January Volunteering Recap
From the Volunteer Director, Thank you to everyone who showed up for our MLK Day of Service. Your time, energy, and care made a real difference. The meal and diaper kits you packed are already reaching families who need them. That day was about more than assembling supplies. It was neighbors coming together, working side […]
Rooted in Action: The Season of Light and Thanks
As the year draws to a close, Riverdale Y glows with the warmth of community. In the past weeks, volunteers have served holiday meals, honored veterans, and filled our halls with music, laughter, and purpose. From the Sunday Market to our Thanksgiving celebration, every act of giving has reminded us how much brighter life becomes […]
Gratitude in Action
From the Volunteer Director: November is our month of “V’s” — veterans, volunteers, and vibrant community life. At the Riverdale Y, we give thanks for those who have served, those who give their time and care, and those who bring vitality to every gathering. This season reminds us that gratitude grows through connection. Each shared […]
September Volunteering Recap at Riverdale Y
From the Volunteer Director, As the sweetness of Rosh Hashanah lingers, we now turn our focus toward October and the power of civic engagement. No matter what party you support, one truth remains: our community is stronger when we each take part in choosing our leaders. Riverdale Y is proud to serve as an early […]
August Volunteering Recap at Riverdale Y
From the Volunteer Director, September still carries the warmth of summer, yet it also brings a cool freshness that signals new beginnings. It is the season of return: back to school, back to family traditions, back to the rhythm and energy that carry us into fall. At the Riverdale Y, we step into this season […]
July Volunteering Recap at Riverdale Y
From the Volunteer Director, Rooted in Action: Teens Building Community in Real Time While summer winds down, our teen interns are just hitting their stride. Every week, they show up—setting up the Sunday Market, selling cookies and snow cones, sharing stories with older adults, and learning what it means to build community by being a […]
June Volunteering Recap at Riverdale Y
Dear Volunteers, I am deeply grateful for the way you responded when we needed you most. At approximately 10:45 on Wednesday, June 25, we learned that we would need to shut down the building due to a water outage. By 11:00, you were already in motion. Some of you began taking down the lunch setup […]
May Volunteering Recap at Riverdale Y
From the Volunteer Director When Service becomes a Story On May 2, Riverdale Y had the privilege of hosting over 160 students and faculty from Riverdale Country School for a service day that spoke volumes—about compassion, responsibility, and the kind of values that truly shape a community. Together, students and teachers assembled more than 2,000 […]
Good Deeds Day…
From the Volunteer Director, As April approaches, I invite you to join us in celebrating Good Deeds Day on April 6—a day dedicated to making a meaningful impact, together. Good Deeds Day is a global movement that brings people from all walks of life to unite in the spirit of giving and service. Since 2007, […]
A Season of Renewal: Celebrating Community Action
As March arrives and the days grow longer, we welcome the first signs of spring—a time of renewal, hope, and continued dedication to our community. Though winter still lingers, our collective spirit remains unwavering, proving once again that kindness and action know no season. In February, we saw our youth step up in incredible ways. […]
Service, Justice and Hope on MLK’s Day of Service
From the Volunteer Director, This year’s MLK Day of Service truly embodied Dr. King’s vision of service, justice, and hope. Here is what we did: What’s Next? Our work doesn’t stop here! Together, we continue to make a difference. In February, we are hosting a Fundraiser for our Older Adult Center. In March, we celebrate […]
December Reflections, January Impact
From the Volunteer Director, December brought light and joy to our community! From toy and food drives to festive celebrations, the season showcased the warmth and generosity of our spirit, especially through the efforts of our young volunteers. As we enter the new year, we’re gearing up for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service […]
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 […]