Holiday LIFT Calls Westchester Volunteers and Donors to Action

Today, Tuesday, Nov. 29, is Giving Tuesday, an international day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.

Held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, the focus has been on Christmas and end-of-year giving.

For most nonprofit organizations the holiday giving season began in early November to encompass Thanksgiving, but the reality of the growing need of the working poor in the New York community is pushing groups to intensify their focus year-round.

White Plains-based Lifting Up Westchester (LUW) has put out a call-to-action for volunteers and donors. To get local residents into the spirit of giving, LUW, a nonprofit agency, which provides homeless and poverty services to individuals throughout Westchester County, has launched a Holiday Lift campaign. It initially kicked off on Nov. 5.

“We need volunteers,” Donna Drumm, a LUW board member, told the Examiner. “We need volunteers for holiday giving, and we also need people with talent and experience in leadership, management and marketing who are interested in getting involved with the structure of the non-profit organization. It’s a long-term service commitment. Westchester needs its next generation of leaders. Finding new people is not easy.”

“Westchester needs its next generation of leaders.”

The Holiday Lift campaign offers multiple opportunities to spread holiday cheer and lift the spirits of Westchester’s men, women and children in need.

Volunteer activities include distributing warm coats and winter clothing, providing 2,000 holiday meals from the LUW soup kitchen, filling and distributing 500 holiday food bags, and wrapping and delivering hundreds of holiday gifts.

For this holiday season Drumm recommends that individuals and corporations looking to provide gifts for children also include teenagers. “We receive many toys and games for the younger children, but teenagers have need too,” Drumm said. “Gift cards are an innovative way to reach out to teens. They like to make their own purchases.”

Teens involved in LUW’s Brighter Futures after-school mentoring program will receive donated gift cards through Christmas from Target, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts.

Preparing and serving holiday meals at Grace’s Kitchen on Christmas and New Year’s is a popular volunteer activity for LUW, but all of those slots are now filled.

There are other ways to volunteer, however.

LUW is stepping up efforts to get corporations involved in underwriting meals served at the Open Arms Men’s Shelter in White Plains or at Grace’s Kitchen. There is need 365 days in the year.

“Volunteers can run a drive to underwrite meals, collect school supplies as well as to send a child to summer camp,” Drumm said. “Beginning in January 2017 we will be stepping up the pace to encourage corporate support of ongoing programs.”

Rhesa Browne, a Berkeley College employee, began volunteering at Lifting Up Westchester last holiday season. After organizing a successful holiday toy drive for college staff she said, “I was motivated to do more because there are many needy people in Westchester. I immediately decided to volunteer my time helping in any way that I can. Recently, I made a commitment to volunteer at Grace’s Kitchen every other week because I realize that individuals in need also need to be treated as people, and a smile and a warm meal can definitely make a difference in someone’s day.”

This holiday season Browne organized a staff drive to collect $25 gift certificates to distribute to teens in LUW’s after school program.

LUW sponsored a winter clothing giveaway and a Pie Day on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. They received many home-baked goods.

LUW is also hoping to receive donations of home baked Christmas cookies. “The guests at our soup kitchen seldom get a taste of home-baked items and nothing says Christmas like a plate of Christmas cookies,” said Nancy Inzinna, LUW Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager. She added that getting children involved in baking and donating holiday treats is a great way to introduce them to the spirit of giving.

If you are looking to get involved, there are many ways to help LUW provide 2,000 holiday meals, fill 500 holiday food bags and gifts for hundreds of individuals and families in need.

Organize a food drive and involve your neighborhood, school, religious organization or community group. Foods needed most are turkeys, hams, instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix, stuffing, canned vegetables, canned cranberries, cake and brownie mixes.

Donate the free turkeys that many grocery stores give away at the holidays.

Donate $25 grocery store gift cards for food bags given to vegetarians and families who traditionally eat something other than turkey and ham for their holiday meals.

Donate NEW gloves, hats and scarves for residents of the Open Arms Men’s Shelter and Samaritan House Women’s Shelter.

Donate sports balls, board games and multi-cultural dolls for the children and teenagers in the Brighter Futures Youth Programs.

Donate cash online at www.liftingupwestchester.org to help fill any gaps or last minute needs.