A Season of Service: Making a Difference TogetherDecember Blog
As the leaves fall and the temperatures drop, the Department of Volunteer Services enters our busiest season—November through January. These months bring an outpouring of community involvement, as families teach their children the value of giving back, high school students earn their community service hours, and people of all ages step up to help during […]
Beautiful Art Feeds A Community (Literally!)
Looking for beautiful artwork to hang in your home and a great way to benefit your local community? We’re excited to announce Art for AID’s first Art Auction & Benefit. At Art for AID, our focus is on humanitarian aid for the Bronx and beyond and we are long-time partner of Riverdale Y. We are […]
The Humble Fork, Knife, and Spoon: A Service Project That Makes a Difference
In our bustling community center, it’s often the simplest things that create the biggest impact. One of our most needed projects is the humble utensil wrap—a simple collection of a fork, knife, and spoon wrapped together, ready to serve those in need. While this may seem modest, it plays a crucial role in ensuring that […]
Embracing Setbacks: Reflections on Community and Resilience
Not everything we set out to do goes as planned. Recently, we organized a major food pantry service project to honor the victims of 9/11—a project meant to bring our community together, support those in need, and reflect on the importance of service. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, logistics didn’t align, and we had to […]
Our community’s impact in July
In July, our community experienced a heartwarming connection between generations as young adults, ages 14 to 20, came together with our older adult members. Representing a rich tapestry of backgrounds and experiences, these young individuals sought to learn from the wisdom of our senior community members. Our younger teens, ages 14 to 16, dedicated their […]
Hot Volunteer Summer in Riverdale
Summer is here, bringing with it the heat of the sun, refreshing rain showers, and a whole lot of joy through our social impact programs. We started June on a high note by celebrating two outstanding volunteers, Ronnie and Adela, whose dedication has been truly inspiring. Alongside this, we’ve been actively recruiting new volunteers and […]
Celebrating Our Remarkable Community: A Tribute to Our Unsung Heroes
This May, we celebrated our dedicated members and volunteers who embody our community’s spirit. First and foremost, let’s applaud Ronnie Lesh, our data entry volunteer. Ronnie is being honored with the Community Service Award from Riverdale Y and the Outstanding Volunteerism Award from the UJA. Her dedication goes beyond the visible – she meticulously records […]
Our Volunteer’s April Impact
April was a bustling time at Riverdale Y. As the weather warmed up and nature came alive with blossoming trees and flowers, we saw the fruits of our hard work planted earlier in the year. Volunteers of all ages joined us for volunteer appreciation events. From 7-year-olds to seniors, people of diverse ages chatted, shared […]
Thank you to all our volunteers!
In recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Month this April, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the remarkable contributions made by our volunteers. As the Director of Volunteer Services for Riverdale Y, I am proud to share that over 300 volunteers have dedicated their time and effort to our mission of enriching the […]
Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness: 50 Acts of Service at Riverdale Y
February 17 was Random Acts of Kindness Day. In the spirit of giving back to our community, we set out to accomplish 50 Acts of Service, and I am overjoyed to report that we’ve been making significant strides toward that goal. From organizing food pantries to throwing memorable birthday parties, every act has been a […]