New York Community Service

Community Service
Written By Abe Lomri
✅ Verified (commonly accepted) 🛠️ Eligible (confirm with officer)

New York Court-Approved & Eligible Community Service Providers

A statewide, living directory of organizations that commonly accept court-ordered or probation-approved community service hours. Entries are grouped by region and county/borough. Policies vary by judge, probation department, and program—always call ahead and obtain approval before you start hours.

New York City (5 Boroughs)

Boroughs: Manhattan (New York), Brooklyn (Kings), Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island (Richmond)

🛠️ Eligible Citywide nonprofits (confirm first)

City Harvest
Food rescue & distribution; warehouse shifts & events
Ask about court-ordered hours
Food Bank For New York City
Hunger relief; pantry, warehouse, admin
High-volume site
New York Cares
Volunteer hub with citywide service projects
Many project types
The Bowery Mission
Meal service, pantry, facilities support
Kitchen & facility
CAMBA
Food pantry, shelter support, administrative roles
Multiple sites
BronxWorks
Food pantry, outreach, community programs
Ask for documentation
Queens Community House
Pantry, senior services, youth programs
Call specific site
Project Hospitality
Meals, shelter support, outreach on Staten Island
Ask re: court hours
Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC)
Animal shelter support & cleaning
Screening & training
Goodwill NYNJ
Retail & donation center shifts
Thrift & warehouse
Salvation Army – Greater New York
Thrift stores, pantries, shelters
Ask about court forms
Housing Works
Thrift shops, events, community programs
Retail & events
Safe Horizon
Victim services; administrative & project roles
Admin-heavy

✅ Verified Commonly accepted city programs

NYC Parks – Stewardship / Partnerships
Park cleanups, events, environmental projects
Use official sign-in
NYC DSNY – Community Cleanups
Neighborhood cleanup events & special projects
Check event calendar
GrowNYC
Greenmarkets, composting, recycling & education
High-volume events
God’s Love We Deliver
Kitchen shifts & meal packing
Popular site
New York Public Library (NYPL)
Branch support, events & literacy programs
Varies by branch
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)
Events, programs & administrative support
Apply online
Queens Public Library (QPL)
Programs, events & admin support
Apply online

Long Island

Counties: Nassau, Suffolk

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Island Harvest Food Bank
Warehouse, distribution & events
Online signup
Long Island Cares – Harry Chapin Food Bank
Food bank operations & pantries
Multiple locations
Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter
Animal care & facility support
Check age rules
Suffolk County Parks
Park cleanups & seasonal events
Seasonal work

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Catholic Charities of Long Island
Pantries, senior services & admin support
Apply first
Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary
Thrift, hospitality & event support
Screening required
CAST – Center for Advocacy, Support & Transformation
Food, clothing & outreach
Contact for hours
EAC Network
Community programs & administrative support
Admin-type tasks

Hudson Valley

Counties: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Feeding Westchester
Regional food bank; warehouse & distribution
Online signup
Westhab
Shelter support, donations & facilities
Contact first
People to People (Rockland)
Food pantry & warehouse support
Schedule online
Ulster County Community Action
Pantry & distribution
Call ahead
Dutchess Outreach
Food programs (The Lunch Box) & pantry
Kitchen shifts
HONOR (Helping Others Needing Our Resources)
Shelter & food programs
Contact program

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Catholic Charities – Hudson Valley
Pantry, admin, community events
Apply for placement
Westchester Parks Foundation
Park cleanups & trail events
Event-based
Keep Rockland Beautiful
Community cleanups & projects
Seasonal
Putnam County SPCA
Animal care & facility support
Call first
Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
Warehouse & distribution
Online signup

Capital Region / Albany

Counties: Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Columbia, Greene, Warren, Washington

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
Warehouse & food distribution
Online signup
Capital City Rescue Mission
Kitchen, clothing room & shelter support
Contact volunteer office
City Mission of Schenectady
Meals, thrift, facilities & outreach
Application required
Unity House of Troy
Food pantry & program support
Call site
Saratoga County EOC – Soup Kitchen
Kitchen shifts & pantry support
Kitchen-style work
Open Door Mission (Glens Falls)
Kitchen, pantry & outreach
Apply online

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Things of My Very Own
Warehouse, sorting & donations
Sorting / warehouse
CAPTAIN Community Human Services
Food pantry & youth programs
Contact for roles
Catholic Charities – Diocese of Albany
Pantries, thrift & admin support
Apply
Columbia-Greene Humane Society
Animal care & facility tasks
Age limits apply

Central NY / Syracuse

Counties: Onondaga, Cortland, Madison

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Food Bank of Central New York
Warehouse & food distribution
Online signup
Rescue Mission Alliance (Syracuse)
Thrifty Shopper, meals, warehouse
Application required
Catholic Charities – Diocese of Syracuse
Pantries & admin roles
Contact site
Cortland Loaves & Fishes
Meal service & pantry
Call first
Madison County Volunteer Center
Volunteer placement & referrals
Referral-style

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Samaritan Center (Syracuse)
Meal service & kitchen support
Kitchen-style work
Arc of Onondaga
Program & events support
Screening
Salvation Army – Syracuse Area Services
Pantry, thrift, admin roles
See site

Finger Lakes / Rochester

Counties: Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Yates, Livingston, Seneca

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Foodlink
Regional food bank; warehouse & events
Online signup
Cameron Community Ministries
Meals, pantry & clothing room
Contact site
House of Mercy (Rochester)
Meals, shelter & outreach
Call first
Flower City Habitat for Humanity (ReStore)
Retail & warehouse tasks
ReStore shifts
Willow Domestic Violence Center
Administrative & event support
Screening

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Lifespan of Greater Rochester
Senior services; admin & events
Screening
Gilda’s Club Rochester (Cancer Support Community)
Events & administrative support
Apply
Partnership for Ontario County
Program & office support
Contact first

Western NY / Buffalo

Counties: Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

FeedMore WNY
Food bank & Meals on Wheels
Online signup
Buffalo City Mission
Kitchen, clothing room, thrift
Application required
Journey’s End Refugee Services
Administrative & event support
Office setting
Niagara Gospel Mission
Meals & facility support
Call first
St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy
Meals, pantry & clothing room
Contact site

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Hearts for the Homeless of WNY
Meals, outreach & thrift
See site
Habitat for Humanity Buffalo (ReStore)
Retail & warehouse tasks
ReStore shifts
FeedMore WNY Partner Pantries (Chautauqua)
Pantry network via FeedMore WNY
See partner list
Cattaraugus County Parks / Trails
Cleanups & seasonal events
Seasonal

Southern Tier

Counties: Broome, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Allegany, Delaware

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Food Bank of the Southern Tier
Warehouse & mobile food pantries
Online signup
Binghamton Rescue Mission
Meals & facility support
Apply
Catholic Charities – Chemung / Schuyler
Pantry & admin support
Contact site
Tioga Opportunities, Inc.
Senior & community programs
Call first
Friendship Donations Network
Food rescue & distribution
Contact coordinator

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

CHOW – Broome Council of Churches
Warehouse & pantry work
See site
Catholic Charities – Steuben / Livingston
Pantries & thrift operations
Apply
The Arc Allegany-Steuben
Program & event support
Contact volunteer office
Delaware Opportunities, Inc.
Food pantry & community programs
Call for options

Mohawk Valley

Counties: Oneida, Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Food Bank of CNY Partner Pantries (Mohawk Valley)
Network of local pantries
See partner list
Rescue Mission of Utica
Kitchen, thrift & facilities
Apply
Utica Food Pantry
Pantry & distribution
Contact
Catholic Charities – Herkimer County
Pantry & admin support
Apply

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

Arc Herkimer
Program & events support
Contact
Montgomery County Office for Aging
Meals, deliveries & admin
Apply
Fulmont Community Action Agency
Pantries & program support
Contact for roles
Schoharie County Community Action Program
Pantry, thrift & community projects
Call first

North Country

Counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Hamilton

✅ Verified Commonly accepted providers

Food Bank of CNY Partner Pantries (North Country)
Network placements via FBCNY
See partner list
Watertown Urban Mission
Pantry, thrift & community programs
Contact
Adirondack Community Action Programs
Pantry & community services
Apply
St. Lawrence County Neighborhood Centers
Pantries & basic-needs services
Call local center
Champlain Valley Family Center
Admin & event support
Contact

🛠️ Eligible Nonprofits (confirm first)

The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence
Program & event support
Apply
Franklin County Community Action
Pantry & community programs
Call first
Hamilton County Parks / Trails
Cleanups & seasonal work
Seasonal

Verification & documentation: Sites marked ✅ Verified are commonly accepted by local courts or probation programs in their area. This is not a guarantee for your specific case. Availability and policies change. Always bring a timesheet, obtain a supervisor’s signature (printed name, phone, address), and keep copies for your records.

Restrictions: If you have no-contact orders, trespass warnings, or offense-specific restrictions, choose placements that avoid conflicts and discuss options with your officer or attorney. Juvenile volunteers may need parental consent and may be limited in where they can serve.

Want your nonprofit listed or updated? Email hello@oacra.com with your court/agency approval letter or official confirmation, along with a point of contact for verification.

Abe Lomri
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