The volunteering wasn't purely altruistic -- after my shift ended, I got to attend the NYE party for free, which involved some fine eye candy. (The crowd was heavily LGBT, and dress-up events in that community can be truly fabulous.)

Best of all, these particular parties were strictly no alcohol (as in, violators were to be summarily ejected, in cabs if needed), and the music was decent stuff at a moderate volume. And spending NYE with non-drunk friends helped a lot with not being miserable about Yet Another New Year's Without Melissa.