Service Projects
One of the best ways to get to know people and to get involved in your community is by participating in service projects. Interfaith service projects bring people together across religious lines to make positive changes in different communities.
The following is a list of organizations that offer service project opportunities.
92nd Street Y: Teen Community Service
The 92nd Street Y offers a wide range of service opportunities for youth, dependent upon age and interest. The program offers youth the opportunity to engage with, and affect the New York City community through leadership programs and individual events. Over 1,000 middle and high school students participate in events throughout the year to strengthen their understanding of social justice issues.
Catholic Charities Community Services Office of Refugee Resettlement
Catholic Charities Community Services provides support to impoverished refugee communities in metropolitan New York and international satellite locations. Based on their skills, volunteers work with this population on resume development, ESL, computer basics, creating and updating NYC resource and services binders, and aid in administrative tasks. The organization also provides aid to homeless persons, hungry persons, children, and youth.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Shelter
Join the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Shelter to help cook and serve the homeless population staying at their site. Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, volunteers prepare a meal, and enjoy dinner and a movie with guests.
Interfaith Community Services
This organization provides a number of community service opportunities in Manhattan, including a weekly food distribution to homeless persons in Tomkins Square Park. In an effort to promote interfaith work, Interfaith Community Services also sponsors the work of similar organizations.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Interfaith Hospitality Network is a national volunteer-based organization that provides food, shelter, education, employment, and support services to homeless and low-income families. This initiative promotes sustainable independence through education, training, and advocacy programs developed with local community affiliates to address the needs of these families.
Islamic Circle of North America Relief
The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) focuses on the social service needs of underserved communities. The organization offers Muslim family services as well as volunteer opportunities within the United States through ICNA Relief, and abroad with its Helping Hands program. Currently, this group is involved in a month-long national campaign against hunger.
World Faith
World Faith connects community service projects of various houses of worship throughout New York City to promote interfaith work in local initiatives. The organization connects with soup kitchens, New York Cares Day of Service, and related community development programs.
A Local Interfaith Service Project to Build a House
Abraham House, based in Newark, N.J., is sponsored by members of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist communities--in partnership with Habitat for Humanity--to provide families with decent, safe and affordable housing. This interfaith group raises money for and aids in the construction of two-story, single family homes. In working towards a common goal, participants in Abraham House are committed to valuing and learning from each other to practice and promote common values.
