WHERE TO VOLUNTEER WITH YOUR KIDS IN NASSAU COUNTY, LONG ISLAND

Lend a little hand in your community, and make it a family affair! We've put together a guide to some places around Nassau County, Long Island, that need your help, including non-profit organizations, animal shelters, nursing homes, and many more. Volunteer opportunities are availablefor kids and adults alike at these locations - and remember, big or small, everyone has the power to make a difference!

When your child asks, “Why should I volunteer?” you might not have an answer at the ready. Sure, your instinct is to say something like “Because it’s the right thing to do,” but that really sounds like “Because I said so,” and we all know how that response generally causes kids to do the exact opposite.

Moral implications aside, though, the benefits of volunteering—especially from a young age—are nearly endless: Make new friends, build confidence and self-esteem, connect with your community, learn any number of skills that could come in handy later in life, gain an edge for your college applications…

Our advice: Skip the whole “why you should volunteer” lecture altogether and teach your kids by example. Whether you do it once a year or once a week, make volunteering a family affair. Below is a list of local organizations looking for a little extra help, from hands big and small.

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Adopt an Animal

Billed as the largest no-kill animal shelter in the world, the North Shore Animal League America is in constant need of willing families to offer a welcoming home for countless puppies and kittens, as well as full grown dogs and cats. With animals running between $50 and $225, the North Shore Animal League America offers an affordable opportunity for families to give their time and resources to an animal in need. Its doors are open 10am-9pm daily, and 10am-10pm Fridays and Saturdays for prospective families to go through the shelter and potentially bring a new member of the family home. Parents and children can also organize small fundraising events to support the league. There are volunteer opportunities at the shelter for animal lovers ages 16 and older as well. For more information, call 516-883-7575 or visit nsalamerica.org. 25 Davis Avenue, Port Washington.

Build a Home

Habitat for Humanity of Nassau County recruits volunteers as young as 16 years old to pitch in building houses (18 or older to use power tools) for underprivileged families. School-aged children can serve morning refreshments to work crews, help prepare and deliver lunches to the construction sites, assist new homeowners with seasonal cleanups, and babysit for Habitat for Humanity’s clients as they perform the mandatory “sweat equity” requirement at the work site. Enterprising families can also organize fundraising campaigns to raise money needed for building supplies. For more information, call Gail Scaramuzzo at 516-627-6047 or visit hfhnc.org. 1421 Northern Blvd., Manhasset.

Do Something Special

Special Olympics New York aims to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Volunteers can coach athletes, raise money, coordinate events, provide office support, volunteer at one-day events, serve on local program committees, help with sport development, and so much more. There is a place for volunteers of all ages (kids ages 13-16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian), abilities, and interests. For more information on sports events, contact Faith Latella at flatella@nyso.org. For more information on development, contact Merrell Angstreich at mangstreich@nyso.org. For more information on the organization, call 631-254-1465 or visit nyso.org. The Long Island office, which serves both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, is located at 819 Grand Blvd., Suite 3, Deer Park.

Feed the Hungry

Island Harvest works to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. The organization offers opportunities for all ages to make a difference, including children involved in a school club, scout troop, or youth group. Kids and adults alike can help out at community fairs, food drives, and other special events. Groups can also organize their own “Food Raisers” or fundraisers with help from Island Harvest. One idea is to run a themed food drive through your group or in your neighborhood, like Sandwich Fixings, Kid’s Stuff, or Holiday Trimmings. To become a volunteer, contact Joan Flynn at 516-294-8528 x121 or joan@islandharvest.org. If you are planning a food drive or collection, contact Doreen Principe at 631 873-4775 x208 or doreen@islandharvest.org. For more information, visit islandharvest.org.

Help a Wish Come True

The Make-A-Wish Foundation (MAW) of Metro New York and Western New York grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Children in kindergarten through 12th grade can participate in Kids for Wish Kids, a program that develops project ideas to fundraise for a Make-A-Wish Kid. Take part on your own or recruit others to help. Volunteers don’t need to raise enough to sponsor a whole wish, but every little bit helps a wish come true. A bake sale, pajama days, car wash, read-a-thon, or penny drives are all great ways to start raising money. Make-A-Wish will provide balloons, buttons, banners, and other MAW items to sell. For Kids for Wish Kids, contact Kathie Lombardi at 516-944-6212 x141 or klombardi@metrony.wish.org. For other volunteer opportunities, contact Kerry Logan at 516-944-6212 x135, or email klogan@metrony.wish.org. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York, 1111 Marcus Avenue, Suite LL22, Lake Success. metrony.wish.org.

Protect the Environment

Clark Botanic Garden is looking for people who want to donate their time to work in a beautiful and spacious environment. The garden needs individuals who enjoy gardening, working outdoors, and designing displays, as well as those with specific knowledge in horticulture and photography. For more information, call Carol Murphy at 516-484-2208. 193 I. U. Willets Road, Albertson. clarkbotanic.org.

Spring Clean Your Closet

Donate old clothes to the Salvation Army. Take the time to help others as you help yourself. Enlist your kids in the process of cleaning out their closets before springtime. It can even turn into a fashion show to see what fits and what doesn’t. Take your kids with you when you donate the clothes so that they can see the good their efforts are doing. Check with your local Salvation Army thrift store for instructions on donating clothes:

• 462 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont; 516-354-9498
• 194 Front Street, Hempstead; contact Evan at 516-481-7600 x355

Start Your Own Project

The NYC-based DoSomething.org is one of the largest organizations in the United States that helps young people rock causes they care about. Kids older than 12 can join or start their own Do Something Club in their community and take action all year through Do Something's campaigns and their own projects (apply at dosomething.org/clubs). You can also apply for a Do Something grant (dosomething.org/grants) to start your own community project—the organization gives out two $500 grants per week. For more information, contact Chloe Lee at 212-254-2390 ext. 231 or clee@dosomething.org.

Support a Family Far from Home

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children undergoing critical medical treatment in area hospitals, such as Cohen Children’s Medical Center. RMHLI strives to provide a comfortable and supportive environment, to help families through their most difficult time. Volunteers are the “heartbeat of the house,” and opportunities to get involved are offered on many different levels. Donate a few hours of your time to help with administrative duties or represent the house at community events and distribute information to the public about its mission. Individuals and groups can also help organize and participate in fundraising events. If you’re short on time, show a little love for families far from home through comfort food—donate nonperishables to the house’s food pantry or whip up some tasty treats together that you can drop off. To find out more on what you can do, send an email, with “Volunteer” as the subject line to mail@rmhlongisland.org or call Betti McClellan at 516-775-5683 or 718-343-5683 x131. 267-07 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park. For more information, visit rmhlongisland.org.

Walk for the Cause

Head to nymetroparents.com/walks to find fundraising walks in your community. Walking together for a cause can bring your family closer together while supporting a worthy organization. It’s also a great way to get outdoors, add exercise, and make new friends. Most charity walks in the Connecticut and the New York metro area take place in the spring and fall. Be sure to plan ahead, because the sooner you register, the longer you have to raise money for the cause.

Work for Water

The UNICEF Tap Project is a nationwide campaign that affords everyone the opportunity to help provide the world’s children with safe, clean water. We don’t usually think twice about the quality of our water but more than 900 million people around the globe do not have access to clean drinking water and approximately 4,100 children perish from water-related illnesses daily. A one-dollar donation can provide a child with clean water for 40 days, or 40 children with access to safe water for one day. World Water Week (March 19-25) will raise awareness of the world water crisis and vital funds to help millions of children it impacts daily. Kids can join the cause by organizing a lemonade stand, bake sale, car wash, or similar fundraising event and donating their proceeds. Visit tapproject.org/volunteer to sign up and find a list of ways to get involved.

To further encourage your children to volunteer, check out this great contest opportunity from Kids Who Give.

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