Volunteer This Week!

Many of us volunteer weekly and many of us don't.  If you're anything like me you want to do every single opportunity that comes your way and then you realize that they all conflict with prior engagements.  I've been doing some reading on the surge of volunteerism after September 11, 2001 (blood bank drives, monetary donations, etc) and the anual urge to volunteer around this time.

We volunteer for all different reasons.  We volunteer to make others happy, we volunteer to make ourselves feel good.  We volunteer because we feel a sense of community and we want to give back especially in times like September 11th, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukah when we really feel culturally thankful for what we have in our lives- food, shelter, family, friends, and the like.  So whether you are volunteering to remember a loved one, to make September 11th a little different than the 10th or 12th, or because you simply volunteer on Tuesdays and tomorrow is a Tuesday, here are some things that you can do in the New York City area this week.  No one is questioning your motivations, we can get into that later if it's something you're interested in grappling with.  But tomorrow join me in helping the New York, or Boston, or DC, or, LA, or Jerusalem, or Tel Aviv community in the spirit of remembrance and always working towards a brighter future.  Sunday night marks Rosh Hashannah, the Jewish New Year, so let us strive for a year where giving- time, energy, thought, or money- is part of our daily lives.

• Donate Blood at the New York Blood Center
• Make Sandwiches for the homeless at JTS- 2nd floor Unterburg 12:15-12:45
• Fold Clothes for the homeless at JTS- 2nd floor Unterburg 12:15-1pm
• Find an opportunity in your area through 9/11 Volunteer Match
• Find inspiration from this website, Birthday Spirit, my friend from high school created for those whose birthdays are on September 11th.

Of course if you have other opportunities or suggestions (or just comments), post them in the comments below to share!