Frequently Asked Questions | Hope for New York

Here are some frequently asked questions from our network, and our responses.

Donating | Volunteering | Don't Walk By | His Toy Store | Connecting With Us

DONATING

What are the ways I can donate or give funds to Hope for New York?

Visit our Donate page for a full list of the ways you can give (online, check, ACH, stocks and securities, etc.).

Where can I donate (specific items)?

HFNY doesn’t directly accept donated goods or in-kind donations. Instead, fill out this In-Kind Donations form for HFNY to evaluate. If there is a good fit with an affiliate, you will be connected with the affiliate to receive the in-kind donation. Alternatively, you can reach out directly to these affiliates: City Relief (which helps unhoused neighbors find temporary living situations), The Bowery Mission, World Vision (which has a warehouse in The Bronx), Urban Hope (on Staten Island), and The Salvation Army (which has locations throughout the city where you can drop off donations).

I need help and access to certain resources. Where can I find them?

Our affiliates are equipped with resources to serve you. Please contact The Bowery Mission, City Relief, The Salvation Army for further assistance. You can also look to our Resource Card to find different locations around the city that provide food, shelter, clothing, medical assistance, and more.

VOLUNTEERING

How can I start volunteering on my own?

The best place to find volunteer opportunities is on our Volunteer page: hfny.org/volunteer. Use the filter to narrow down opportunities by date, type of activity, population served, etc. Before signing up to volunteer, you will need to register on our site (hfny.org/user/login) and create a profile.

You can also visit our Urgent Needs page for a round-up of our most pressing needs by the week/month. If you would like to receive a weekly email with Urgent Needs opportunities, sign up on this page.

How do I volunteer with a friend and/or family member?

Find a volunteer opportunity either on our Volunteer page or our Urgent Needs page. If you already have a Volunteer profile, your friend and/or family member will need to register and create a separate profile. If you do not have a profile, you will both need to register separately on our site and create a profile. Please note: If your friend and/or family member does not have an email, you are welcome to register them a "guest."

Do you have any family-friendly volunteer opportunities?

If you want a list of family-friendly opportunities, navigate to our Volunteer page and choose "My Family is" on the first line of our volunteer filter. Then continue choosing options from our other filters before a list is populated. For the opportunities listed, you can register your child as a guest.

How can I arrange to volunteer as a large group (10+ people)?

Some of our volunteer opportunities are able to accommodate a group that's less than 10 people. Otherwise, for group volunteering, the best option is to reach out to our affiliates directly to discuss setting up a volunteer opportunity. Below is a list of our partners that could potentially accommodate your group. You are also welcome to look through our list of non-profit partners here and contact them directly to inquire about opportunities for corporate groups.

Is there an age limit to volunteer?

Different organizations have different age limits. Age limits depend on the volunteer opportunity, but the majority are for adults ages 18 years and older. If an affiliate has an age limit requirement, they will usually note this on their volunteer opportunity pages.

Are there any restrictions to volunteering?

Most of our volunteer opportunities are open to anyone who has the heart to serve any communities and neighborhoods in our city. In addition to age limits (as noted above), some of our affiliates may have their own specific requirements based on client needs and programs.

How can I volunteer to receive court-mandated community service/hours?

Unfortunately, HFNY does not accept volunteers who are looking to fulfill court mandated service hours. However, we suggest you reach out directly to specific affiliates, such as The Bowery Mission, Graffiti, City Relief, The Salvation Army.

Where do I find a holiday volunteering opportunity?

The best place to find volunteer opportunities on our Holiday page. You can also use the filter on our main Volunteer page to narrow down opportunities by date, or click on the "Search" icon and type "Thanksgiving" or "Christmas" into the search box for holiday-specific opportunities. Before signing up to volunteer, you'll have to register with us here, and then you're good to go!

DON'T WALK BY

How do I sign up to volunteer with Don't Walk By?

Visit www.hfny.org/dwb to register to volunteer.

Can I sign up to serve Don't Walk By with a group?

We do not have the option for volunteers to register in groups, however you may sign up with another volunteer during registration. If you have a friend that you would like to serve with we encourage you to sign up as a pair. If you have a large group we suggest all volunteers sign up for the same Saturday outreach, and if possible volunteers may be grouped together at the when you arrive but we cannot guarantee that all volunteers in a group will be together.

Is there an age requirement for Don't Walk By?

All volunteers for Don't Walk By must be at least 18 years of age.

HIS TOY STORE

How do I volunteer with His Toy Store?

Find ways to serve our affiliate partners at multiple His Toy Store sites by visiting hfny.org/holiday.

Can I donate toys to His Toy Store?

HFNY doesn’t directly accept donated goods or in-kind donations for His Toy Store. Instead, contact one of HFNY’s partner affiliates to determine where and how items should be donated. We recommend City Relief, The Bowery Mission, World Vision (which has a warehouse in The Bronx), The Salvation Army, and Urban Hope. You can find their locations on their website here.

I represent a school/organization/housing complex. How do I partner with you and/or become a recipient of toys from His Toy Store?

Due to limited resources, Hope For New York only partners with our affiliate organizations to run His Toy Store and provide toys to their communities. Examples of our partner affiliates can be found on our website.

If you do not have a connection with our affiliates but want to resource your (school/organization/housing complex), we recommend contacting Toys for Tots (to sign up for toys) or The Salvation Army (seasonal services: 212-337-7360).

CONNECTING WITH US

Do you represent a specific affiliate? (e.g. The Bowery Mission, New York City Rescue Mission, etc.)

Currently, we partner with nearly 70 affiliates across the five boroughs. While we support and work alongside them, we are separate organizations and do not represent them. If you have a specific question for an affiliate, please reach out to them directly. See our full list of affiliates.

I represent an organization that’s interested in becoming one of your affiliates. Where do I begin?

We have an application process for starting new affiliate relationships, which you can read about here. To apply, you are welcome to fill out the online application and a HFNY staff member will reach out to continue the process.

I represent a church that’s interested in becoming one of your church partners. Where do I begin?

We have an inquiry process for starting new church partnerships, which you can read about here. To inquire, you are welcome to fill out the online interest form and a HFNY staff member will follow up with you.

I represent a non-profit organization that is interested in applying for a grant. What are the steps?

Currently, we only provide grants to grant-eligible affiliates that we partner with. If your organization is interested in becoming one of our affiliates for a long-term partnership, fill out an online application form and a HFNY staff member will follow up with you.