Volunteer on revitalization and environmental projects this spring.
The space was gray and dull. Paint had chipped off the playground equipment and weeds overgrew the garden. This is what the kindergarten playground and garden area at CS 133, a public school in East Harlem that serves over 6,000
Fortunately, New York Cares was there to help. If you visit this school today, you'll see brightly colored garden-themed murals — festooned with ladybugs to teach counting skills — throughout the playground. Volunteers created a lush new reading garden by cleaning, raking, resoiling, and planting the garden with new grass. Now students scamper out the door for recess with genuine joy.
Last year, New York Cares planned and managed hundreds of revitalization projects like the one at CS 133. Volunteers get back to nature while helping care for some of our city's most precious natural resources. Through our Monthly Projects alone, volunteers gave more than 6,700 hours of their time gardening and painting this past year. They created warm and inviting environments for underserved school children and communities around the city.
CS 133's Team Leader, Jonathan Assayag, said, "What I liked best about working at the school was the camaraderie. With the end goal in mind, volunteers were eager to get the job done and help each other. While many had gardening experience, they were always willing to lend a hand to those who did not. The school's assistant principals were excited about our project, and worked closely to ensure we had the resources to succeed. They were thankful for the team's hard work and the impact we were making on the children's educational experience."
Jonathan and his team plan to return to CS 133 in spring 2008, to build flowerbeds for each class so children can learn about gardening as they water and maintain their "class plants" during the school year.
Environment volunteers are helping create a healthier New York.
Environment volunteers are helping create a healthier New York, too. The city's asthma hospitalization rates are more than twice the national average, according to PlanNYC. Trees and other plants filter the air, lower air temperatures and reduce energy use, helping reduce human exposure to pollutants. Gardens also provide respite from the noise and commotion of the city. New York Cares has long-standing partnerships with community gardens throughout the five boroughs, where we bring volunteers in during the warmer months of the year to support revitalization efforts.
New York Cares has run a project at Jenny's Garden, located in upper Riverside Park in West Harlem, for more than 10 years. Jenny Rodriguez started the garden in the 1970s, at a time when the park suffered from neglect. Team Leader Kimberly Wilson has led our project at Jenny's Garden since 2003. She said, "When people hear I've been a Team Leader with New York Cares working in Jenny's Garden for 14 years, they're stunned. But after a day working at the project, anyone who's participated in it understands."
Kimberly added, "New York Cares is unlike any other volunteer group, not only for the diversity of its projects, but the spirit of its volunteers. For six years, I had a core group of five volunteers who came faithfully each month, rain or shine. Then, over the past few years, another troop of New York Cares "regulars" emerged. These relative newcomers have become seasonal friends, drawn to the garden and its place in the city. They seem as inspired as I am to be working with Jenny — and each other — at Jenny's Garden, and I hope we'll remain seasonal friends for years to come."
The warm weather is just around the corner, and there's no better way to get out and enjoy it than to volunteer (in our humble opinion!). Find out more by searching our Environment and Revitalization Projects today. Or sign up for Hands On New York Day, Saturday, April 12, at 100 locations around the city.
The space was gray and dull. Paint had chipped off the playground equipment and weeds overgrew the garden. This is what the kindergarten playground and garden area at CS 133, a public school in East Harlem that serves over 6,000
CS 133's Team Leader, Jonathan Assayag, said, "What I liked best about working at the school was the camaraderie. With the end goal in mind, volunteers were eager to get the job done and help each other. While many had gardening experience, they were always willing to lend a hand to those who did not. The school's assistant principals were excited about our project, and worked closely to ensure we had the resources to succeed. They were thankful for the team's hard work and the impact we were making on the children's educational experience."
New York Cares has run a project at Jenny's Garden, located in upper Riverside Park in West Harlem, for more than 10 years. Jenny Rodriguez started the garden in the 1970s, at a time when the park suffered from neglect. Team Leader Kimberly Wilson has led our project at Jenny's Garden since 2003. She said, "When people hear I've been a Team Leader with New York Cares working in Jenny's Garden for 14 years, they're stunned. But after a day working at the project, anyone who's participated in it understands."
