This October 24th, millions of volunteers across the nation will unite with a common mission – to improve the lives of others. In its 24th year, Make A Difference Day is the largest national day of community service and is a great opportunity to not only improve the lives of others, but also our planet. Here are some ways you and your family can make an eco-friendly difference this weekend:
Plant a Tree
MillionTreesNYC is a citywide initiative to plant and care for one million new trees across the City’s five boroughs over the next decade. This Saturday, October 24, is their Fall Stewardship Day. During the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. , in five different locations, (Alley Pond Park , Conference House Park , Inwood Hill Park, Marine Park, and Pelham Bay Park – Hunter Island ) volunteers can help with forest and wetland restoration, planting and pruning trees, harvesting and propagating native seed and monitoring local wildlife. You can help make sure these natural resources continue to thrive and make NYC beautiful for many years to come. Click here for more information.
Donate Books
Don’t throw out those children’s books! Have your child help you sort through your family’s bookcases and their own old reading materials to find a stack to share, then drop them off to the waiting room at Maimonides Infants and Children’s Medical Center. For more information, contact the Department of Volunteer Services at 718-283-3980, or call 718-283-7156 Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm to speak to the person in charge of book donations. You can also donate new books and magazines to other area children’s hospitals such as Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian (3959 Broadway, 212-305-2542) or the Komansky Center for Children’s Health of New York-Presbyterian at Weill Cornell Medical Center (525 E. 68th St., 212-746-4908).
Play in the Park
Partnerships for Parks helps New Yorkers work together to make neighborhood parks thrive. The organization has a diverse, growing network of dedicated park volunteers and groups and it provides opportunities for them to celebrate their parks, become more effective leaders in their communities, and work with government officials to affect decisions about their parks. There are various volunteer opportunities for all age and interest levels. For more information on how to get involved, visit online, call 212-360-1399, or email info@cityparksfoundation.org.
Clean Out Your Closets
Second Chance Saturdays at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Park are a great opportunity to donate your gently used clothing, shoes, and textiles. Enlist your kids in the process of cleaning out their closets and take unwanted clothing to the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket (Northwest entrance to Prospect Park) every Saturday, 8am-4pm. Visit here for more information. You can also donate gently used clothing, shoes and textiles at GrowNYC Greenmarkets throughout the city. Click here for more information
Talk to us: What will you and your family be doing to celebrate Make A Difference Day?
image from MillionTreesNYC