Big Hearts in the Big Apple: Finding Your Volunteer Match

Summary

Podcast Title: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart
Episode: Big Hearts in the Big Apple: Finding Your Volunteer Match
Release Date: December 23, 2024
Description:
In this holiday-themed episode of ALL OF IT, host Alison Stewart engages with Supreet Soluja, the Executive Director of New York Cares, to explore the myriad ways New Yorkers can give back to their community. The conversation delves into various volunteer opportunities, personal stories from volunteers, and the profound impact of community service during the festive season.

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Introduction to Volunteering During the Holidays

[00:18] Alison Stewart:
Alison opens the episode by highlighting the spirit of the holidays as an ideal time to give back. She emphasizes the diverse forms of volunteer work, from delivering meals to supporting local nonprofits, and introduces Supreet Soluja as the guest who mobilizes over 30,000 volunteers through New York Cares.

[00:59] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet expresses her delight in being on the show, setting the stage for a discussion on the importance of volunteerism during the holiday season.

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The Importance of Volunteering, Especially During the Holidays

[01:34] Alison Stewart:
Alison invites listeners to share their volunteer experiences and questions Supreet on the significance of volunteering during the holidays.

[01:34] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet underscores the myriad challenges faced by individuals and society, advocating that many issues can be addressed locally through everyday acts of kindness. She states, "It feels great to be part of a solution. It feels great to help someone who may be on a hard time" ([01:34]).

[02:16] Alison Stewart:
Alison poses a fundamental question for potential volunteers: How can someone start volunteering if they're unsure where to begin?

[02:25] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet provides practical advice, directing listeners to the New York Cares website where they can find thousands of projects across 400+ nonprofits. She elaborates on the streamlined process to match volunteers with suitable opportunities, emphasizing the fulfillment volunteers derive from their contributions: "I'll hear from our volunteers over and over again is how good it feels, how it fulfills something in them that they felt like they were missing before" ([03:37]).

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Ensuring Confidence and Preparedness for New Volunteers

[04:19] Alison Stewart:
Alison inquires about how newcomers to volunteerism can feel prepared and confident when they first engage.

[04:31] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet advises volunteers to approach their roles with an open mind, open heart, and a "can-do" attitude. She reassures them that any specific requirements, such as attire or tools, will be communicated beforehand, fostering a sense of preparedness and confidence: "If you have those three things, you're set" ([04:31]).

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Real Stories from Volunteers

1. Ray from New Brunswick, New Jersey

[05:16] Supreet Soluja:
Alison shares a personal reflection from her own volunteering experience, segueing into listener stories.

[05:21] Ray:
Ray, an 88-year-old volunteer, discusses his involvement with Interfaith Rise, a program aiding over 800 immigrant families from countries like Afghanistan and Syria. He details his role in providing transportation, setting up homes, delivering Christmas presents, and offering ongoing support: "It's a very satisfying job" ([06:10]).

2. Carol from Lido Beach

[07:06] Miriam:
Miriam highlights her work with the Street Vendor Project, advocating for policies to support street vendors and organizing community events like scavenger hunts to bolster their businesses.

3. Ralph from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey

[11:22] Ralph:
Ralph shares his decade-long experience leading seated Tai Chi classes for visually impaired citizens through the New Jersey Blind Citizens Association. He emphasizes the transformative impact of creative programs and the profound talent of the visually impaired community: "One of the most stunning things is I've seen their artwork, and it compares with anything I've seen at the Museum of Modern Art" ([12:14]).

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Highlighting Diverse Volunteer Opportunities

1. Therapeutic Horse Lessons

[08:18] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet introduces a unique volunteer opportunity with Gallup NYC in Queens, where volunteers assist in preparing and assisting riders in therapeutic horse lessons for individuals with special needs: "It's just an all around great experience" ([08:21]).

2. Mission Vet Check

[09:01] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet explains Mission Vet Check, a collaboration with the City Department of Veterans Services, where volunteers perform wellness checks and provide emotional support to veterans. In the past year, volunteers made over 16,000 calls and referred over 2,000 veterans to additional services: "It's a real way to honor people who've served our country and support them" ([09:01]).

3. Volunteer Income Tax Preparation

[13:21] Supreet Soluja:
This program partners with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistant to help low-income individuals prepare their taxes. Volunteers, regardless of their financial background, contribute to over $6 million in returns annually: "If I can help one person have more money in their pocket who really needs it, I can feel great" ([13:21]).

4. America Needs You

[14:47] Amy:
Amy discusses the America Needs You program, which mentors first-generation and low-income students by pairing them with industry professionals. This nationwide initiative helps students develop essential skills and secure internships: "It's looking for professionals to mentor in different industries" ([15:27]).

5. College Access Program

[16:36] Supreet Soluja:
Supreet elaborates on a program that pairs NYC public school students with volunteers for SAT prep, college applications, and financial aid assistance. She highlights the program's role in promoting upward mobility and fostering long-term volunteer relationships: "Kids come back and sometimes volunteer with us just like the Last Speaker" ([16:36]).

6. Senior Prom for Senior Citizens

[17:42] Supreet Soluja:
Volunteers help organize proms for senior citizens, including decorating, serving food, and chaperoning. This program aims to bring joy and foster connections among vulnerable populations: "Helping folks who are in vulnerable populations stay connected and have joy and live vibrant lives" ([17:48]).

7. Park Revitalization

[18:30] Supreet Soluja:
Volunteers engage in revitalizing community parks by planting, pruning, cleaning, and painting. This initiative focuses on under-resourced parks, enhancing green spaces that contribute to residents' well-being: "It's a great way to have physicality and see a transformation of a space that you literally had a hand in" ([18:39]).

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Community Voices and Final Thoughts

Listener Testimonials:

• Texas:
  "Whenever we see a piece of litter on the ground, we notice how it takes away from the general beauty. I think volunteering is similar..." ([19:19])

[19:35] Listener:
Texas emphasizes the cumulative impact of individual volunteer efforts in enhancing community beauty and well-being.

Supreet Soluja's Closing Remarks:

[19:42] Supreet Soluja:
She encourages listeners to explore volunteering opportunities at newyorkcares.org, assuring that there's a suitable match for everyone: "Check us out newyorkcares.org I'm sure we have a match for you" ([19:42]).

[19:48] Listener:
Expresses gratitude towards Supreet and the listeners for their participation.

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Conclusion

In this heartwarming episode of ALL OF IT, Alison Stewart and Supreet Soluja illuminate the diverse and impactful volunteer opportunities available in New York City. From supporting veterans and immigrants to revitalizing parks and mentoring students, the episode underscores the essence of community service, especially during the holiday season. Through personal stories and detailed program insights, listeners are inspired to find their volunteer match and contribute to making New York City an even greater place to live.

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For More Information:
Visit newyorkcares.org to explore volunteer opportunities and make a meaningful impact in your community.

Transcript

[Listener Support]

Listener support, WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. As the holidays approach, there is no better time to give back and make a difference in the lives of others. Whether it's delivering meals, collecting coats, or supporting local nonprofits. Profits, every act of kindness counts. Today we're joined by Supreet Soluja, the executive director of New York Cares, New York City's largest volunteer management organization. Supreet leaves the charge in mobilizing more than 30,000 volunteers to support a variety of community needs across the city. From helping you find a volunteer opportunity to offering ideas for making meaningful impact. This season, she's here to show us how we can all give back. Supreet, welcome to the show.

[Supreet Soluja]

Thanks, Allison. I'm delighted to be here, listeners.

[Alison Stewart]

We'd love for you to participate. What does giving back mean to you during the holidays? Have you ever participated in a coat drive or volunteered a food pantry? Tell us about your experience. How do you choose to make a difference in your community? Are there opportunities that you would like to tell others about? Give us a call, 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. Or you can hit us up on social media at all of it. Wnyc. Why do you believe volunteering is so important, especially around the holidays?

[Supreet Soluja]

Well, you know, there are so many challenges we're facing right now, right, as individuals and as a society. And it's interesting because so many things can actually be solved at the local level by everyday people like you and me, you know, and it just takes an act to take your intent and put it into action to make a difference. And the thing about it is it feels great. It feels great to be part of a solution. It feels great to help someone who may be on a hard time. And there are just so many easy ways to take a small action or a large action and make our city the city we know it can be.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm going to ask the simplest question. What advice do you have for someone who wants to volunteer but really isn't even sure where to begin?

[Supreet Soluja]

Yeah, I would say I get it right? We look at all these big problems and we ask ourselves, like, what could I possibly do to solve something? I mean, how could I spend two hours of my time and it be meaningful in some way? So I get that sort of what to do. I want to do something. Well, I would say the simplest thing to do is go to our website, newyorkcares.org what you'll find there is thousands of projects that you can do. We partner with over 400 nonprofits across the city to design programming that an everyday New Yorker can show up for a couple of hours and make a difference. The programming has been designed in collaboration with those nonprofits so that what you do actually moves them forward in their mission. So check out the website. You can sort by type of issue, area you care about. You can sort by geography if there's a burrow that you care about, or day and time of day because you have a specific window. What I would say is once you make that first step, if you don't know where to start, it's easy from there. Actually, there's someone who will reach out to you, someone we call a team leader, our super volunteers, if you would, and sort of make sure you're prepared to show up day of. And then you'll be joined by, you know, what looks like a casting call straight out of New York City. New Yorkers from different walks of life and different neighborhoods as they come together to do something meaningful. And what I hear from our volunteers over and over again is how good it feels, how it fulfills something in them that they felt like they were missing before. Whether that's because they were feeling lonely or they were concerned about what was happening in our city and they wanted to get involved.

[Alison Stewart]

One thing I wonder, for people who are new to volunteering and to volunteerism, how can they feel prepared and confident when they show up?

[Supreet Soluja]

Yeah, I think the most important things are to show up with an open mind, an open heart, and a can do attitude. If you have those three things, you're set. If there's anything specific you need to wear, you need to bring, you'll be told before you show up. But really with those three elements, you can feel confident that you're going to make a difference and you too are going to feel different through the process.

[Alison Stewart]

I can remember when I volunteered, not.

[Listener]

This Thanksgiving, last Thanksgiving.

[Alison Stewart]

And I remember the woman said, we meet our clients where they are.

[Supreet Soluja]

Yep.

[Alison Stewart]

And that just helped me through the whole morning, all of Thanksgiving morning. We meet our clients where they are. And that was really easy to hold on to.

[Supreet Soluja]

Yeah, I love that.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Ray from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Hi, Ray.

[Ray]

Hey, how are you doing?

[Alison Stewart]

Doing well.

[Ray]

Okay. I'm 88 years old and I volunteered on some. Some level my whole life. The particular thing I'm volunteering with now is called Interfaith Rise. It's a program that was spearheaded by a minister in Highland Park, New Jersey, Seth Caperdale he. About 10 or 15 years ago, he got this idea. We need to do something for families that are coming in from places like Afghanistan or Syria, wherever, all over the world. Actually, this last year they have settled over 800 families.

[Listener]

Wow.

[Ray]

And the project works by starts with going to the airport to pick up the family, driving them to their apartment or whatever, making sure the apartment is full of all the things you need, furniture, bedding and knives and forks and whatever. And then staying with them for. For the next at least a year to provide them with English language skills, to provide them with medical. I'm a driver, so I drive wherever they tell me to drive them. And I Yesterday I delivered Christmas presents which was fun. Every kid under 16 got a special present wrapped and so forth again by other volunteers.

[Listener]

That's so nice.

[Alison Stewart]

You know what, Ray?

[Listener]

I'm going to dive in. Congratulations. Thank you so much for helping people who need you. Let's talk to Carol calling in from Lido Beach. Hi, Carol.

[Supreet Soluja]

Hi. How are you doing?

[Listener]

Great. What are you volunteering? Where are you volunteering?

[Ray]

Well, I volunteer Rockville center and something called the EOC, which was founded in.

[Supreet Soluja]

1968 by Lyndon Baines Johnson. It's called the Economic Opportunity Commission. They have all kinds of things for little kids, big kids, seniors. But because I am bilingual, I volunteer at the food pantry which comes on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

[Ray]

And I help people navigate the paperwork.

[Supreet Soluja]

If they need it and help them.

[Ray]

With whatever it is that I can.

[Supreet Soluja]

Be helping them with.

[Ray]

It's a very satisfying job.

[Alison Stewart]

Carol, thank you so much for calling in. My guest is Sapreet Soluja. She's from New York Cares, the executive director. We are talking about volunteer opportunities. What does volunteering mean to you during the holiday? Have you ever participated in a coat drive or volunteered at a food pantry? Tell us your experience. 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. Okay, supreet, let's talk about some of the opportunities available through New York Cares. Therapeutic horse lessons.

[Supreet Soluja]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Wow, that sounds interesting.

[Supreet Soluja]

So amazing. We have this incredible partner in Queens called Gallup nyc and you can actually vol to help prepare and assist riders. They use these therapy horses with adults and kids who have special needs. And it's actually a coveted project. People love it. They love engaging with the clients, they love the horses. It's just an all around great experience.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk about Mission Vet Check. Sharing vital resources with New York City veterans. Yeah. How do volunteers support veterans through Mission Vetcheck?

[Supreet Soluja]

We think a lot about veterans and what they've sacrificed on our collective behalf for our collective freedom. And it's wonderful to have that sentiment. But it's better yet to do something to support someone who's come home. And so, in collaboration with the city Department of Veterans Services, our volunteers are making phone calls to veterans to check on them, wellness checks, you know, emotional support to thank them for their service and also to remind them about all the services that are available to them and make any referrals. And it's just a wonderful opportunity to be able to talk to somebody who's done so much for our country. And our volunteers in less than a year have made over 16,000 phone calls and helped refer over 2,000 veterans for additional services. And it's great. We train people up. Our volunteers find it incredibly fulfilling and we think it's a real way to honor people who've served our country and support them.

[Listener]

Let's talk to Miriam from Manhattan. Hi, Miriam. Thank you so much for calling, all of it.

[Miriam]

Hi, it's my pleasure. I'm so happy you're doing this. I work with the Street Vendor Project and I also work with new migrants in the city with the Street Vendor Project. They work directly with street vendors and advocate for policies to better support businesses. And I am on the planning committee for their annual scavenger hunt, which they started a few years ago during the pandemic, to get people, you know, out of our homes and slowly getting just out and supporting the street vendors that were, you know, their businesses were really, really hurt. And so the next scavenger hunt is slated for April. And it's a lot of fun. People can get together, you know, their friends and family to form teams. It's great for people who are really competitive and we make the challenges really engaging and fun too. And with the new migrants, there is a fundraiser right now for Jeremy Kalani, the 17 year old who was murdered a couple weeks ago. His family really needs help and they haven't had a proper funeral. And if people want to help, they can go on, give butter and look up Yeremi Kalani and donate.

[Listener]

Thanks so much for the call. Let's talk to Ralph from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. Hi, Ralph.

[Ralph]

Hi. How are you doing?

[Listener]

Great.

[Ralph]

Well, I have been leading tai chi classes for around 12 to 14 years, and one of my students recommended I contact the New Jersey Blind Citizens association, which is like Leonardo, New Jersey, not far from Atlantic Highlands. And they have been. It's an association that's been there since 1910, established by four blind guys who built this very interesting house right on the bay so they could learn to live independently. And from that, this association has been started. So once a month, I've been leading seated Tai chi classes for blind citizens. Now, this organization provides free classes, whether they're art classes, singing classes, writing classes, and they provide all the classes for free, plus free transportation to the Blind Citizens building there. And I will tell you that it's astounding when you work with people who are visually impaired. And one of the most stunning things is I've seen their artwork, and it compares with anything I've seen at the Museum of Modern Art or the Metropolitan and a very different sense of the world because they are visually impaired.

[Alison Stewart]

That's a beautiful place to stop. Thank you so much, Ralph, for calling in. I'm talking to Sapreet Soluja where you're talking about big hearts in the Big Apple. Finding your volunteer match. Executive director of New York Cares. All right, this one is really interesting to me. Volunteer income tax preparation. This is a really interesting place where you can volunteer.

[Supreet Soluja]

Absolutely. And so, I mean, most of us are not too excited to do our taxes. And we know that to have someone prepare them for us can cost hundreds of dollars. And so we actually recruit and train volunteers to do tax support for low income individuals and families. Right. Including seniors, those with disabilities. And they help them prepare their taxes. And you don't have to be an accountant. You don't have to have that financial background. We do this program in partnership with an IRS program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Assistance. Excuse me. And last year, New York Cares volunteers were responsible for more than $6 million in returns. And I've met some incredible volunteers who have done this program, some with accounting backgrounds and some not. And they just said if I can help one person have more money in their pocket who really needs it, I can feel great. So it's another terrific program and the season is nearly upon us.

[Listener]

Got a Texas says I volunteer at Met Council on Housing Tenants Rights Hotline. It allows me to learn more about my rights and help other New Yorkers stay in their homes. I do it one day a week for about three hours and I learn so much. Let's also talk to Amy from Egg Harbor Township. Hi, Amy.

[Listener Support]

Hello. Hi. I'm calling in, please. Thank you for taking my call. I'm calling in to speak about a program called America Needs you. And it's a really great program. I am an alumni of and hoping to volunteer with soon. But essentially what the program does is it provides an Opportunity for first generation and low income students to be paired with mentors who are in the industry that they are trying to go into once they graduate. So how the program assists is by providing workshops where these mentors and students, second sophomore college students, the program is sophomore year through junior year, but these students for those two years are paired with these mentors and they are working on elevator pitches, resume development for their specific industry. And it also provides like roundtables where they are able to have interviews and potentially internship with companies in the industry that they're hoping to go into. And American News U is looking for volunteers. So it is a program that is based in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and a few other states. California. So it is a nationwide program. Yeah. So you can definitely check it out on. It has a website, America needs you. It's on LinkedIn and it's looking for professionals in different industries. Business, political science, computer science, you know, whatever the industry, they're looking for professionals to mentor.

[Alison Stewart]

It sounds really great, Amy. I'm going to dive in for one second. It's great. I love that you're supporting them because I did want to get back to Supreet because we have another college based course that you can help. College College Access Program. It's called. Right.

[Supreet Soluja]

That's absolutely right. And so we know that higher education is a great pathway to upward mobility not just for the student, but for the whole family. We have a program where we pair New York City students in the public school system with trained volunteers and tutors and mentors. And they do everything from supporting them through SAT prep, their college application process, financial aid assistance, really just guiding them through. So many of these kids are the first in their family to consider going to college and they're not sure if it's for them. And through volunteering you can help them see their full potential and guide them through the process. We hear from volunteers all the time that this is one of their most fulfilling experiences and the results speak for themselves. Kids come back and sometimes volunteer with us just like the, the, the Last Speaker. When you're part of a program that changes your life, you want to pay it forward. It's a great way to really help a student and their whole family lift.

[Listener]

Let's talk about senior prom with senior citizens. That sounds, that sounds like a lot of fun.

[Supreet Soluja]

So much fun. So in the spring we work with a number of our partners where we have regular, regular program with seniors and we put on proms. Super fun. You might say, well, I don't know if I want to get trained on tax prep. And I don't know if I can make many weeks of commitment, but I bet you can show up for a few hours, help decorate, serve food, and chaperone a prom of seniors, complete with a crowned prom king and prom queen. Truly delightful. Helping folks who are in vulnerable populations stay connected and have joy and live vibrant lives. So much fun.

[Listener]

And finally, park revitalization. How do volunteers help ensure that these spaces remain accessible? And welcome to all. We've got about a minute left.

[Supreet Soluja]

Yeah. You know, there's so many parks in New York City that get a lot of resources and a lot of time. We really focus on community parks that are getting less resources. And you literally get out there and you help plant, you help prune, you help clean up, paint fences and really protect our green spaces throughout the city. Because we know that when you have access to green spaces, so many of your life and health outcomes go up. It's a great way to have physicality and see a transformation of a space that you literally had a hand in. And it feels great to be outside and doing something for our environment.

[Listener]

Got a Texas says whenever we see a piece of litter on the ground, we notice how it takes away from the general beauty. I think volunteering is similar and that a gesture can feel insignificant but adds the overall beauty in ways that you cannot imagine while you were performing it.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, I love that.

[Listener]

Isn't that great? My guest is Sapreet Saluja. She is the executive director of New York Cares. You want to shout out the website real quick?

[Supreet Soluja]

Yeah. Check us out newyorkcares.org I'm sure we have a match for you.

[Listener]

Sapreet, thanks for joining us. We really appreciate it.

[Supreet Soluja]

Thank you so much. Happy Holidays.

[Ralph]

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