Community groups, mutual aid collectives and nonprofits across the city are preparing holiday meals, offering emergency support and distributing essentials — and many could use help, given a recent rise in demand.
Thanksgiving is a high-pressure time for service organizations, especially in a year marked by budget cuts and SNAP benefit disruptions. Whether you’re able to deliver holiday meals in person, make a call to a homebound senior or simply donate, here are ways to pitch in across the five boroughs.
QUEENS
Citymeals on Wheels at a SNAP Center — meal prep, serve and socialize with older neighbors
The Short Thanksgiving Story:
Citymeals on Wheels ensures homebound older New Yorkers receive festive meals and meaningful human connection during Thanksgiving week. Volunteers pack or deliver meals or make compassionate check-in calls, helping older neighbors feel seen and cared for during a holiday when many are alone.
- Where: 80-45 Winchester Blvd., Queens Village
- When: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Register: https://citymeals.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/holidayvolunteers/event/cda55faa-6d28-47ec-8b9c-7c49d6705268
Support student futures at P.S. 148 — Invest in NYC public school students college and career futures
The Short Thanksgiving Story: Epicenter NYC’s own Carolina Valencia is raising funds for third graders at her former school in East Elmhurst. Your contribution will go directly into scholarship accounts for the school’s third graders, for their future college or career training needs.
- Where: P.S. 148, 89-02 32nd Ave, East Elmhurst
- When: Through Dec. 15
- Donate: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/team/ps-148-queens-alum-carolina-v-valencia-is-supporting-the-college-and-career-futures-of-third-graders-attending-her-alma-mater-in-east-elmhurst
Tip from Carolina: Consider contacting the parent coordinator of the NYC public school you attended or that your kids attend to see if they need volunteers or donations for holiday activities.
Support food access at Bard High School Early College Queens
The Short Thanksgiving Story: Schools across the city are holding food drives and offering food pantries during and beyond the Thanksgiving holiday. Bard High School Early College Queens has reached out to grocery store chains to partner with them to provide Thanksgiving meals and is looking for partners to help fund their student government-sponsored food drive.
- Where: 30-20 Thomson Ave., 6th Floor, in Long Island City
- Support: Reach out to the school office at (718) 361-3133 if you know of anyone who might like to partner to help fund the food drive or to volunteer.
BROOKLYN
Heights and Hills — holiday meal deliveries for older adults
The Short Thanksgiving Story: For the past four years, this aging-services nonprofit has delivered Thanksgiving meals to older adults across Brooklyn, reaching homebound clients who are especially isolated during the holiday. This year, the organization continues its tradition in collaboration with local partners, ensuring that vulnerable clients receive nourishing meals and connection on Thanksgiving Day.
Note: Due to an overwhelming response, Heights and Hills is now at capacity for Thanksgiving delivery volunteers.
• Donate: If you would like to donate a pie, click here.
• Where/When: All pies should be dropped off to the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging, 463A 7th St. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 12-4 p.m.
To donate in support of future client programs, click here.
Questions: email volunteer@heightsandhills.org.
More info: https://www.heightsandhills.org/annual-thanksgiving-dinner/
MANHATTAN
Citymeals on Wheels — Thanksgiving week meal prep and deliveries
While some volunteer shifts — such as Thanksgiving Day meal packing and delivering meals by foot— are filled up, as of the time of publication, Citymeals is still seeking volunteers for these roles in Manhattan:
- University Settlement — walk and deliver holiday meals (2.5 hours)
- Where: 189 Allen St.
- When: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Where: 189 Allen St.
- Carter Burden Luncheon Club — prep, pack, walk and deliver holiday meals (2.5 hours)
- Where: 351 East 74th St.
- When: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Where: 351 East 74th St.
More info / Volunteer registration: https://www.citymeals.org/holiday-volunteering
Donate: https://donate.citymeals.org/page/74448/donate/1
Heart in Harlem — meal prep and community service
The Short Thanksgiving Story: This Harlem-based initiative brings neighbors together to cook, prep and serve hot Thanksgiving dinners. They also accept ingredient donations, so community members can contribute both labor and food.
- Where: Harlem (exact address to be shared by organizers)
- When: Thanksgiving morning
- Volunteer: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRE7FsjjWCe/
East Harlem’s Art of Laundry — emergency fundraiser
The Short Thanksgiving Story: After a fire last week forced The Art of Laundry to close, the owner and her team lost their livelihoods overnight. The community is raising money to help workers cover living expenses and to help with repairs so the laundromat can reopen.
- Where: 2337 First Ave., East Harlem
- Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sindys-team-after-east-harlem-fire
Gobble Gobble Give NYC — Harlem meal assembly and donation sorting
The Short Thanksgiving Story: Volunteers converge at the Apollo Stages in Harlem to assemble thousands of Thanksgiving meals. Everyone brings a prepared dish; organizers also collect clothing, toys, toiletries and nonperishables. Kids can take part in a Holiday Workshop to make cards and crafts for the families receiving food.
- Where: Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, 233 West 125th St.
- When: Thanksgiving Day, one-hour shifts from 8 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
- What to Bring: A ready-to-serve Thanksgiving-style dish (sliced turkey especially needed), non-perishables, clothing, toys toiletries
- More Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ4jDPkjRnR/
- Questions: GobbleGobbleGiveNYC@gmail.com
St. Francis Friends – prep and serve Thanksgiving meals
The Short Thanksgiving Story: This nonprofit works with New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and serious mental health conditions. For its high-demand Thanksgiving service, you can help run the kitchen, serve meals, pour drinks, cut or serve desserts, clear or reset tables or do light clean-up afterward.
- Where: You can choose to volunteer at one of the following residences:
- 125 E 24th St.
- 155 W 22nd St.
- 148 8th Ave.
- Sign up: stfrancisfriends.org
- Questions? Email CByrne@stfrancisfriends.org
THE BRONX
Norwood Community Library — contribute hot food or donate
The Short Thanksgiving Story: For a decade, this book exchange program has provided free books to Bronx residents. On Wednesday, Nov. 26, it will pair that tradition with a Thanksgiving‑style event, offering 100 servings of hot soup, pantry items and a cozy space inside the Museum of Bronx History.
- Where: 3266 Bainbridge Ave.
- When: Wednesday, Nov. 26, 5–7 p.m.
- Donate: https://buymeacoffee.com/norwoodcl
- Note: Volunteer slots are mostly full, but neighbors can still contribute hot food or pantry items
- More Info: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ7sRXHEbI4/
CITYWIDE / MULTI‑BOROUGH
Citymeals on Wheels — virtual holiday callers
The Short Thanksgiving Story: The Citymeals program also coordinates volunteers to make compassionate check-in calls to homebound older adults on or before Thanksgiving Day.
- Where: Remote
- When: Flexible through Nov. 27
- Register: Click these links to sign up for Wednesday and Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) slots.
God’s Love We Deliver — medically tailored Thanksgiving meals
The Short Thanksgiving Story: God’s Love We Deliver prepares and delivers thousands of medically tailored meals on Thanksgiving. Their volunteers cook in the kitchen, pack holiday tote bags or pick up meals at distribution centers to deliver across the boroughs. The nonprofit works to ensure that people with serious illnesses aren’t left out during the holiday.
- While all Thanksgiving volunteer shifts have been filled, you can donate to sponsor a meal: $10 helps fund a Thanksgiving meal via their “Celebrate With a Plate” program.
Community food pantries across the city regularly need volunteers and/or donations to operate.
Here are just a few you can consider supporting:
- First Baptist Church in East Elmhurst, which is open on Saturdays
- The South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) food pantry in Flushing, which is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays
- New Roots Queens in Woodside, which is open on Fridays
- The Campaign Against Hunger, which serves centers in Brooklyn and Queens. Learn more about its Thanksgiving initiative.
- New York Common Pantry in East Harlem, which serves Wednesdays through Saturdays
Here’s where to find other food pantries you can support in the city.
Know of other initiatives seeking volunteers or donations around the Thanksgiving holidays? Drop us a line at hello@epicenter-nyc.com.
