At Giva we search for organizations, large and small, that are doing a great job of changing the world around them for the better; and we are pleased to salute them here.
Do you know who has been helping people in your very own community? Volunteers of America is a nonprofit touching the lives of over 2 million people in our own backyards.
Most often it is the people with the least representation, fewest opportunities, and the smallest voice who need the most assistance. Volunteers of America's volunteers are committed to serving people who are most in need.
Established in 1896, the founders of Volunteers of America pledged to "Go wherever we are needed and do whatever comes to hand," and the organization remains committed to this goal.
At its core, Volunteers of America's foundation rests on the notion that education is as much a necessity as it is a right, and as such, every child deserves the opportunity for academic success. One of Volunteers of America's current programs includes Operation Backpack, which provides backpacks and school supplies to local students in July. By giving tools necessary for success, this nonprofit is encouraging the education of at-risk and homeless youth. Volunteers for America is always accepting donations at any point of the school year.
This organization also arranges free birthday parties, another aspect of a homeless child's life that goes unnoticed, to brighten their childhood. Break out your party hats, because "Birthday in a Box" can be created with all birthday essentials and simply mailed to their New York office at 340 West 85th Street, New York, NY 10024. Or you can join the party yourself.
You can organize a drive, brighten a birthday, and change the future of children and adults in your own community! For a comprehensive list of ways to get involved, see https://www.voa-gny.org/get-involved.