New York Cares Revitalizes Harlem Schools

6,000 New York Cares volunteers will spread out across the city to revamp public schools on New York Cares Day Fall, Saturday, October 13, 2012.  Now in its 21^st year, this citywide day of volunteering will restore 90 schools across the five boroughs. This year, volunteers will spruce up 21 schools in Manhattan including PS 140 M – Nathan Straus where New Yorkers will touch up existing murals, plant flowers, organize books in the library and play sports with middle school students.

“We still need volunteers in Manhattan to paint murals, lead arts and crafts projects, and help provide many important services to the borough’s schools,” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares. “On the 21^st New York Cares Day, we’re proud to say that our volunteers are not only helping the city provide inspiring learning environments for students, but directly engaging the students and the communities around them.”

On New York Cares Day, volunteers will paint murals and fences, update school yards, build new garden boxes and organize classrooms.

New Yorkers (12 years old and up) can register to volunteer at www.newyorkcaresday.org, with a registration fee of $20 per person.  The website provides complete information about the day including details on making donations in honor of a team or volunteer. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

New York Cares Day Fall is the city’s largest day of hands-on volunteering in the public schools.  This annual day of service is run by New York Cares — the city’s leading volunteer organization — in partnership with the NYC Department of Education.  New York Cares Day is also a fundraiser for the organization and participants raise money in honor of the time they spent volunteering.  Money raised goes to support 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.

New York Cares volunteers will also be working at other schools in Manhattan on October 13, including:

·         MS 104 M – Simon Baruch Middle School

·         PS 208 M – Alain L. Locke Magnet School for Environmental Studies

·         MS 319 M – Maria Teresa

·         PS 241 M – STEM Institute of Manhattan

·         P.S./I.S. 171 M – Patrick Henry

·         MS 161 M – Don Pedro Albizu Campos

·         MS 825 M – Isaac Newton Middle School

·         PS 368 M – Hamilton Heights

·         PS 185 M – Early Childhood Design and Discovery Magnet School

·         HS 285 M – Harlem Renaissance High School

·         PS 37 M – River East Elementary School

·         PS 375 M – Mosaic Preparatory Academy

·         MS 421 M – West Prep Academy

·         PS/IS 18 M – Park Terrace

·         PS 140 M – Nathan Straus (**Press Site**)

·         HS 495 M – Park East High School

·         PS 11 M – William T. Harris School

·         PS 94 @ PS 188 M

·         PS 163 M – Alfred E Smith

·         PS 964 M – Central Park East II

·         HS 600 M – High School of Fashion Industries

Related articles

• Volunteering: How Helping Others Helps You (bigfuture.collegeboard.org)
• New York Civil Rights Violation Lawyer Supports Change in Admission Test Policy at City’s Elite Public High Schools Following Allegations of Race Discrimination (prweb.com)
• Celebrating Manhattan Park Volunteers At The Museum of the City of New York (harlemworldmag.com)