In the face of the political and environmental hellscape that is 2025, it’s easy to grow despondent. Global economic inequality persists at ever-more mind-boggling numbers. This year is set to be one of the hottest on record. More and more Americans go without food or shelter at night.
The sky, in other words, is falling, and the larger structures that ought to be keeping it afloat—such as the federal government—have abdicated all responsibility. We can wallow in our powerlessness, or we can turn towards the communities we’re a part of and the neighbors who surround us.
In Park Slope and its surrounding neighborhoods, several grassroots organizations are feeding the hungry, building green infrastructure, and providing services to low-income New Yorkers, and they depend on the support of volunteers. Volunteering not only improves people’s day-to-day living conditions, it’s also a reminder of what really matters in difficult times: taking care of one another. This guide to local volunteer opportunities will help you find new ways to engage in your community and connect with your neighbors.
What is it: Founded in 1971, CHiPS is a soup kitchen, food pantry, and shelter for women with young children devoted to ameliorating food insecurity and homelessness in New York City. CHiPS serves over 600 people daily and is a beacon of hope for its community of thousands of friends and neighbors in need.
What you do: CHiPS volunteers help with the entire food service process—from preparing hundreds of bagels and sandwiches, to chopping vegetables, to sorting and packaging food donations. Most importantly, CHiPS volunteers greet and serve food to the guests who visit. CHiPS volunteers must be 16 or older, and Park Slope Food Co-Op members can complete their work shift at CHiPS. CHiPS also welcomes groups of colleagues, clubs, or community service organizations seeking a team-building, service-oriented volunteer opportunity.
Where: 200 4th Avenue between Sackett and Degraw Street
When: CHiPS has open shifts from 8:15-4:30 PM on Monday-Saturday, serving both their kitchen and food pantry. These shifts last 2-3 hours. If those hours don’t work, there are still plenty of other ways to help out, including making and donating meals, organizing a food drive, or picking up food donations from neighborhood bakeries and cafes.
How: Fill out the volunteer application and sign up to attend a volunteer orientation, held online every Friday at 2 PM. After completing the orientation, you can sign up for shifts via the volunteer portal.
What is it: The Gowanus Canal Conservancy works to build an equitable, thriving, and resilient urban ecosystem in Gowanus through education, stewardship, and advocacy. They lead grassroots volunteer projects, educate students on environmental issues, and partner with elected officials and community members to advocate for, build, and maintain green infrastructure around the Gowanus Canal.
What you do: Volunteers in the Lowlands Nursery, which houses and sells native urban-adapted plants to community members and businesses, pot and care for plants, while volunteers in the tree stewardship program remove litter and cultivate the soil of neighborhood tree beds. You can also volunteer for their rain garden program to maintain, plant, and weed gardens that mitigate sewer overflow and flooding. The conservancy welcomes companies looking to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship for group volunteer shifts.
Where: Their office is located at 248 3rd Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue. The Lowlands Nursery is located at 25 9th Street and Smith Street
When: The Lowlands Nursery and tree stewardship program have shifts on select Saturdays from 10 AM- 1 PM, and the rain garden program has shifts on select Fridays from 10 AM-1 PM.
How: Sign up for their newsletter to receive their next call for volunteers. You can also follow the Conservancy on Instagram for regular updates.
What is it: The Prospect Park Alliance was founded in 1987 to help restore the park after a long period of deterioration and decline. The Alliance partners with the City of New York to care for the park’s natural areas, maintain the park’s buildings and landscapes, and provide education and recreation opportunities to thousands of visitors each year.
What you do: Volunteers mulch and care for trees, remove invasive species of plants, clean up litter, and restore paths and playgrounds. The Alliance welcomes adults and teens aged 14 and up, including those with required community service through school or the court system. They also host programs on select weekends for community groups, companies, and families.
Where: 95 Prospect Park West between 4th and 5th Street
When: Timing varies based on the volunteer opportunity. Most shifts are 2-3 hours, and volunteers can sign up as frequently as they like.
How:Register to become a volunteer, then sign up for opportunities via the volunteer portal.
Contact: volunteer@prospectpark.org
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What is it: Founded in 1990,Housing Works fights for inclusive care and an end to homelessness for people living with HIV/AIDS. The profits from their businesses, the Housing Works Thrift Shops and Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, fund the essential services they have provided to over 30,000 low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS, including housing, mental and physical healthcare, meals, job training, and legal assistance.
What you do: Thriftstore andbookstore volunteers price and shelve items, run the register, maintain displays, and help customers. Packaging and distribution center volunteers sort donations, tag merchandise, and organize inventory. Volunteers must be 18 or older, and Housing Works welcomes volunteer groups from corporations, universities, or other community organizations.
Where: 266 Fifth Avenue between Carroll Street and Garfield Place (other locations throughout the city can be found on housingworks.org)
When: Volunteer shifts at the Park Slope location are available Monday-Friday from 12-7 PM and on weekends from 12-5 PM. They last 4 hours. Other shift times vary based on location.
How: Fill out an application here. You’ll then receive a link to sign up for an information session.
What is it: Brooklyn Animal Action is an all-volunteer organization committed to improving the lives of animals in distress. They facilitate trap-neuter-return programs, rehome adoptable animals, and provide education and resources to help community members help vulnerable animals.
What you do: Brooklyn Animal Action is most in need of foster parents willing to open their hearts and homes to an animal in need. They are also seeking volunteers with a car to help transport cats to and from the veterinarian’s office, volunteers who can assist with administrative tasks or grantwriting, and volunteers who can help with adoption events.
Where: Brooklyn Animal Action has no physical location.
When: Volunteer times vary based on the opportunity. Fosters can house a cat for a minimum of two weeks or until the cat is adopted.
How: Fill out a foster application form and email volunteer@brooklynanimalaction.org for other volunteer opportunities. Make sure to include your interests, skills, and availability, as well as a resume. All volunteers must undergo a background check and interview.
What is it: Established in 1896, the Brooklyn Public Library is among the borough’s most democratic institutions, serving patrons from every walk of life. With branch libraries in every neighborhood, Brooklyn Public Library offers after-school tutoring, cultural events, literary coaching, and workforce development programs.
What you do: Volunteers support the library’s diverse teaching and mentorship programs. You can sign up to tutor grade school students on their homework, facilitate conversations in English for ESL learners, help library users improve their digital knowledge, and more. Explore all the Library’s opportunities for teens, adults, and groups here.
Where: The Park Slope branch is located at 431 6th Avenue between 8th and 9th Street, but the location varies based on the volunteer opportunity.
When: Volunteer times vary based on the opportunity, but most positions ask for a minimum commitment of 2-3 hours per week for a period of at least 6 months.
How: Fill out the online application. Training varies based on the volunteer opportunity.
What is it: Heights & Hills offers essential services to support more than 5,000 older Brooklynites and their families. They offer social services for homebound adults, caregiver support for families and friends, and a neighborhood hub for active older adults to gather as a community.
What you do: Heights & Hills volunteers provide friendship and support to homebound older adults in 30 diverse Brooklyn communities. They visit, take walks, assist with grocery shopping and other errands, or help clients use their smartphones. Heights & Hills is currently seeking volunteers who can travel to the following neighborhoods: Bensonhurst, Bergen Beach, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, East New York, Marine Park, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, and Seagate.
Where: Their Office is located at 81 Willoughby Street, Suite 302, between Lawrence Street and Bridge Street. Their community hub, the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging, is located at 463A 7th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue.
When: Timing varies based on the volunteer commitment. Heights & Hills asks volunteers to commit to weekly visits for a minimum of 6 months.
How: Email volunteer@heightsandhills.org with your availability and the neighborhoods you can visit. All volunteers must undergo a background check and interview before being matched with an older adult.
Contact: volunteer@heightsandhills.org
Audrey Pettit is a writer, dancer, and avid volunteer living in Park Slope. You can read more of her writing on her Substack, You Know What I Mean?
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