Volunteers and Community Service

Six New Yorkers Who Made the City a Better, Cooler, Fairer Place in 2023

In a year that made many of us want to give up, these unsung activists found a way to help others.

What It Takes to Transform the White House for the Holidays

300 volunteers (including the first lady’s twin sisters), 98 Christmas trees and a 300-pound gingerbread house are just the beginning.

Behind the Scenes With Volunteer Crews at the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival

Millions of visitors flock to about 200 balloon festivals across the U.S. each year. Volunteering on balloon crews lets some of those fans pursue the inflatable dream.

For Car Crash Victims and Drivers, Circles for Safe Streets Program Is a Place to Heal

Circles for Safe Streets encourages New York drivers who hit people to take responsibility. Those who were injured can speak directly to those at fault.

What Endures After a Climate Activist’s Suicide: Grief, Anger and Hope

Five years ago, David Buckel violently ended his life in a public park in Brooklyn. People who knew him were shocked and angry. Yet they refused to give up.