with a child, ask for help from a program staffer if a child is being difficult, etc.). While this was going on, about 30 kids filed in and waiting for the program to begin.

Averaging about 8 years old, the kids gathered in a circle to hear about the project for the day. We then broke into groups to read about 10 different historical figures from Black History. After this, each group had to pick one person to turn into a giant puppet; our group chose Frederick Douglass and got to work making the best-dressed puppet in the place, thanks an imaginative 7 year old with fashion sense beyond his years. At around 2:30, everyone gathered again in a circle to present their characters and put on a brief play using the knowledge they learned from the books we read earlier in the day.

According to their website, “CAW is a nonprofit organization that utilizes the visual and performing arts to teach life skills to children and teens while enriching communities.” Though I volunteered through New York Cares, you can volunteer directly with CAW, who offer the workshops three Saturdays out of every month in East Harlem and Washington Heights. The workshops use the arts to promote creativity through a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, montage, sculpture, dance, singing/rap, theater, music, reading, writing, gardening and any other practices that allow for creation and self-expression. They also have a number of other programs that serve the community and it’s children: Summer Art Works, After School Art Works, and the Giraffe Path, which is an annual arts project taking place this June. For more information about the Creative Arts Workshops for Kids, visit their website.

When the day started, I was slightly nervous about being able to mentor a child and display a certain level of intelligence. For some reason, I find the honesty of children extremely intimidating; the disapproval or ridicule of a 9 year old I’ve never met has almost the same affect on me as the disapproval of my own parents.  I know its probably an unwarranted, ridiculous fear, but one I have none the less. And I’ve got to be honest: Black History is not a topic I’m an expert on. How do I teach kids about something I know nothing about? The books we read to them had some popular names of course, whose history I’m well aware of, but I wasn’t going to pretend that I knew where Frederick Douglass was born. If there was a quiz at the beginning of the day I would have undoubtedly failed with flying colors. But i digress…. As with every other time I volunteer with kids, it only takes about 5 minutes for me to realize that they are there to learn and have fun, and anything you do can only help them achieve that. They’re not nearly as judgmental as adults, which is a nice departure from reality if only for a few hours. One of the great things about mentoring kids is that you can both pick up a book and learn along side each other. Some other things to know:

- Eat a big breakfast. You’ll be here for a while, and although you’re given the option of taking a juice-box and small snack,  6 mini pretzel sticks won’t cut it as a lunch for me personally, since I’m no longer 3 feet tall and 30 lbs.

- The projects vary, but there’s a good chance markers, glue and/or paint will be involved. You’ll also be sitting on the floor and moving around a lot. Dress appropriately.

- The Creative Arts Workshops students and volunteers have painted some pretty cool murals around Harlem in the past few years. After the project, take a stroll down 124th Street and see if you can find some; if you don’t  have time, check out the pictures I took above or head to the their online gallery.

- This project seems to attract a lot of artistic volunteers; including myself, the group of volunteers I worked with were all employed in graphic design. It’s not a surprising fact- the project is called Creative Arts Workshop. I’m just saying…this is a good activity for artsy-fartsy volunteers like myself.

- For those now wondering, Frederick Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland.

Dark Days, a seminal documentary on the underground homeless network in New York City is screening this Monday, February 22nd at Tribeca Cinemas. As part of the Tribeca Cinemas Presents: Doc Series -an exciting new series of innovative and thought-provoking documentary films- Dark Days sheds light on the vast underbelly of the city and the thriving community of people living inside. Director Marc Singer, who himself lived underground for two years in order to capture the vivid snapshots and footage used for the documentary, will be in attendance Monday night. You’ll be able to grab a cocktail at the Tribeca Cinemas bar before and after the film and mingle with other doc lovers and like-minded people. With a soundtrack put together by DJ Shadow, Dark Days is sure to please your curiosity of the underground as well as your ears.

This film is the winner of three Sundance awards, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary and an LA Film Critics Award for Best Documentary. After reading a synopsis and interview with director Marc Singer, it seems like this documentary has the potential to blow anyone away; stories of people living underneath the city for years, surviving and thriving, seem truly unbelievable and moreover, the entire (completely inexperienced) film crew consisted of the very people he set out to document, using borrowed equipment on loan or credit. If the reviews on IMDB are any indication, Dark Days is a must-see for anyone hoping to gain insight (or in NEED of some insight) into the lives of New York City’s homeless community.

You can buy tickets online here: www.tribecafilm.com/docseries

Enter the special promotional code TCDOCS10 and you’ll receive $2 off general ticket prices!

Head to the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt on E. 42nd St today from 12-8pm and receive some very special spa services from Healing Arts for Haiti. According to their press release, “Healing Arts For Haiti is a collaboration bringing together over 200 professionals from the spa and healing arts community and the health and beauty industry of New York City metro area for an event to bring the art of healing to the act of giving all in one location.”

Once inside, you should be able to find a slew of healing activities to partake in, from massages and facials to express acupuncture and yoga. 100% of the proceeds from the entire day will be generously donated to Unicef, chosen for their long-standing commitment to helping children around the globe. In addition to getting pampered today, you can purchase products and services (for up to 75% off retail prices) to pamper yourself at a later date. There will also be live music all day by various artists, a silent auction and raffle prizes from big names in beauty (L’Occitane, MAC, and Bliss, just to name a few).

So take an extra long lunch break today and go get a massage for Haiti. And with all those beauty and spa treatments on sale, it’s the perfect place for you guys out there who haven’t gotten your ladies Valentine’s Day presents yet. Just don’t tell them how much you paid for it…

Come have a drink and meet fellow OneBrick volunteers at Sidebar. 15% of food and drink purchases and 100% of direct donations will go to Partners in Health for their relief efforts in Haiti. If you’d like to RSVP, you can do so on the OneBrick website.

According to their website,”Partners In Health is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts, and active in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Russia, and the United States. Our mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. Through service, training, advocacy, and research, and by establishing long-term relationships with sister organizations, PIH strives to achieve two overarching goals: to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair.” Partners In Health (PIH) has been working on the ground in Haiti for over 20 years, and has been providing emergency medical services in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region since the earthquake.

Cocktail for a Cause will be collaborating with Earth Rights Institute to raise funds for water relief in Haiti. Safe Water Today will be providing emergency supplies to the Tulip Siphon Water Filters: a high quality, low cost unit home water treatment system which can be used for water purification in emergency situations. The great thing about these filters is that the use of one filter over a 24 hr period could provide enough clean water to service up to 40 people.

Taking place at Kush Lounge from 6-9pm tonight, you’ll be able to make a donation at the door to this cause and receive drink specials all night. To buy tickets in advance for $15, click here.

Ever wondered what it would be like to pack a bag and head abroad to volunteer for a little while? Have no idea how to start that process? Then head to Barnard College tomorrow (Feburary 1st) for the Idealist.org Global Volunteering Fair from 6-9pm. According to the website, you’ll be able to “learn more about programs and global opportunities offered by a diverse range of volunteer-sending organizations,” as well as attend informative workshops, such as “International Volunteerism 101” and “The Cost of Doing Good: Affordable Options for Volunteering Abroad.” There will be about 27 organizations present, including Global Citizens Network, Peace Corps and Visions in Action.

The 2010 fairs will also take place February 3rd in Philadelphia, February 4th in D.C., February 22 in Chicago and Feburary 25th in L.A.

You can register for free by clicking here, though it isn’t mandatory that you register beforehand. I unfortunately won’t be able to attend, so I’d love some feedback on the event!

The recent devastation of Haiti has prompted many restaurants and bars in the city to host special events that will benefit the Red Cross, Wyclef’s Yele charity, and other organizations that are contributing to the relief effort in Haiti. Since there are so many things going on, I’ve decided to do a round up of anything and everything I could find and put it into a nice little package for you. Your welcome. Now get out there and starting drinking.

Brooklyn Bowl: Buy tickets now for tonight’s benefit show, which will feature DJ sets by ?uestlove and Q-Tip. Minimum ticket price is $10, but feel free to pay more; proceeds are going to the Red Cross’ Haiti Fund and Yele Haiti. Show starts at 10pm.

Cake Shop: Tonight, the 21st! All proceeds are going to Unicef’s relief effort. Line-up of performers includes Signal Break, Sunshower Orphans, Mr. Dream and NT Trio. This event is hosted by Music VS Hunger, which aims to “use the power of music to raise money, collect nonperishable food donations and recruit volunteers in support of the Food Bank for NYC.” Show at 8pm, tickets are $6 with a canned food donation, $7 without.

Turtle Bay: Head there tonight (21st) for happy hour at 6pm and help raise funds for the Red Cross. They’ll have raffles with awesome prizes including a snowboard & $500 in gift cards, in addition to open bar and drink specials. No cover charge.

1OAK: RSVP to tonight’s (21st) fundraiser at 1OAK benefiting Edeyo and Concern Worldwide. It’s hosted by a ridiculous number of popular NY nightlifers (according to NY Barfly-I personally have no idea). Tickets are $40 at the door, 9-11pm.

The Gates: January 22nd, The Gates, Svedka Vodka, and Artlog have generously donated time and space to raise money for UNICEF’s relief work working with children in Haiti. 100% of the donations made will go directly to Unicef. You’ll get free Svedka cocktails from 9-10 while you listen to Haitian music. From 9-11pm, tickets are $30 minimum donation, which can be made here.

City Winery: They’re set to host 4 nights of Emergency Benefit Concerts for Haiti. Tonight will be the second show, featuring Patti Smith,Young People’s Chorus Of New York City, Joshua Bell & Surprise Guest, Tiempo Libre and more. There are also shows on January 24th and 25th, with all new acts slated to perform. Go to their website for all the details and to purchase tickets. 100% of funds raised will be directed to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health and an emergency mobile hospital aid mission organized by the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center. It’s $50 for general admission, but they’re also offering ‘Big Hearted Donor’ tickets, which will get you a bottle of City Winery wine signed by every artist appearing the night you go.

M.J. Armstrong’s: Metromix reports that this Gramercy sports bar will be serving half-price drinks from 6-8pm with a $5 donation to Haitian relief efforts on January 22nd. Metromix also listed places you can eat that will be matching donations from their customers, in addition to places you can shop for the cause.

Bruar Falls: All proceeds will be donated to The International Rescue Committee’s emergency response effort in Haiti. Also hosted by Music Vs Hunger, this show on January 27th will feature No Eye Contact, El Medio, Breakfast in Fur and Drew Citron. Show at 8pm, tickets are $5 with a canned food donation, $6 without.

Dine Out for Haiti: The Feed posted a list of 68 restaurants that will be donating a percentage (or in some cases, 100%) of their profits or matching customer donations to the relief effort in Haiti. Most are hosting these specials on January 24th and 25th, so make your reservations today. Like most, Del Posto is donating 10% of profits from the 24th, while some places are upping the ante: L’Ecole is giving 100% of its pre-fixe brunch proceeds to the Red Cross! With places like Marea, Buddakan, Magnolia and Kefi on the list, you might have a hard time picking just one place to eat! The idea for ‘Haiti Dine Out Night‘ was originally proposed by Philippe Massoud of Ilili Restaurant, who is also on the list.

The Bell House: On January 27th, the Bell House will host Strength Through Unity: A Benefit for the Victims of the Earthquake in Haiti. 100% of the proceeds will be split between Save The Children and Partners In Health. Appearances will be made by a multitude of performing guests, including Jimmy Fallon, Ted Leo, Here We Go Magic, AC Newman and more.  There will be raffle tickets and door prizes for purchase, and if you get there early you can snag some free grub from the Great Jones Cafe, Dub Pies and others. Starts at 6pm, tickets are $50, buy in advance here.

Generation NXT (a philanthropic organization that hosts social events to raise funds for charitable organizations) will host an event at Amnesia on January 26th, benefiting Stand for Haiti: Partners in Health. The event will feature DJ’s for Haiti: DJ Hex Hector, DJ Cassidy, DJ Peter Paul, and DJ Phresh. Starts at 7pm, tickets are $25 for general admission with VIP and bottle service upgrade options.

Massage for Haiti: Okay, so this doesn’t involve eating OR drinking. But really, its just something that needs to be added to this list for the simple fact that I’ve never heard of a fundraiser like this and I expect it to be very successful. The co-owner of Oasis Day Spas in New York City and Dobbs Ferry, NY, is organizing Massage for Haiti, and he’s asking spa owners from around the United States to join him. The details are still being worked out (made evident by their website status), but we do know that it will take places February 12th at the Grand Hyatt in NYC. The cost might be $1 per minute, with all the proceeds going to a yet-to-be-determined charity helping with relief efforts, but I wouldn’t take that to the bank until they post more details.

I will continue to update this post if I find any other events going on in the city. If you know of anything, please email me at info@giveandgetnyc.com or post it below in the comment box!

~

“Life’s most urgent question is:

what are you doing for others?”

Martin Luther King, Jr

This Monday marks the 15th Annual King Day of Service; a day in which citizens are challenged to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems. By participating in service projects that empower individuals or strengthen communities, people will work together towards a common goal of doing good,  which not only serves others, but helps to exemplify the values that Dr. King preached: we are all equal, and we can all work together to make things right for ourselves.

So this Monday, get out there and serve! Here are some organizations who are doing something extra on King Day-and some links to help you get involved:

-New York City Coalition Against Hunger will sponsor their Seventh Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Anti-Hunger “Serve-a-Thon” event which is a three-day event featuring volunteer events at New York City’s food pantries and soup kitchens. If you miss out this weekend, check out their Hunger Maps, where you can search and find food pantries and soup kitchens in your area to volunteer at year round!

- The Met Council needs volunteers to help build a greenhouse for one of their low-income senior residences. You’ll be asked to help build shelves, plant flowers and vegetables. Find contact information (and more opportunities) on the NYC Service Website.

- Children for Children, a NY organization founded by parents to foster community involvement and social responsibility in young people, is hosting two free events for kids and teens this Monday in Manhattan. Take your kids to Martin Luther King Jr. High School or PS 57  to participate in a day of service and activities from 10m-2pm. To learn more about attending the Eighth Annual Grow Involved, contact Abby Huber at 212.850.4170 or by email at abby@childrenforchildren.org; for more details click here.

-Head to the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan on the 18th. You can help JCC staff and local residents make welcome kits for hospitalized kids, prepare meals for the homeless, and participate in other community service activities in and around the building. To register, you can contact Judy Gross at 646.505.4450. 

-iMentor : Become a mentor! There are kids and teens in this city who don’t have proper role models to guide them through school and show them that someone cares. With iMentor,  an NYC-focused online mentoring program, you can correspond weekly by email with your mentee and meet them in-person at events throughout the year. (January is National Mentoring Month!)

I may be missing some things, but Time Out New York is here to fill in my blanks! Check out their weekend recap for what you can do this Monday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Volunteer your time, donate blood, or simply attend an event where you can learn about a great man and the legacy he left behind.

Other interesting reads about the day:

Trinity Conference Center

USA Today

MLK Day of Service website

January is National Mentoring Month, a time to recognize those who give generously of themselves by mentoring young Americans, and a time to focus the nation’s attention towards the cause in the hopes of gaining new mentors for our nation’s children in need. This month was officially proclaimed so by President Barack Obama earlier this week, as seen here on the White House website. Mentoring a child not only enriches their life, but your own as well. Regardless of whether you coach, teach, or just spend time hanging out, you’re exemplifying (hopefully) how to be a responsible adult and become a role model for kids who may not have an adult in their life to look up to.

On the Serve.gov website, they state that “Together, the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR, and the Corporation for National and Community Service are working to focus national attention on the need for mentors. If we – individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits – can work together to increase the number of mentors, we assure brighter futures for our young people.”

If you need convincing on how impactful mentoring a child can be, take a look at some of the tributes written on the Harvard Mentoring Project website. The sixth annual ‘Thank Your Mentor Day’ is January 22nd, but the tributes have already begun pouring in from around the country from former and current mentees, young and old, expressing their gratitude.

In order to help you get started mentoring a child, I’ve listed some resources below that should help those in New York trying to find the right opportunity:

The Mentoring Partnership of Long Island (Hauppauge) – (631) 761-7800

The Mentoring Partnership of New York (New York) – (212) 953-0945

iMentor (NYC-focused online mentoring with weekly email correspondence and in-person meetings and events throughout the school year)

Administration for Children’s Services (NYC Gov. Site; includes links to Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentoring USA, MPNY)

In2Books (online mentoring program that involves reading and discussion)

You should know that most mentoring programs require a background check and training, and then you will be paired with an appropriate mentee that perhaps shares some of the same interests as you. It is also a big commitment to make, as you are promising your time to child; don’t make the decision hastily or if you’re unsure of how much time you’ll be able to give on a regular basis. If you’re unsure of how you’ll be a one-on-one situation with a child, it may be a good idea to attend one of the many projects New York Cares offers that involve spending time reading with children or teaching them computer skills. It’s a great way to get your feet wet and see if this is something you really want to do. The online mentoring programs are a great alternative to the traditional programs (such as Big Brothers Big Sisters) for busy professionals, as they tend to involve significantly less time committal and little to no travel.

If you are an organization that has mentoring opportunities available, please email me or comment below to list them on this site!

lkj