NYC Campaigns to Spur Community Service
NYC Campaigns to Spur Community Service
The De Blasio administration's launched an ad campaign to encourage New Yorkers to volunteer.
The campaign's called "Volunteering. Good For You. Good For Your City."
Paula Gavin with the agency NYC Service says ads have been placed on subways, at bus stops, and online to attract New Yorkers who currently don't volunteer. She says the campaign aims to highlight the personal perks of serving your community.
"There are definitely benefits to volunteering - health, happiness, career..." she said.
Gavin says the U.S. Census Bureau reports only 18% of New York adults currently volunteer.
"Most times, besides people saying they're too busy, when it comes down to it, they don't know what opportunities exist; and they haven't figured out a way to match their passion to an opportunity," she said.
Gavin says the campaign's website aims to help New Yorkers find that perfect match. She says the city's particularly targeting New York's growing senior population to help the campaign reach it's goal of having 50% of New York City residents volunteer.
"There are so many more opportunities and so many more great people that could benefit from volunteering, and that the city could benefit from their efforts," she said.
Gavin says some city services most in need of volunteers include after school and high school mentoring programs, as well as programs that seek to reduce hunger.
