It's National Volunteer Week! Here's How You Can Get Involved

National Volunteer Week recognizes the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, build stronger communities, and transform the world. First established by a presidential proclamation in 1974, National Volunteer Week — and indeed, the entire month of April — is dedicated to celebrating volunteers and encouraging more people to get out and serve their communities. 

At Trinity Church, we believe volunteering is one of the best ways to put our faith into action. Service is an act of love. The Bible reminds us that God gives us the strength, resources, and talents we need to serve others well. "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received"(1 Peter 4:10).

This year, National Volunteer Week begins on Sunday, April 21. To give you a head start, we’ve highlighted several volunteer opportunities below. From packing brown bags at Trinity’s Compassion Market to acting as a translator for the Rural & Migrant Ministry, these opportunities reflect Trinity’s strategic mission of promoting justice work rooted in essential human dignity. 

We’re grateful for all the volunteers who support Trinity’s ministry to our neighbors in lower Manhattan, and we hope this list helps you find new ways to serve over the next few days and throughout the year.

Volunteer at Trinity

Help pack and distribute Compassion Meals. Trinity is committed to distributing three meals a day, feeding hundreds of community members a week. In times of increased housing and economic instability, programs that provide basic necessities are more crucial than ever. Find volunteer opportunities here. 

Become a Trinity Ambassador for Trinity Commons, the center of our parish life. Ambassadors are part of a ministry of hospitality that welcomes visitors, new and old, into our community spaces. This position is crucial in forging lasting relationships with our neighbors and the multiple communities we serve. Learn more here.

Connect with our congregation. There are so many ways to get involved in our parish, from activism to art classes. Become a part of our active and vibrant community of faith. Explore our congregational communities.

Volunteer in Lower Manhattan

Serve our brothers and sisters at St. Mark's in the Bowery's Safe Center for Asylum Seekers. Every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., St. Marks parishioners welcome local migrants and asylum seekers who are without work or shelter in NYC. They offer food, cellphone charging stations, resource advocacy, and ESOL programming.

Combat food insecurity at UA3’s Community First Food Pantry. UA3’s community pantry started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing food insecurity in NYC. They offer programs such as nutrition education, cooking classes, and youth leadership development. The pantry is open Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Volunteer with NYC-Based + Faith-Based Trinity Grantees

Mentor youth in Upper Manhattan with The Brotherhood Sister Sol (BroSis). This Racial Justice grantee provides comprehensive, holistic, and long-term support services to youth ages 8 to 22. Volunteers work with youth on projects and enrichment activities. Complete the interest form.

Create safer communities for young people in Brooklyn with the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI). KAVI prevents and eliminates interpersonal violence in the lives of young people through advocacy, peer leadership, community mobilization, and social justice. This Racial Justice grantee supports families in hospitals and provides programming in schools and communities. Get involved.

Distribute food with St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea. With roots in the neighborhood dating back to the early 1800s, this Mission Real Estate Development grantee continues to renew our city with the good news of God’s love. Volunteers can help pack and distribute food for the pantry St. Peter’s provides for low-income families in the area. Take on a two-hour shift.

Provide nutritious meals with Nazareth Housing in the Lower East Side and the Bronx. This Housing and Homelessness grantee promotes housing stability and economic mobility by providing homelessness prevention services, emergency family shelter, supportive housing, and assistance with urgent needs. Among their many offerings are two food pantries, where volunteers can help distribute fresh produce and shelf-stable foods to hundreds of families in need. Sign up to volunteer.

Fight injustice in rural New York with the Rural & Migrant Ministry (RMM). This Leadership Development grantee serves rural New York state by nurturing leadership, challenging injustices, and supporting disenfranchised workers, including farmworkers. RMM welcomes volunteers for a variety of services, from grant writing to gardening. Get involved.