Hundreds of volunteers across New York City came together on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to take part in Commonpoint’s annual Day of Service, a flagship initiative of the Queens-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening community bonds while addressing the needs of thousands of families.
In partnership with UJA-Federation of New York, the event spanned five Commonpoint locations, where over 300 volunteers contributed to service projects that supported more than 1,000 families. Held on Jan. 15, this year’s theme, “Together, we serve,” emphasized collaboration and the power of collective action.
Volunteer activities spanned Commonpoint’s facilities, including the Sam Field Center in Little Neck, Central Queens in Forest Hills, the Bay Terrace Center in Bayside, the Youth Opportunity Hub in Jamaica, and the newly acquired Commonpoint Bronx Center in the Bronx. Participants created nearly 3,000 meal packages and 500 paper seed balls at the Sam Field Center and Central Queens, over 1,000 first aid kits and 90 hygiene kits at the Bay Terrace Center, nearly 400 self-care packages at the Youth Opportunity Hub, and nearly 600 soup kits and 150 no-sew scarves at the Bronx Community Center.
Volunteers also collaborated on art projects at each location, fostering a spirit of unity and creativity.
“We were intentional about staying true to the heart of MLK Day and UJA-Federation of New York’s theme of this year’s MLK Day of Service, which was ‘Together, we serve,’” said Kathy Martinovich, Volunteer Services Coordinator. “Each volunteer project was designed to promote unity among our diverse community of volunteers and keep our clients in need at the forefront of their benevolence. Every item will benefit clients in our Commonpoint programs that are in need.”
The New York Blood Center joined the efforts at the Central Queens location, where 39 blood donations were collected, potentially saving over 117 lives. At the Commonpoint Bronx Center, volunteers distributed 70 winter coats to community members in need, while the Brooklyn Book Bodega donated books, and Ariva Tax Prep provided free tax preparation services.
The event drew participation from numerous volunteer groups, including the Theta Rho Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Pi Phi Omega Chapter, BuildOn, the Bronx Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Roads to Success, BLK Men in Tech, VOA, and Girl Scouts NYC.
Guided by Jewish values of service and justice, Commonpoint has become a cornerstone of community support in New York City. With 82 locations citywide, the organization serves over 100,000 program participants annually, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity, or age. As one of more than 100 beneficiary agencies in the UJA-Federation of New York network, Commonpoint continues to address the evolving needs of its diverse communities.
