COURTESY OF (914) CARES
Planning on making a New Year’s Resolution to give back to your community? Have a teen who would like to volunteer? We sat down with (914) Cares’ CEO, Jessica Reinmann to put together a list of the top 10 volunteer opportunities in Northern Westchester.
1. Kids’ Kloset – Pack a “Bag of Love” for a child in need.
Kids’ Kloset provides underserved Westchester County children with donated clothing, books and related items. For more information, go to www.914cares.org/kids-kloset.
2. Baby Bank – Stock the shelves with donated baby items.
Baby Bank provides basic necessities and essentials for babies, 0-2. The mission is to help local families in need keep their babies clean, healthy and happy. For more information, go to www.914cares.org/baby-bank.
3. Coachman Family Center – Host a holiday celebration for children.
Located in White Plains, the Coachman Family center has over 60 homeless children in their youth program at any given time. Create a fun-filled afternoon with food, activities and games. For additional information, contact angela.damore@westhab.org.
4. Neighbors Link – Cook dinner for Family Night.
Neighbors Link’s mission is to strengthen the whole community through the healthy integration of immigrants. Every other Friday, an evening workshop is offered to Neighbors Link families and a buffet dinner is needed. For more information, please contact mpalomino@neighborslink.org.
5. DonationDrives – Collect urgently needed items.
DonationDrives helps individuals and groups coordinate and manage collection drives for those in need. For more information, go to www.914cares.org/donate-things.
6. JCY-Westchester – Read to a child.
Help kids become life-long readers at one of the 26 programs run by JCY-Westchester Community Partners. Programs are run during the school day, right after school and over the summer. For more information, please contact mfinesmith@jcy.com.
7. Ossining Schools – Sort donated books.
The Ossining School District is committed to making sure every student has access to books at home. Sort through donated books so we can help create these home libraries. For more information, please contact info@914cares.org.
8. #FilltheVan – Help gather diapers and wipes for babies in need.
#FilltheVan is a community-wide diaper and wipe drive that helps struggling families. Participants will receive flyers, program brochures and collection boxes and on February 14th, we will pick up all of the collected donations. For more information, please go to www.914cares.org.
9. Cottage School – Host a Lunch Bunch.
The Cottage School helps abused, neglected and traumatized children heal physically and emotionally through compassionate, quality care. Lunch bunch occurs once a month, during the week for adults and on the weekends for teens. For more information, please contact rosenthals@jccany.org.
10. Volunteer at your local Food Pantry.
21% of Westchester residents are food insecure and your local food pantry provides essentials to those in need. For more information, please contact your local food pantry or send an email to info@914cares.org.
(914) Cares focuses on helping our Westchester Neighbors who struggle to meet basic human needs: Food, Clothing, Shelter, Education and Medical Care, with the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty throughout the County. To do this, (914) Cares partners with other local non-profits to support placement of volunteers and coordination of donation drives. Its key programs include: Kids’ Kloset, Baby Bank, Empty Bowls Westchester and Donation Drives.