7 Days of Giving: How to help or donate
NEW YORK (WABC) -- 'Tis the season for giving and ABC7 is proud to kick off our 7 Days of Giving campaign on Giving Tuesday.
Throughout the next week, we will highlight a different nonprofit in the New York City area and the many ways that you can get involved to help your neighbors.
Tuesday Nov. 28: Food Bank for NYC
Food Bank for New York City is the largest hunger-relief organization in New York City and provides 100 million meals to New Yorkers in need each year.
An estimated 1.2 million people in NYC don't know where their next meal is coming from and rising costs are forcing some families to make tough choices with their money.
Wednesday Nov. 29: Toys for Tots
The Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots initiative collects new, unwrapped toys and books for children to distribute them to less fortunate children during the holiday season and beyond.
A warehouse in Brooklyn is just one part of the beloved operation. The U.S. Marine Corps and its volunteers are busy sorting and distributing what will eventually be thousands of toys, games and books that will be sent to various nonprofits, churches and schools throughout the NYC area.
Thursday Nov. 30: New York Cares
New York Cares is working to collect 100,000 coats to distribute to New Yorkers this year. Now in its 34th year, the organization has collected and distributed more than 2.5 million winter coats to New Yorkers.
One class at a time of excited elementary schoolers picked out coats and got a little help getting just the right size from a team of volunteers from New York Cares.
For decades, the organization has been asking New Yorkers to donate coats or money, but they can also donate their time, space or services. New York Cares is looking for more places to collect and distribute coats this season to meet the need of 200,000 people.
Friday Dec. 1: National Black Leadership Commission on Health
The National Black Leadership Commission on Health is a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce health disparities within the Black community. NBLCH focuses on eight key areas: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, sickle cell disease, diabetes and mental health.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, the organization welcomes the Central Harlem neighborhood to its community health hub. They aim to provide underserved communities with education on disease prevention, early testing and disease management.
They hope to expand the health hub to other parts of the city to continue fighting AIDS and other health issues impacting the Black community.
Saturday Dec. 2: Brooklyn Book Bodega
The Brooklyn Book Bodega's mission is to increase the number of books at homes for kids in New York City ages 0-18 and to create a passion for learning through community programming.
The organization was started nearly five years ago by two women who were deeply troubled by a growing literacy gap among students who are economically disadvantaged.
Brooklyn Book Bodega is helping to fill the gap and sparking a love of reading among kids and their parents.
Sunday Dec. 3: Little Essentials
Little Essentials helps families living in poverty by providing new and gently used items for children ages newborn to 5 years old. Donations have helped more than 55,000 children in New York City to date.
The organization says about 15% of children in NYC live in poverty. They have a team of community partners it can rely on for donations and they also offer educational workshops from GED prep to financial literacy.
Now they need more volunteers to help bundle orders and spread extra joy this season.
Monday Dec. 4: City Harvest
City Harvest seeks to end hunger in communities throughout New York City and fights food insecurity by rescuing millions of pounds of food and delivering it, at no cost, to food pantries across the city.
The organization works with local chefs and restaurants to make sure uneaten food doesn't go to waste.
This year, City Harvest says it will have rescued more than 77 million pounds of food and delivered it to people experiencing food insecurity.
Watch 7 On Your Side's Holiday Shopping Guide
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