Do For One

A relationship-building program that brings isolated people into greater community life. That knowledge prompts radical personal action to address those needs.

We work toward a future where the world is keenly aware of the problems people with disabilities face. Inclusion replaces exclusion, as communities grow in strength and diversity.

04/01/2026

People often ask us, “How do you measure your impact?”  We often say that we measure not so much by outcome, but by the Good Fruit we witness.

When Martina’s daughter Paris (Partner) was invited to be a witness at her Advocate Seulgi’s wedding, Martina eloquently put words to the deeper, often intangible, impact that was unfolding:  “Do For One’s human-centered, heart-centered truth is palpable and manifests in the extraordinary people that participate in and grow lasting friendships together.”

This is what we mean by Good Fruit.  The most meaningful results cannot be captured in a pie chart. Good Fruit is found in the quieter, harder-to-quantify transformations such as personal growth and the slow building of a more just and compassionate world.

“We all love and adore her (Seulgi) and her husband, David. Their friendship to Paris has given us a beautiful gift that continues to give and to grow.”

- Martina (Paris’s mother)

03/17/2026

We have a NEW DATE for our info session that was unfortunately postponed last night!

Click our LINK IN BIO to register for our upcoming info session and come learn about Do For One’s mission, approach to building relationships across societal barriers, and ways to get involved.

Winter Info Session (Rescheduled)
Monday, March 23rd
7-9PM (Doors open at 7pm)
109 East 31st Street, NY, NY

hope humanity advocacy friendship relationships nonprofitsupport

03/12/2026

Last Saturday marked the launch of our 4th year offering Lead For One, our leadership level course designed to equip people to build freely given relationships for our marginalized and isolated neighbors in contexts both within AND outside of Do For One.

We believe that relationship-building across barriers doesn’t have to be confined to one program alone. It can ripple outward through collaboration and shared learning.

Within our 2026 cohort are leaders representing different organizations, local congregations, and community initiatives.

Collectively, they come from a wide range of vocational backgrounds including social work, human services, teaching, advocacy, non-profit management, raising a child with a disability, and more. All are seeking to address issues of social isolation through relationship building.

Swipe through for photos from this year’s cohort, and previous cohorts!

02/27/2026

One of the fastest-growing uses of artificial intelligence today is companionship, arriving amid what many now call a loneliness epidemic. This convergence creates a troubling dynamic, in which technology appears to offer an easier, more controllable substitute for the vulnerability of real human relationships.

This week, Andrew gave a lecture exploring the dangers of AI companionship and the risks it poses to isolated and marginalized people, but also from what it reveals about the indispensable nature of person-to-person relationships.

He concluded with a simple but powerful reminder:  “We don’t need better machines, we need each other.”

Now consider the contrast between what artificial intelligence promises and what real friendship actually provides…

Shanquette is a fiercely loving mother who was also born with a physical disability. She recently shared that one of the most surprising gifts of being matched through Do For One with Kim has been the impact it has had on her son.

At first, Shanquette simply hoped to get out of the house more.

Fast forward two years, and the two women (plus Stefan) have shared all kinds of adventures together.

When Stefan sees his mom spending time with Kim,
whether it’s fishing off NYC piers,
flying kites in Central Park,
or simply sharing life over a meal,
he no longer sees her as a struggling, isolated mom.

He sees her as someone fully capable of friendship.

02/19/2026

Belinda, Judy’s Advocate, says, “I’ve learned how to listen with more than just my ears…

If you know Judy, she usually smiles really sweetly and nods her head.

Judy doesn’t say too many words - maybe like yes’s and no’s and agreements here and there.

But the first time we drove to church together, a gospel song came on that she knew and she sang every word.

She listens really intently and cares very deeply for her friends.”

Though Judy and Belinda knew each other for a long time through their church community, it wasn’t until a year ago when, through Do For One, they had the chance to get together at Judy’s home. Since then, the two have become close, committed friends both within and outside of church.

Judy, the Partner, says,

“I like spending time with her. She makes me happy.
We worked on a puzzle. We drink hot chocolate.
I helped at the church party.”

Belinda says,

“The work of Do For One can be slow, but it goes really deep. You can help change the trajectory of someone’s life just by being their friend.”

02/17/2026

Since Leroy (left) is unable to read, it was important to him to meet a friend who would be open to calling him to make plans, rather than text (not easy for a lot of millennials!)

From the very beginning, Daniel (center), the Advocate, shared that calling Leroy to make plans would not be a problem for him.

Three years later, Leroy, Daniel, and Daniel’s partner Bielio, have ventured all over the city together. They enjoy watching movies, hanging out at the park with Daniel’s dog, going shopping, and grabbing a bite to eat a McDonald’s - Leroy’s favorite spot.

Recently, they went to a gelato shop and just sat and talked for a few hours.

“It was a really nice time,” Daniel said. “I want him to know that we’re in this for the long haul.”

02/13/2026

Martha and Sandy recently celebrated Sandy’s birthday together for the 4th time.

Sandy, the Partner, said,

“Martha baked me a cake.
We read together, we prayed together.
I like it when she visits me.”

Martha, the Advocate, says,

“I just want Sandy to know that she is loved just the way she is.”

Happy 47th birthday Sandy! You are loved.

02/11/2026

Last month, we hosted a one-off lecture in the Upper West Side on the topic of A.I Companionship from a Christian perspective, and how it is reshaping our understand of human connection.

The event was in such high demand that we are doing it AGAIN on Wednesday, February 25th from 7-9PM! We hope you can join us. Link in bio to register!

Drawing from years of supporting those most affected by cultural and technological shifts—particularly people with disabilities and others who experience social isolation—Andrew Oliver, Founder of Do For One, approaches this topic as a practitioner of relationship-building.

This talk takes a critical yet nuanced look at AI from a Judeo-Christian perspective, while warmly welcoming people of all worldviews into a thoughtful examination of what authentic relationships and thriving communities require.

Andrew says,

“The more we inadvertently train ourselves to live like machines, the harder it becomes to tell the difference between relationships with humans and relationships with machines.

But the more we keep asking what does it mean to be human and to commit to becoming more fully human we will see that no matter how impressive the technology, it could never surpass us… why? Because heaven has been poured into us and heaven can be poured out of us into this dark and weary world.”

02/11/2026

Last month, we hosted a one-off lecture in the Upper West Side on the topic of A.I Companionship from a Christian perspective, and how it is reshaping our understand of human connection.

The event was in such high demand that we are doing it AGAIN on Wednesday, February 25th from 7-9PM! Link in bio to register (tickets are limited and going fast) 🎟️

Drawing from years of supporting those most affected by cultural and technological shifts—particularly people with disabilities and others who experience social isolation—Andrew Oliver, Founder of Do For One, approaches this topic as a practitioner of relationship-building.

This talk takes a critical yet nuanced look at AI from a Judeo-Christian perspective, while warmly welcoming people of all worldviews into a thoughtful examination of what authentic relationships and thriving communities require.

Andrew says,

“The more we inadvertently train ourselves to live like machines, the harder it becomes to tell the difference between relationships with humans and relationships with machines.

But the more we keep asking what does it mean to be human and to commit to becoming more fully human we will see that no matter how impressive the technology, it could never surpass us… why?

Because heaven has been poured into us and heaven can be poured out of us into this dark and weary world.”

02/04/2026

The cold doesn’t stop New Yorkers from coming out to learn on a Saturday morning! ❄️📝

We’re grateful to Redeemer East Side for hosting “Share Your Love Saturday”, a unique opportunity to donate blood and hop into a seminar on learning to walk alongside those who are most vulnerable in our community.

For the first time, we offered a seminar titled “A Ministry of Presence,” asking what we can learn from the ways the early church cared for those in need through radically personal acts of hospitality and friendship. And how can that vision shape our own practice of presence and belonging today? ❤️

At the workshop, Andrew Oliver shared his story of friendship with a man named Tony, who grew up in an institution on Staten Island.

Andrew says,

“Tony lived a life defined not by a ministry of presence, but an administration of exclusion. But I found myself asking…

Is this kind of exclusion simply the price of modern life—something we manage as best we can?

Or have we forgotten another way of being together? Another way of ministry?

In the early church, exclusion was never treated as inevitable and therefore acceptable; it was treated as a threat to the integrity of the community.”

Thank you to for hosting us and for capturing these photos! 📸

01/28/2026

When Alana first met Ty, they imagined afternoons going shopping, and conversations over lemonade.

But when Ty needed to spend her birthday in the hospital after surgery, their budding friendship faced challenges yet deepened in an unexpected way.

Alana made her way to the hospital, her hands full with balloons, chocolate cupcakes, and a gift of pink lipstick for Ty.

As they danced to Michael Jackson videos (Ty’s favorite artist), took selfies, and chatted with Ty’s boyfriend on the phone, the room overflowed with excitement and laughter.

Alana, the Advocate, said,

“Today has been a day filled with God’s grace and blessings. This friendship with Ty is what I’ve been praying for.”

Once Ty recovered, the two attended our annual Christmas Party together and danced the night away!

When we volunteer for programs, we often submit ourselves to the limits of that program.

Relationships work differently. There is no script. No fixed location. Only people we’ve come to care about.

Love means showing up first, then adapting as circumstances change.

01/08/2026

Our first info session of 2026 is about 2 weeks away!

We are grateful for another year (our 11th year as a non-profit!) of facilitating relationships across societal barriers for people with disabilities.

Our goal this year is to form 18 new freely given, enduring, advocacy-based relationships while strengthening our 104 (and growing) active relationships across NYC.

Check out our LINK IN BIO to register for our info session and come learn about Do For One’s mission, approach to building relationships across societal barriers, and ways to get involved.

Winter Info Session
Saturday, January 24th, 2026
10:15AM - 12:15PM (Doors open at 10AM)
109 East 31st Street, NY, NY

Address

455 Main Street
New York, NY
10044

Telephone

+13476690513

Website

http://DoForOne.org/

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