Don’t Walk By 2025
Outreach Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
Host Location: The Salvation Army (120 West 14th Street)
Don’t Walk By 2025 is an annual winter outreach that connects unhoused and hungry neighbors to hot meals, winter resources, health services, shelter, and more. During one of the coldest winter months, volunteers from different churches (and beyond) gather to serve on street teams or as on-site support to reach neighbors living on the streets.
Now in its eighteenth year, Don’t Walk By is happening on Saturday, February 8, and it provides an opportunity to unify all churches across the boroughs. Volunteers will focus on serving lower Manhattan between 24th Street and Houston (river to river), plus a few transit hubs. By focusing on areas of Manhattan with the most unhoused neighbors, we will have the greatest opportunities to engage.
Community meals will continue at this year’s host site, The Salvation Army (120 West 14th Street). Our vision remains the same at its core, to create a dignified experience for our most vulnerable neighbors to receive care and find a place to belong.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am part of a group that would like to volunteer for Don't Walk By. Can we sign up to serve together?
Due to the scale of Don’t Walk By, registering in a group is not available because we need the flexibility to form volunteer teams and move volunteers around based on need. However, volunteers are able to sign up one guest registrant during registration to serve alongside them. Each volunteer can only register for one role each. By registering yourself and a guest, you are letting us know that you would like to serve alongside your guest.
Do I need to stay for the entire time slot I signed up for to volunteer?
Yes! We understand that the volunteer roles for Don’t Walk By require a big time commitment, and we are grateful that volunteers choose to spend their Saturday with us. Because of the nature of this event, we do need volunteers to commit to the full time commitment for the role they sign up for. For street teams, this means 12:00 - 4:00 and for onsite volunteers this means 1:00 - 9:00.
I think I want to be on a street team, but I feel nervous about approaching people experiencing homelessness. Should I still participate?
Yes! We appreciate that you are approaching the role with care and thoughtfulness. Each street team will have a team leader who is experienced and trained in doing outreach, so they will help you feel comfortable and prepared. There will also be an in-person training on Saturday for all street teams to help you prepare.
When is volunteer training for Don't Walk By?
We are asking all volunteers to watch pre-outreach training videos the week before you serve. There will also be a live, mandatory, in-person training on Saturday, Feb. 8 before your service begins.
Is there an age requirement for Don't Walk By?
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
How do I cancel my registration?
To cancel your registration, go to your confirmation email (subject line: Your Tickets for Don't Walk By 2025). In the confirmation email, click on “Go To My Tickets” and follow the instructions to log in. You will see a page with your registration info. Scroll down and click the button on the bottom left that says “Cancel Order.”
I want to register but all the spots are full! Can I still volunteer?
Even if all the spots are full, continue keeping an eye on our registration page! There will still be cancellations leading up to the event, which will open new spots that can get filled up quickly again. We also encourage you to visit the websites of each Rescue Alliance partner organization for more ways to volunteer this season:
To serve people experiencing homelessness across our entire city, visit Hope for New York’s volunteer page: hfny.org/volunteer. Use the third filter to select "homeless.”
To serve specifically with City Relief, visit cityrelief.org/volunteer.
To serve specifically with The Bowery Mission, visit bowery.org/volunteer.
To serve specifically with The Salvation Army, visit salvationarmyusa.org/usn/volunteer.
Can I still volunteer at Don’t Walk By as a walk-in?
Unfortunately, we won’t be able to accommodate walk-ins! We encourage you to sign up in advance as much as possible.
Started in 2008, Don't Walk By is an annual winter outreach to our neighbors surviving on the street. The outreach encourages New Yorkers to put into practice the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Over the past decade, Don’t Walk By volunteers have canvassed the streets of Manhattan, met over 10,000 individuals and invited them back to a host site. While at the host site, our guests were offered a hot meal, clothing, basic medical care, and connection to ongoing support. Check out our video and gallery of outreaches from past years!
