Dinner for homeless LGBTQ Youth

The Active Citizen is volunteering with New Alternatives, an organization that serves LGBTQ homeless youth and young adults. New Alternatives specifically works to increase the self-sufficiency of homeless LGBTQ youth to enable them to go beyond the shelter system and transition into stable adult lives. Through providing education services, life skills training, opportunities for self-expression, among other services, New Alternatives empowers and supports this community.

LGBTQ youth homelessness is a severe problem in New York City and throughout the country. Many young people who come out to their parents are ostracized from their homes, sometimes while quite young. While reliable data on homeless youth is difficult to track, a recent report from the Department of Housing and Urban Developement estimated that almost 60,000 young adults are homeless in NYC on a given night, and 40% of them are LGBTQ.

Join us as we volunteer with New Alternatives to prepare and serve a meal to LGBTQ youth. We will be preparing the meal from 4:30-6, serving dinner at 6, and cleaning from 7-7:30. From 7:30 - 7:45 our group will have a brief reflection on the service. The meal is an important service provided to the LGBTQ homeless community and we're excited to volunteer. In addition to the service, participants will also have the opportunity to meet like-minded New Yorkers passionate about social change.