Volunteer Your Time at These CCS Supported Food Pantries This Holiday Season

Columbia Community Service (CCS) encourages Columbia, Barnard College, and Teachers College employees to donate their time and money to the annual fund that distributes 100% of funds raised to organizations serving the needs of individuals and families living in Harlem and Morningside Heights. If you haven't already, please consider making a donation today!

Many of these organizations have an urgent need for volunteers. The need for social services and food relief has risen dramatically during the pandemic and November is a time when many organizations see a rise in need. Give back to your community this holiday season by helping prepare and distribute meals or providing other support to food relief organizations. Below are just a few of the many opportunities available from CCS grantees.

NY Common Pantry (pictured above) is seeking volunteers who can help package and distribute nutritious meals for their Harlem Hot Meals program. They also need people who can assemble packages of groceries for Harlem Choice Pantries.

• Role: Harlem Hot Meals
• Responsibilities: For the Hot Meals Program, volunteers will assist Chef Ed by packaging nutritious, hot meals in boxes to-go. Other volunteers may pack cold lunches. Both hot meals and cold lunches are distributed to anyone who is hungry, and volunteers help see this effort through.
• Days and Times: All volunteer opportunities can be found here: Volunteer Hub. There are volunteer activities in Harlem, Monday through Saturday.
• Special skills or requirements: All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, wear clothing that can get dirty, and wear closed-toed shoes like sneakers.
• Contact: Email Erin Williams, Volunteer Manager

• Role: Harlem Choice Pantry & Bronx Choice Pantry
• Responsibilities: For Choice Pantry (Harlem and the Bronx), volunteers are called upon to assemble packages of produce and shelf-stable items for clients who are experiencing food insecurity. Volunteers are required to sanitize, and wear masks and gloves, which will be provided. There is a hand-sanitizing station in the Pantry, and volunteers are asked to stand for 3.5 hours and handle 30lb bags of groceries.
• Days and Times: All volunteer opportunities can be found here: Volunteer Hub. There are volunteer activities in the Bronx, Tuesday through Saturday.
• Special skills or requirements: All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, wear clothing that can get dirty, and wear closed-toed shoes like sneakers.
• Contact: Email Erin Williams, Volunteer Manager

Broadway Community needs volunteers to help prepare to-go soup kitchen meals on 5 days a week. 

• Role: Volunteer for Preparing the To-Go Soup Kitchen Meal
• Responsibilities: Five (5) to ten (10) volunteers are needed to help with basic culinary tasks and packing the to-go lunches that will be handed out, as well as clean up afterwards. 
• Days and Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00am until 2:00pm; and every Sunday and Tuesday, 2:00pm to 6:00pm.
• Special skills or requirements: No special skills but volunteers must wear closed-toed shoes. Face masks are required.
• Contact: Email Timothy Wotring, Volunteer Coordinator

WANA Community Center needs volunteers to help staff their Monday food pantry and soup kitchens on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

• Role: The WANA Food Programs offer space for volunteers to attend their weekly food pantry and mobile soup kitchen. The shelter for asylum seekers relies on volunteers to support the shelter overnight and help their case management team show clients how to get to appointments and translate whenever needed.
• Responsibilities: The WANA community depends on its vibrant, diverse volunteers. From celebrating personal milestones, to making meals together, to tutoring guests in English, and building friendships, not just service opportunities. All of the programs offer space for volunteers with varying responsibilities. If you have a talent, passion, or skill to share, they would love to engage with you! 
• Days and Times: In-person and remote volunteer responsibilities are available during the following days and times:
  • Everyday Overnight Shelter Volunteer, Monday through Friday, 8PM-7AM
  • Mondays Client Choice Food Pantry Volunteer, Mondays, 4-6PM
  • Friday Movie Night and Hot Meal Soup Kitchen Volunteer, Fridays, 5-9PM
  • Saturday Homeless Outreach and Mobile Soup Kitchen Volunteer and/or Driver, Saturdays, 12-2PM
  • On Call Translator
  • On Call NYC Guide (Support clients by traveling with them to and from essential appointments)