10 Best Places to Volunteer Your Time

Tis the season to be giving.  

Looking for ways to give back to the community this holiday season?

Patch has compiled a list of organizations throughout Glen Cove that are in need of volunteers to help make the holidays bright for the less fortunate.

1. – 235 Glen Street

The outreach program will prepare meals for 110 families–about 440 people, and will provide toys for needy children from six months to 12 years of age on Dec. 20 and 21. The church is looking for volunteers to help with wrapping presents and packing of food baskets. If you are interested in volunteering your time towards this cause, contact the social ministry of St. Patrick's Church at 516-676-0276     

2.  – 130 Glen Street

The Senior Center will host their annual Christmas Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday Dec. 20. The center needs a few extra hands to help serve meals to the seniors and spend time with them to help them celebrate the holidays. To lend your helping hand, contact program coordinator Lucy Van Horn at 516-759-5331.

3.  – 113 Glen Cove Avenue

The Boys & Girls Club of Glen Cove will host their annual holiday party and toy store on Friday, Dec. 17. The club is seeking volunteers who are interested in entertaining and interacting with the children, as well as assisting with serving refreshments and selling in their holiday toy store. To volunteer for this event, contact Franca Trunzo, Director of Operations at 516-671-8030. The club is also accepting donations of unwrapped gifts which go towards the children of the club.

4.  – 12 Continental Place

The soup kitchen is seeking anyone who is willing to help in heavy lifting of food or crates of produce, which will be served at lunchtime for the guests of the soup kitchen. Meals are served on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. If you are interested in lending a helping hand, contact Estelle Moore at 516-676-8326.

5.  – 18 Third Street

Mommas House, an organization providing a safe haven for young mothers and their children, is having their annual holiday party on Saturday Dec. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. They are looking for volunteers to help put together gift bags, help set up, provide entertainment, help to cook food and provide drinks and help with cleaning up after the party. If you are interested, contact Joan Phillips at mommasvolunteers@gmail.com or call 516-781-8637.

6. 

SCO Family of Service and the Who Cares Committee Inc. participated in the annual Toy Run on Sunday Dec. 12 at St. Christopher's Home on the Robert J. McMahon Children's Center in Sea Cliff. A convoy of motorcycles, cars, and trucks escorted Santa to share the joy to about 73 children with developmental disabilities who live at the center. Contact Liz at whocarescommittee@yahoo.com to see how you can make donations or volunteer.

7.  – 9 North Lane

The church's North Shore Sheltering Program, which provides a meal and shelter for homeless or impoverished men, is seeking volunteers to help prepare and serve food to the residents of the shelter. Meals are served nightly from 6 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to prepare hot meals to bring to the shelter. For more information on volunteering, contact David Dooley at 516-379-0720.  

8. Animal Lovers League - 40 Shore Road

Whether you want to volunteer your time or donate food quilts, towels, and medical supplies, there is plenty of opportunity to get involved with the . The league is seeking carpenters, graphic designers and computer savvy individuals to help out. The league is also seeking volunteers to help at the feral cat spay-neuter clinics. Visit the website for more opportunities.

9.  -  128 B Glen Street 

There is always plenty of opportunity to volunteer your time at the Glen Cove Youth Bureau–a city organization dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment to youth and all families in the community. To volunteer, contact Cindy Rogers 516-671-4600

10.

Glen Cove Kiwanis Club is part of an international organization that addresses the needs of youth and their families within the community. The club meets on the 2nd the 4th Thursday of the month at Page One Restaurant at 90 School Street. For information on how to volunteer, visit the website.

11. Locust Valley Neighborhood Watch – 480 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley

The Neighborhood Watch will be holding a holiday fundraiser on Wednesday Dec. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be food, drinks and a raffle to help raise funds for a local Vietnam Marine Veteran who is recovering from a serious car accident that left him burned over 25% of his body with other injuries. For more information on the Locust Valley Neighborhood Watch, contribute to the raffle, make a donation or ways to volunteer, e-mail LVNW@mail.com  or call 516-697-5927.

Editor's Note: Glen Cove Kiwanis Club was added after this article was published.