Westchester teen Ellie Zimmerman founded her own nonprofit, Interns 4-Good, while struggling to find internships in high school. Now, her organization connects 8,000 students internationally with 180 nonprofits—including Volunteer New York!—and there's no sign of stopping!
With Diwali behind us and Thanksgiving only a week away, it's safe to say that the holiday season is in full swing! Of course, our seasonal celebrations will look a lot different this year as many families are struggling to make ends meet. And with recent spikes in COVID-19 all across the country, it will be tough to carry on the traditions we're used to, such as gathering for family dinners and participating in turkey trots.
Don't miss out! Nominations for the 2021 Volunteer Spirit Awards—our annual celebration of outstanding volunteers—are open until Monday, November 16. If you volunteer for a nonprofit organization in Westchester, Rockland, or Putnam County and you think you're deserving of an award, be sure to let your volunteer supervisor know!
We already know that vaping and smoking—whether tobacco or marijuana—can put us at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 by weakening our lungs and immune systems. Now, teens have another reason to steer clear of the green stuff: it could be damaging their brains.
Happy Election Day, Volunteers! If you're 18 or older and you've registered to vote, be sure to visit your local polling place on November 3, 2020 in order to cast your ballot. (Find all information—including whether you're registered, where to go to vote, and more—at the New York State Board of Elections website.)
Trick-or-treating might look different this year due to COVID-19, but that doesn't mean we can't don our Halloween masks (our cloth ones, that is) and make our mark on our neighborhoods!
On Wednesday, October 21, Volunteer New York!'s Volunteer & Nonprofit Engagement Manager, Jessica Friedlander, delivered an informative presentation about volunteering—and how community service is more than just checking off a box on a form for your school. In fact, volunteers can use their service as a tool to reach their personal and professional goals.
Volunteer New York! is once again preparing for its annual celebration of outstanding volunteers—and if you're a youth leader, now's your time to shine!
Recent grads may not have been able to don their caps and gowns for a traditional ceremony this year, but they're getting an A-plus for finding a clever way to put their robes to good use!
Election Day falls on November 3 this year. If you're an American citizen (or you meet your state's residency requirements) and you're at least 18 years of age, you're legally allowed to vote. But what about teens who are underaged and still want to stay involved somehow? Here are three ways:
Dating abuse is, sadly, all too common; according to breakthecycle.com, one in three high school students experience physical or sexual violence—or both—from a dating partner. It can have devastating effects, such as being a factor in depression, leading to a dependency on drugs and alcohol, engaging in violent relationships, and even suicide.
Tired of not feeling heard? Local teens in Westchester County now have a chance to say what's on their minds.
Calling all tech-savvy teens! If you're patient, a pro at video conferencing, and you want to help others (while demonstrating those fire leadership skills), Volunteer New York!'s RSVP Westchester program needs you.
The start of the school year is a struggle for many of us—can't we sleep in just a little longer?—but it's especially challenging when COVID-19 is still in the air. Whether you're attending classes in person or your school is following a hybrid model, you'll inevitably have a lot of new questions: can I hug my friends? Do we wear face masks even when sitting at our desks? How do we wash our hands clean if we don't have a sink in our classroom?
Heads up, Camp Vollo campers! The deadline to submit your Camp Vollo activity sheet is Monday, August 31. Submitting your activity sheet is the only way to claim your Changemaker Certificate for all of the great activities you completed during your summer camp experience. You'll also be able to receive limited-edition stickers and an exclusive invite to an upcoming volunteer project. Find all of the details in your activity books—hope you enjoyed summer camp at Camp Vollo!
Summer may be winding down, but student volunteers are busier than ever as they ramp up for the new semester. Whether you've got community service hours to fulfill or you're looking to address your neighborhood's most pressing needs, there's no better time to kick your activism and community engagement into high gear than now.
The country is gearing up for the new school year, but there's one teeny little problem: coronavirus hasn't actually gone anywhere. And as parents and school board members battle over whether it's safe to return to class—and what that return would even look like—students are getting caught in the crossfire. This photo of unmasked students in one crowded Georgia hallway gained so much negative attention that school administrators threatened to suspend students who called out the school for its lax personal protective equipment rules. Yikes.
ArtsWestchester launches a new program for youth leaders who love art Teen leaders and art lovers, take note!
These 10 teens refuse to settle for a life in lockdown; instead, they're finding ways to make an impact this summer, from launching their own nonprofit organizations to organizing protests. One of the greatest misconceptions about the COVID-19 virus is that younger people are “immune”—or, at least, they don’t experience the same kind of effects that their parents and grandparents do. We now know that's not true—the virus can severely harm younger generations—but it's becoming clear that harm extends well beyond their immune systems.
On July 13, Volunteer New York! presents Camp Vollo, a free virtual volunteer camp experience for young changemakers who want to volunteer locally.
Volunteering has always been a great way to stay active while giving back to your community. But how can you help when you're stuck inside?
As if you needed another reason to get out and make your mark in the world, here's some inspiration!
The COVID-19 crisis has affected the most vulnerable of us. How will you give back to your community on May 5 for #GivingTuesdayNow? Join us Tuesday, May 5 for
Here's what you can do for your community during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis
