Community Profile
"The Big Apple." "Empire City." "The Center of the Universe." "The Capital of the World." These are just some of the nicknames used to describe New York City. You get the idea that there is something special about this city. New York has the highest population of any city in the United States, with roughly 8.5 million people in the city and nearly 20 million in the metro area.
Most people from all around the world know NYC for its famous tourist attractions like Central Park, The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and The Brooklyn Bridge. But as is often the case in our country's cities, the side that most tourists see is only one piece of the reality of the city.
New York has one of the highest disparities between the rich and poor of any area in the United States. While NYC is home to more billionaires than any other city in the world, more than 18% of the population lives below the federal poverty line — a figure that climbs significantly higher when adjusted for the city's high cost of living.
New York is also an incredibly diverse city. As many as 800 languages are spoken in NYC, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world. Roughly 36% of New Yorkers are foreign-born, and the city's metropolitan region is home to the largest foreign-born population of any metro area in the world — approximately 5.9 million people.
We are so thankful for the opportunity to be serving in this incredibly diverse and culturally rich city and would love for you to bring your group to join us in the Big Apple!
Sample Schedule
Breakfast / Devotionals
We provide breakfast for your team and give you the opportunity to either do devotionals as a group or for your students to do devotionals individually.
Community Development Ministry
Serve alongside a Christian community development program serving residents in one of the poorest neighborhoods in New York City. This might involve serving in the summer kids program, or with the food program for families in poverty.
Make a Lunch / Take a Lunch with Homeless Friends
Kids Program Preparation Time
Kids Program with a Partner Church Plant in Brooklyn
Your group would have the opportunity to lead all aspects of the kids program including arts/crafts, Bible time, games, and a literacy/reading time.
Dinner at Kaleo Housing Site or Local Ethnic Restaurant
Evening Debrief and Worship
This is a sample schedule and does not reflect specific times and ministry activities for your team.
Logistics
Cost
$450 for a five-night trip or $540 for a six-night trip includes all of your housing, food (with the exception of one evening meal on your night off) and ministry expenses. Your only additional cost will be transportation to and from NYC as well as subway fare using the OMNY tap-to-pay system ($3.00 per ride, capped at $35 per week).
Housing
Our Kaleo teams stay at a church in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. Our location is close to a subway stop and will allow your team to easily travel between our ministry sites in New York as well as easy access to explore the rich culture of the city. The dorm area is separated for boys and girls and there are showers on site. Bunk beds are provided, but your team will need to provide their own bedding.
Parking
Parking is very difficult in New York. We will work with your team in advance to arrange for a safe place to park your vehicles during your time in New York.
Transportation
In New York, you will not need vehicles. You will use the OMNY tap-to-pay system for the subway and bus. The current fare is $3.00 per ride, capped at $35 per week per person.
Food
Our goal is to provide good and healthy food options for your team as well as to allow your group to experience the diverse foods of New York. We provide fruit at all meals and have salad options during lunch and dinner. If members of your team have food allergies, please let our City Director know. We can make basic accommodations such as gluten-free bread and lactose-free milk and you are free to bring additional food if necessary.
Your host on the ground
Danny Torres
New York City Director
Ready to bring your group to New York City?
We are excited about the opportunity to partner with your group to serve our ministry partners and the people of New York City as well as learn from the rich history, culture and people of the Big Apple. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us, or if you are ready to register your team, click the button below.