Volunteers with Kissena Synergy unbox items and distribute them at La Jornada food pantry in Flushing. It’s a group that dispatches do-gooders to help at nonprofits and different events throughout the city.

"Just trying to make the process easier and make it more efficient so people can be accommodated," said Leona Chin, who founded the group four years ago.

She initially started the organization to support the Velodrome at Kissena Park. Her daughter competed there and the track needed some love.

"We wanted to assist but we were just moms and dads and kids,” Chin said. “But we came out and weeded and cleaned the whole place."

Chin formed a friends group to maintain the velodrome and then expanded their mission. Nonprofit organizations now go to her when they require extra volunteers at pantries, bike rides and other events.

"We're like pinch hitters and pinch runners,” Chin said. “We're in there when there's a need."

That would make Chin the team’s manager. When someone asks for help, she sends a notice to her volunteer base, now two hundred strong.

"We're here working together towards something that's fulfilling, heartfelt and may change somebody's life," Chin said.

And that they have.

They transported bikes to be reconstructed for kids with disabilities. They carted donated coats to local nonprofit organizations. The volunteers even kept at it during the pandemic by writing to isolated seniors and maintaining neighborhood green spaces when it was needed most.

"We continued through the pandemic cleaning and serving and hopefully in 2022, we're able to grow," she said.

She hopes to make a difference at places like La Jornada food pantry.

"Maybe they're getting that one ounce of respect today that will carry them through the week."

For spreading the spirit of volunteerism, Leona Chin is our New Yorker of the Week.