Advocates enter a person’s life to respond to that person's needs and interests through an authentic and freely given relationship. Advocates will choose, along with their Partner, the personal investments, contents, and direction of the relationship. A growing number of relationships will have lasted a long time. However, some will be arranged for a specific, short-term purpose. Advocates will often benefit from such engagements as much as the person with disabilities.

Advocates can:

• Share time with their Partner in activities and conversation

• Help their Partner develop their talents and interests

• Assist in achieving a goal their Partner may have

• Bring their Partner into social, public, and community engagement

• Provide a sense of safety and belonging through moral support

For those potentially interested in becoming an Advocate, please note that in 2024, our primary focus is recruiting people with disabilities living in MANHATTAN and WEST/CENTRAL QUEENS, and a small number in Brooklyn.

We welcome Advocates living anywhere in or near NYC to get involved, but please know that it is unlikely you will be matched with someone living outside of those areas.

Community Friends assist with building vibrant and supportive communities made up of advocates, partners, families, and like minded people. They focus their time, talents, and resources on strengthening these networks.

We host gatherings every 6-8 weeks, rotating between Harlem, Midtown, and Roosevelt Island. We host picnics in warmer months, and game nights in colder months.

Community Friends can:

• Bring food or drinks to share

• Help facilitate a group game like UNO, Jenga, or Charades

• Help set up and clean up

• Help a Partner travel to or from the gathering

• Community Friends widen the support circles for people with disabilities. Partners, we have also seen, widen the group and social horizons of Advocates, family, and friends, too. Communities exist within neighborhoods and are encouraged to influence their community by inclusion.

(attend “Intro to Do For One” to learn more)

Praying is a high priority among staff and leaders. We believe that this is the greatest form of advocacy. We respect the fact that not all in our community are people of faith which is why this is a special initiative for those who would like to pray and for those would like to try it out.

Partners in prayer can:

• Plead the cause of those in need to God

• Attend Wednesday morning prayer on Zoom every OTHER Wednesday from 8:15-9:00AM. This year, we are praying through passages in the Bible and praying for each other.

• Attend in person prayer gatherings twice a year

• When you sign up for our newsletter, you will receive monthly prayer needs from our community as well

Your monthly giving means that you will take an active part in the unfolding story of Do For One relationships bringing new life to New York – one person at a time. Join ONE+, our community of monthly givers, by clicking the button below: