GrowNYC Volunteer Newsletter

 

GrowNYC Volunteer Newsletter

Hello Beloved GrowNYC Volunteers,

Thank you so much for volunteering your time and energy with GrowNYC, we truly appreciate your efforts in furthering our mission! I would like to bring our new Volunteer Feedback Form to your attention. Use this form to provide us with the following:

• Communicate feedback and share details about your experience volunteering with GrowNYC.

• Share ideas about we can improve your volunteer experience.

• Uplift and share experiences you had with the GrowNYC staff you interacted with while volunteering.

Fill out the Volunteer Feedback Form and let us know, please send me an email if you have any suggestions, questions or concerns!

Best,

Corey Wilkins

Lead Individual Volunteer Program Manager

Register for our March Virtual Volunteer Orientation

What's new: Interested in volunteering with GrowNYC? Join our online orientation where our Volunteer Program Manager will provide information about GrowNYC, local agriculture and food access, safety protocols, as well as current and upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Orientation is open to all, however, GrowNYC volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. The volunteer orientation is required to participate in our volunteer opportunities.

• Upcoming virtual orientation: Friday, March 15th, 5pm - 6pm (sign up)

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Ned, our spotlight volunteer of the month! Read the interview below to learn more about Ned.

1. How long have you been volunteering with GrowNYC?

I started volunteering with GrowNYC in late 2022, and it became one of my regular activities in the summer of 2023.

2. Tell us about yourself, what interests you and how do you spend your time?

I love learning about foodways, urban infrastructure and local history. I got a bike last fall, and have been enjoying exploring bike trails around and outside the city. I also just started taking mandolin lessons at a folk music school nearby.

3. Why did you decide to volunteer with GrowNYC?

When I moved to New York, I was thrilled to learn about food scrap the drop off at greenmarkets. I was looking for communities and groups to join, and thought it made perfect sense to volunteer with a service that I make ample use of. I've volunteered regularly at an urban farm in another city, and missed being among people who think deeply about food production. Also, this is the biggest city I've ever lived in and I was curious to learn about waste management in NYC.

4. What has been your favorite moment/memory volunteering with GrowNYC so far?

I so enjoy chatting with the GrowNYC staff and other volunteers at my regular site! It's hard to pick a memory of one particular conversation, but they're all so fun, wide-ranging and thought-provoking. It's also always fun to chat with food scrap dropoff regulars in the neighborhood, and to get to know the neighborhood dogs.

Stop 'N' Swap® Volunteer Opportunities

Stop 'N' Swaps® encourage reuse, build community, and reduce the waste NYC sends to landfills. By volunteering you will create an opportunity for people to share things they no longer need instead of throwing them away, and find things they do want without manufacturing, packaging, or transportation.

• As a volunteer, you will help receive, sort, and display the gently used items that people bring. You might also help keep areas neat, take pictures, or help promote some of the other great work this GrowNYC Zero Waste Program does!
  
  Saturday, March 16th - Brooklyn
  PS 9 The Sarah Smith Garnet School
  80 Underhill Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
  10:30am-4:30pm (sign up)
  
  Saturday, March 23rd - Manhattan
  St Mary's Church
  521 W 126th St, New York, NY 10027
  
  10:30am-4:30pm (sign up)

Sign up for the Stop 'N' Swap® Newsletter for updates on upcoming events!

Compost Volunteer Opportunities

Food scrap collection allows New Yorkers to take part in waste reduction and turn their food waste into compost to grow food and care for New York City parks and trees.

• As we await potential changes to our composting operation Food Scrap Drop Off volunteer opportunities will be posted on a bi weekly basis. Please do not hesitate to contact Cwilkins@grownyc.org if you have any questions

Volunteer Opportunities Include

Manhattan:
E 96th Street GM - Fridays (sign up)

97th Street GM - Fridays (sign up)

Columbia Uni GM - Sundays (sign up)

79th Street GM - Sundays (sign up)

Brooklyn:
Cortelyou (Flatbush) GM - Sundays (sign up)

7th Ave Sunset Park GM - Saturdays (sign up)

Bed-Stuy Farmstand - Fridays (sign up)

Fort Greene GM - Saturdays (sign up)

Grand Army Plaza GM - Saturdays (sign up)

Queens:
Jackson Heights GM - Sundays (sign up)

Forest Hills GM - Sundays (sign up)

Greenmarket Cooking Demonstration Volunteer Opportunities

Share your passion for cooking at the Greenmarket! Be in the mix by volunteering at your local Greenmarket helping the market manager with cooking demonstrations, promotional activities, customer support, farmer support, and more!

Queens:
Jackson Heights GM - Sundays (sign up)

Manhattan:
Inwood Gm - Saturdays (sign up)

Greenmarket Volunteer Opportunities

These events are outdoors, rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring a reusable water bottle! Sign up for one or more opportunities at the following Greenmarkets (GM):

Manhattan:
Columbia Uni GM - Sundays (sign up)

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer With GreenThumb’s Help a Garden Grow Program

GreenThumb community gardens are developed, led, and cared for by dedicated volunteer gardeners who critically upkeep them as public green spaces. This workday will support various projects at 400 Montauk Community Garden and help kickstart their growing season!

You can use this link to view a list of dates and time to volunteer at the 400 Montauk Community Garden. Please do not hesitate to contact Kyleen Sanchez (Kyleen.Sanchez@parks.nyc.gov) with any questions about GreenThumb volunteer opportunities!