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 By Mark S. Young, Community Service Coordinator at Makor
Why do I volunteer? Well, Y not? It’s fun, it’s important, you meet people, you help people and most importantly, you help yourself! Let me explain.
Last week, fifty people from their 20s to 40s—singles and couples, Jews and non-Jews—met up at Mo Pitkins in the East Village for Makor’s Community Service Fall Info Session and Social for prospective and returning volunteers. I am the coordinator for the Makor Community Service program, and part of my job is to run these events. They are great! Free food, good music and the opportunity to hear about cool volunteer opportunities with young professionals who in their spare time give (or are looking to give) back to the community, meeting new and old friends in a comfortable social environment.
Makor volunteers come from all walks of life. We are teachers, businesspeople, social workers, doctors, lawyers and students alike; some are filmmakers and others are marine biologists. But we all share one thing in common: the desire to do something worthwhile with our time and the desire to meet people while giving back. At volunteer events, we don’t only help others, we enrich our own lives in the process, and create an inviting community.
 Getting Dirty in Central Park
At these social events we socialize and our volunteer team leaders share the dozens of opportunities we have. Many events are one-timers, meaning you don’t have to commit beyond volunteering once. We serve at the local soup kitchen, help paint schools with kids, clean up Central Park, and rebuild historic Synagogues on the Lower East Side. Some volunteer projects are ongoing, like reading to youth once a week in a homeless shelter or visiting a senior or Holocaust Survivor in their home.
 Serve at a Soup Kitchen
Over the past two years I have met so many amazing volunteers, and volunteered in so many different ways, that I am sure you can find a project here with Makor that suits your interests. For me, I just love being out there, meeting and working with all of you, and volunteering all over the city. So, looking for an extra hobby? A way to meet people? Think about volunteering with Makor. Instead of asking why, I say: Y not?
 Rebuild, Renew at the Stanton Street Shul
[Makor Community Service]
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