Volunteering is a great way to teach children about the importance of helping others and a nice way to give back to your community and those who need it. There are many family-friendly volunteering opportunities in NYC, and many can be performed year-round.

We've compiled some of these family volunteer activities in NYC below, including ways to give back with a local community org or from the comfort of your own home. We've got picks for families who want to fight food insecurity, help beautify the city, and even make some new furry friends. In addition to the information below, we also have an entire post on Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities that you can explore this holiday season.

New York City is home to many incredible museums, from the mighty Metropolitan Museum of Art to lesser-known gems, like the single-room Mmuseumm. It would take weeks to visit every museum in NYC scattered throughout the five boroughs.

Luckily, some of New York City's best museums are clustered together along the Upper East Side's aptly named Museum Mile. Whether you're a local or a visitor, I invite you to explore this stretch of Fifth Avenue, which is home to my favorite museums in NYC—plus some lovely Central Park destinations. If it feels intimidating to tackle the area and its many attractions, don't worry: I've put together a personal itinerary for the perfect day exploring Museum Mile.

When you visit Luna Park or Deno's Wonder Wheel at Brooklyn's Coney Island, you're seeing a piece of living history. The world-famous and innovative amusement parks have been around since the late 1800s, and luckily, there's a place that celebrates the lengthy history of the area: The Coney Island Museum.

This local hidden gem is a loving homage dedicated to the area's rich history, old attractions and artifacts, and their impact on the culture of entertainment—many locals have no idea the museum even exists. Here's why this NYC hidden gem is worth visiting next time you find yourself in this shore front enclave.