NEW HAVEN, CT — Giving Tuesday falls on Dec. 1 this year, but you don't have to wait until then to make a difference close to home.
Throughout November, local nonprofits, food pantries, animal rescues, community organizations and other groups are looking for donations, volunteers and other forms of support. Whether you have a few hours to give, items to donate or simply want to support a local cause financially, there are plenty of ways to help.
Patch rounded up organizations and opportunities to give back in and around New Haven. Needs and volunteer opportunities can change, so check directly with each organization for the latest information.
Here are some ways to make a difference in New Haven this November:
The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, known as DESK, serves people experiencing homelessness or poverty in New Haven. It serves dinner each night, runs a weekly pantry at 57 Olive St. and operates a Drop-in and Resource Center at 266 State St. The group says more than 1,000 volunteers help each year.
DESK is collecting food and funds for Thanksgiving this year, and its pantry will hold a special Thanksgiving distribution on the Wednesday before the holiday, Nov. 25, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Residents can donate items from its Thanksgiving shopping list, give online or sign up for volunteer shifts. Year-round donations can be dropped off at 260 State St. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Learn more about Thanksgiving at DESK.
Christian Community Action, at 168 Davenport Ave. in the Hill neighborhood, has served New Haven families since 1967 with emergency shelter, housing programs and a client-choice food pantry that gives low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities a monthly bag of food. It also gives out Thanksgiving food baskets to Hill families each year.
The organization accepts financial and in-kind donations, and volunteers have helped with its pantry, Thanksgiving baskets, donation drives and children's summer programs. Call 203-777-7848 or email cca@ccahelping.org to ask about current needs.
Learn more about supporting Christian Community Action.
Columbus House, at 586 Ella T. Grasso Blvd., has worked to end homelessness since 1982 through outreach, shelter and housing. It served 2,584 people over the past year.
Groups can volunteer to prepare, cook and serve dinner to guests at its New Haven shelter, or run a drive or fundraiser. Interested volunteers can fill out the volunteer interest form and contact the community engagement manager at 203-401-4400, ext. 138. Donors can also fund a Welcome Kit, which costs about $300 and helps a client furnish a new home, or give gift cards from stores such as Target, Walmart and Dollar Tree.
Learn more about volunteering with Columbus House.
The all-volunteer Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter helps care for animals at the city-run Robin I. Kroogman New Haven Animal Shelter, 81 Fournier St. Its work includes socializing animals, promoting adoptions and covering medical costs.
Residents can donate through its Chewy wish list and gift cards for items such as flea and tick treatment. Its dog handler, cat handler and foster volunteer applications open periodically and are closed at the moment. Volunteers commit to at least eight hours a month for a year, so check its volunteer page for the next enrollment period.
Learn more about volunteering with Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter.
New Haven Reads, at 45 Bristol St., offers free one-on-one literacy tutoring for students in grades 1-12, along with a community book bank where books are free. Its volunteers tutor for one hour a week with the same student.
Tutors must be at least 15, pass a background check and receive training, and no teaching experience is needed. Residents can also support the nonprofit with a donation.
Learn more about volunteering with New Haven Reads.
Based in neighboring Hamden, Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven puts "seniors at the heart" of its work and serves people of all faiths. Its volunteer-powered programs include rides to medical appointments, grocery delivery, a literacy program with senior tutors and Thanksgiving meal delivery to homebound residents.
The group says it has more than 250 volunteers. Residents can volunteer or donate through its website.
Learn more about volunteering with Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers.
Gather New Haven supports community gardens and nature preserves across the city and offers environmental education programs. Residents can make one-time or monthly gifts online and choose whether to support the Land Trust as a whole, community gardens, nature preserves or environmental education.
Learn more about donating to the New Haven Land Trust.
This isn't an exhaustive list of organizations doing good work in and around New Haven. Donation needs, volunteer opportunities and hours can change, so check directly with an organization for the latest information before donating or volunteering.
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