World Vision

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice (taken from their website).
This Bronx warehouse is one of their «Storehouses», a donation distribution center where donated goods are received, sorted, stored, and ultimately given away to the individuals and communities that World Vision serves.
I signed up to volunteer with a group on a Saturday. Upon arrival we watched a short video about the mission of World Vision, and then got to work in the warehouse organizing personal hygiene kits that were to be given away to local homeless men. Everything was very organized and the World Vision staff made it very easy for us to get right to work. When we’d depleted one palette of soap or shampoo, another one was right behind it. The task was rather tedious but good conversation, jokes, and a shared feeling that what we were doing was important and meaningful kept us going through the afternoon.
It was hot in the warehouse, of course, but there was a big fan and no complaints from the group. We all had a great time and it was worth the sweat.
I would recommend World Vision to any small group or an individual looking for a volunteer project. The only real downside (if you can even call it that) is that because you are working in a warehouse of donated goods, there is no direct contact with the people you are ultimately serving. If you appreciate that face-​to-​face contact, this might not be the volunteer project for you. On the other hand, though, it allowed us all to talk a lot and I walked away with some new friends.