WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From Don Hughes. November 10, 2008: The financial crisis has not only reduced the amount of money available to the organizations that care for the most needy among us, it has increased the number of people needing help. If you have any household goods that you are not using and that could be put to better use, please contact one of the two organizations listed below. All of your donations will go to benefit local families. Pickup is available. Please note that GCCC also welcomes volunteers.
For more information: http://www.furnituresharehouse.org/
http://www.gracecommunitycenter.org/
—– Furniture Sharehouse —-
Furniture Sharehouse, Westchester´s Furniture Bank, collects donations of
gently used furniture from the public and redistributes it to needy Westchester
families free of charge. Gently-used furniture of average size is in great
demand. Besides it being a ‘green’ choice, donors get a receipt for their taxes,
their treasures go to ONLY local people, and DSS dollars can be used for other
purposes.
Their clients include those moving out of homeless shelters; women and children
escaping domestic violence; working families struggling to stay ahead; young
adults aging out of foster care; victims of fires or other disasters.
Clients are referred by a member network of 28 social service agencies,
ensuring that your furniture goes directly to those who need it most.
Since opening in April 2007, they have served over 320 households – over 850
individuals, including 350 children.
Each household receives 5-10 pieces of basic furniture, plus accessories; to
date, they have distributed over 2000 items of furniture worth over $150,000 free
of charge to clients who could never have afforded to purchase it.
They recycle tons of furniture that would otherwise end up in landfills.
They are a NYS Not-for-Profit Corporation and tax-exempt under Section
501(c)(3) so your donations can be deducted from your taxes.
—- Grace Church Community Center —-
A new neighbor, Grace Church Community Center, Inc.(GCCC), recently moved
into the old American Lung Association Building at Exit 6 off the 287. GCCC is a
registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit social services agency whose mission is to assist
the neediest and most at-risk residents of Westchester County.
Each of GCCC´s programs needs donations of in-kind goods and welcomes
volunteers. Below are some of the items needed by the programs. For more
information on how you can donate goods or volunteer your help, please call
Sister Alice Conrad at 949-3098 ext. 100.
Donation Needs:
The Summer Day Camp program needs bathing suits (all sizes including adult),
towels, swim goggles, sunscreen, backpacks and paper cups. They also need
gift certificates in denominations of $20 and over to be used for Christmas gifts
for homeless children. Gift certificates should be from Modell´s, Sports Authority,
Toys R Us, or Target. Gift certificates form local food stores in denominations of
$50 are also welcome for distribution to the families of the campers. (914-949-
3098 ext. 100)
The Open Arms Men´s Shelter program welcomes donations for its Bus Token
Fund which enables residents to search for jobs and housing. The shelter also
requires new underwear, socks, pajamas, scarves, gloves, hats and toiletries
from airlines.(914-948-5044)
The Samaritan House Women´s Shelter needs new linens, towels, toiletry items,
nightgowns, bedroom slippers, new underwear, scarves, gloves and hats. (914-
948-3075
The Soup Kitchen needs donations of paper goods such as plates, bowls and
napkins as well as plastic cutlery and cups. In the winter, donations of coats,
sweaters, hats, socks & other warm clothing are welcome. (914-949-3098 ext.
100)
Neighbor’s Home Care Services has need of new or used wheel chairs, walkers
and hospital beds (914-949-3112)
Housing Services needs new linens and towels, non-perishable food items and
cash certificates from local grocery stores in denominations of $50. (914-949-
0925 ext. 3)
Grace Church Community Center, one of the largest social services agencies in
the county, operates nine programs and has been in existence for almost 30
years. The agency´s programs are as follows:
Services for the Homeless and the Hungry:
Soup Kitchen
Open Arms shelter for homeless men
Samaritan House shelter for homeless women
Project Trust- a daytime shelter for chronically homeless men and women
Housing Services to prevent homelessness and eviction
Services for Children and Youth:
Summer Day Camp for homeless and disadvantaged children
Year-round Mentoring Program for homeless and disadvantaged children
Services for the Elderly and Disabled:
Neighbors Home Care Services, a licensed home care services agency
for the elderly and homebound
Rainbow Outreach- drop-in and referral services for developmentally
disabled children, adults and their families.
