New York Cares is seeking 5,000 volunteers to take part in New York Cares Day Spring on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Now in its 18th year, this citywide day of spring greening will revitalize more than 80 parks, gardens, playgrounds and community centers across the five boroughs and 7 parks in Harlem. This year, volunteers will spruce up 22 green spaces in Manhattan, including Riverside Park where New Yorkers will weed out invasive species, plant grasses and perennials, spread mulch, and remove debris from the shoreline. Team registration has been extended until April 6, 2012. Individuals can register until April 20.
“We still need an additional 2,000 volunteers to sign up to be able to tackle all the work that needs to be done on New York Cares Day,” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares. “This year, we have a special focus on the city’s waterfront, in addition to our traditional gardening projects. Volunteers will restore 10 miles of coastline across New York City to make these areas more sustainable for plant and animal life and more accessible for city residents.”
New York Cares Day Spring is an annual day of service run by New York Cares, the city’s largest volunteer organization, and is sponsored by HSBC for the sixth consecutive year.
“HSBC is proud to support New York Cares Day for the sixth year in a row,” said Kevin Martin, Senior Executive Vice President, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Bank USA. “Helping to make New York City a greener and cleaner place showcases HSBC’s commitment to the environment and the communities we serve. We look forward to working alongside our fellow New Yorkers to help improve this great city we call home.”
“New York Cares Day Spring is an annual rite of the season, and we thank New York Cares and HSBC for bringing 5,000 volunteers to New York City’s parks, playgrounds, community gardens and coastlines to clean up and green up these vital public spaces,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Parks are New Yorkers’ backyards, and the perfect place to start your spring cleaning. We are grateful to all of the citizen volunteers whose generous donations of time and labor will improve their neighborhood parks and open spaces.”
Harlemites (12 years old and up) can register to volunteer at www.newyorkcaresday.org, with a registration fee of $20 per person. The website provides details including how to participate and how to make a donation in honor of a team or a volunteer. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
New York Cares Day Spring (formerly Hands on New York Day) is a serve-a-thon, similar to a walk-a-thon, where participants raise money in honor of the time they spend volunteering to support the cost of the event and New York Cares’ year-round volunteer programs. Each year, New York Cares mobilizes 54,000 volunteers to help 400,000 New Yorkers in need.
Sites in Harlem slated to be spruced-up on New York Cares Day Spring include:
- Riverside Park
- Inwood Hill Park
- Fort Tryon Park
- Harlem Rose Garden
- Marcus Garvey Park
- Jackie Robinson Park
- Thomas Jefferson Park
Register now at www.newyorkcaresday.org.
Photos courtesy of New York Cares.
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