St. John Students Organize Senior Library

First year students from St. John's University of Queens partake in an orientation during the summer before freshman year and this year the orientation includes a community service aspect. On three separate occasions, the students will be volunteering with Met Council. On Tuesday June 24th, the students organized the library at our senior residence on East 61st Street. By organizing and alphabetizing the books, the residents can easily find specific books. Thank you to the St. John students for your help and we look forward to working with you this summer!

Volunteer Your Skills

Jennifer Samelson was so kind enough to volunteer her skill of American Sign Language (ASL). At our homeless shelter in Jamaica Queens, Hillside House, we have a new client who is deaf. She is unable to communicate with the staff and it has been difficult relaying information to her regarding programs and benefits that she is eligible for. Jennifer Samelson, who is fluent in ASL, has volunteered to translate between the client and our social worker. Her time and efforts are appreciated and we thank Jennifer for her help!

Do you speak another language or have any other talents that could go to use? If you are interested in putting your talents to good causes, please contact the Met Council Volunteer Department.

Day in the Park

Through the Goldman Sachs Community Team Works Program, GS volunteers have the opportunity to take a paid day off to volunteer. One of the projects that Met Council organized with GS was a day in the park for our clients in Met Council’s Family Violence Program. Although the forecast predicted thunderstorms, it actually was a very sunny and successful day. The kids got to play on the playground, play games, and win prizes. The mothers were treated to manicures and were also able to take family portraits. Derek Davis of DFP Studio Photography kindly donated both his time and services by taking family portraits of the mothers and their children. He will also be sending each family a complimentary 8x10 photo. We thank both Mr. Davis and the Goldman Sach volunteers for helping in making this day a huge success.

Corporate Office Volunteers to Plant

Savage Company, a national corporation headquartered in Utah, had their annual conference in New York City. Over 400 employees attended and were required to break into smaller groups and participate in volunteer projects throughout the city. One group planted two gardens at Met Council’s housing site located on East 77th Street in Manhattan. The volunteers were enthusiastic and highly educated in planting! Not only did they volunteer their morning with Met Council, but they also donated $1000 to the Met Council Volunteer Department! We thank the Savage employees for all their hard work!

Friends Come Together to Volunteer

A few weeks ago, Tamar Snyder contacted the Met Council volunteer department because her friends wanted to participate in a volunteer project. The group of friends met at Met Council’s main office one evening and put Shabbat packages together for our clients at the JCC of Canarsie. The packages included kippot, bisamin, picture frames, candles, and kiddish cups. All the items were donated and given to Met Council by different volunteer groups. Thanks again to Tamar Snyder and her friends for putting these packages together.

If you and your friends want to a fun activity to do this summer, please contact the Met Council volunteer department to set up a project.

Kick Off your Summer with Volunteering

Gardening and Planting…
We would like to beautify Met Council’s low income housing sites with Mother Nature. Volunteers will be getting down and dirty while planting flowers, shrubs, herbs, veggies, and more!

Spend an afternoon Painting…
In Jamaica Queens, Met Council owns a homeless and domestic violence shelter. The BABY room in this shelter needs to be painted. This is a great activity that a small group of friends or a family could participate in.

A Dinner & Bingo…
Help serve a catered dinner to seniors at one of our low income senior residences in Brooklyn. After dinner, volunteers will also set up and play Bingo with the seniors!