Volunteer New York

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#1 Hat Brings Community Together Created On 11/28/2018

#GivingTuesday may have past, but #ThankYouWednesday is in our hearts all year long. Becasue before we can get back to work, first we must say thank you. Take a look inside to see what an amazing community of hat-wearing community supporters we have locally . . . and a few (digital) thank you notes!

Books Every Volunteer Should Read Created On 7/9/2018

By Jessica Falk There’s a wealth of inspiring and informative books, guides, and novels about volunteer culture and serving your community--whether you’re a regular volunteer, looking for something to read between service activities, or if you’re a beginner looking to start volunteering. Here are just a few that come highly recommended for do-gooders and public servants . . .

Getting Things Done: An Interview Created On 9/28/2018

Meet Wendy Armstrong, the new Director of RSVP of Westchester. "That’s the joy of this new position. I’m working with senior population directly, and they do want to continue to contribute. They want to do something with meaning and stay active and socialize—that’s what’s missing once you retire or when your kids have left the nest. The RSVP of Westchester program has all that. You don’t need the money, but can give the time. I can’t wait to get started. Senior Corps gets things done, as they say."

Hogwarts Guide To Volunteering Created On 6/11/2018

Whether you’re a muggle or wizard, there’s magic in you . . . the magic to transform lives, communities, and even the future—all through volunteer work. So, for all the wizards among us, here’s a handy guide to start volunteering, based on your Hogwarts house.

Holiday Volunteer Ideas Created On 10/31/2018

Where To Volunteer Over The Holidays. The autumn chill is in the air. You know what that means . . . the holidays are officially here! And volunteers are needed now more than ever to help all members of our community feel connected and enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season! Thanksgiving falls on November 22, but fear not if you haven't already signed up to volunteer -- there are ways to help out now through the new year! You can really make a difference!

Serve + Remember Created On 4/25/2017

WATCH NOW: 2018 Impact Results from 9/11: Serve + Remember. Over 1,000 volunteers made blankets for children's hospitals, spent quality time with seniors in New Rochelle, created literacy kits for under-served youth, packed thousands of diapers for families in need, donated blood, set up a community fair in the rain, fought invasive species in Wildflower Woods, made sandwiches, moved furniture, wrote cards for our troops, and more. But, no matter what you did, we did it together.

Top Ways To Volunteer With Friends Created On 6/18/2018

By Jessica Falk

Do you consider community service a solo activity? Well, it doesn’t have to be! Volunteering can be a wonderful way to meet new friends in your community, or to spend a day with old pals. Have fun together while making a real impact in New York communities! There are opportunities of all kinds, waiting to be discovered . . .

We're Thankful For You Created On 11/22/2018

In anticipation of the many families that will give thanks this holiday season, we would like to say how grateful we are to be a part of your connection to our community. Please click to read the full message from our team!

Need help finding the perfect
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hundreds of meaningful volunteer
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and Putnam from over 500
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We imagine a world where nonprofits
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able to live up to his or her
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Volunteerism Is Necessary For A Community: By Daniel Bomba

(Click to vote for this video on Super Service Challenge)

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Featured Opportunities

Caring Cards and Crafts for Seniors

Many of us look forward to celebrating Holidays with the ones we love, but for others, it can be very lonesome. Holidays of any kind can lead to extra heartache for those who may have lost somebody close to them. You can partner with Meals on Wheels to make cards for seniors to help brighten their day. Caring Cards & Crafts is a great project for students, teachers, youth groups and families. The cards & crafts are simple, handmade cutouts, but the thought and meaning behind each one is so much greater. The cards are filled with love, good wishes and even poetry. Deadlines: Thanksgiving: 11/21/2018 Winter: 12/21/2018

Nanuet, NY

Through 12/21/18

Miles of Smiles Volunteers

Help brighten a smile for a senior, literally. Create Miles of Smiles bags. How it works: Fill a bag with all the products a senior needs for a healthy smile. Inside the Quart size Ziploc bag be sure to include: -Soft tooth brush -Toothpaste -Floss -Mouth wash -A Miles of Smiles Flyer (We provide this) Miles of Smiles Instructions

Nanuet, NY

Through 12/31/18

Blizzard Boxes for Winter 2018-2019

Help support homebound seniors when the weather is poor by creating Blizzard boxes. A Blizzard Box is an assortment of donated non-perishable food items packed into shoeboxes. The shoeboxes are delivered to the recipients of our Home Delivered Meals Program in case normal food deliveries are halted due to weather related or other emergencies. The shoeboxes are delivered by Meals on Wheels Volunteer Drivers. Blizzard Box Instructions Deliver to the Meals on Wheels office in Nanuet or Volunteer New York! office in Tarrytown.

Nanuet, NY

Through 12/21/18

Help With Our Client Choice Pantry

We are now looking for volunteers Monday through Friday to help in our Client Choice pantry. Tasks may include distributing food to clients, stocking shelves, hanging and displaying donated clothing. Monday- Wednesday: 9:30am- 5:00pm Thursday: 9:30am- 7:00pm Friday: 9:30am- 4:00pm Contact Elyce Bristol- elyce@peopletopeopleinc.org for more information

Nanuet, NY

Through 12/31/19

Holiday Gift Drive

Each year the Nyack Center distributes gifts to the children they serve. For many families this is the only gift they will give their children. Help spread joy by donating new, unwrapped gifts for children ages 5-16 years old. Toys, games, books, and gift cards are suggested. The last day to drop off gifts is Dec. 17th.

Nyack, NY

Through 12/17/18

Gift Wrappers Needed 2018

Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts for the children of the Nyack Center. Help spread joy this holiday season.

Nyack, NY

Through 12/21/18

Holiday Drive for Children and Families

In the spirit of the Holiday Season, ANDRUS would like you to join our efforts in making this time of year joyous for the children and families that we serve. We are seeking gift donations which will be suitable for adults, such as hats, scarves, wallets, frames, etc., and gifts for children & teens of all ages such as books, winter clothes, board games, stuffed animals, play sets, toys, etc. In addition to this, any wrapping supply donations would be greatly appreciated, too. With the colder weather upon us, we'd also like to request the donation of coats for all ages, both male and female. All donated items should be new. Any help goes a long way!

Yonkers, NY

Through 12/25/18

Warm Winter Clothes Needed!

As the temperature begins to drop there is a greater need for warm winter clothing items. We are looking for donations of items like new or gently used jackets, hats, gloves, socks, etc. to give to those in need in the local community. For more information email Jared Apuzzo- contact@csasoupkitchen.org.

Mount Vernon, NY

Through 3/31/19

Prepare Bag Lunches for Families to Take Home

Volunteers are needed to assemble bag lunches (over 100 on Tuesdays and 50 on Fridays) for families to take home. These portable meals include a sandwich wrapped in tin foil, a drink and a desert. The bag lunches will be distributed each night following dinner service.

Mount Vernon, NY

1/4/19 2:30 PM +more

Blizzard Boxes

Help support homebound seniors when the weather is poor by creating Blizzard boxes. A Blizzard Box is an assortment of donated non-perishable food items packed into shoe boxes. The shoe boxes are delivered to the recipients of our Home Delivered Meals Program in case normal food deliveries are halted due to weather related or other emergencies. The shoe boxes are delivered by Meals on Wheels Volunteer Drivers. Blizzard Box Instructions Deliver to the Volunteer New York! office in Tarrytown or Meals on Wheels office in Nanuet.

Tarrytown, NY

Through 12/21/18

Support United for the Troops for the Holidays

Help Volunteer New York! and United For The Troops send a little comfort to our military overseas this holiday season! UNITED FOR THE TROOPS supports our troops serving overseas by sending them care packages of items they say they “Miss Most” while they are deployed. Click HERE for a donation list. Hand written letters, cards, and pictures are always welcome and included in the care packages. This year we aim to send out 10,000 letters and cards! This is a great opportunity to get the whole family involved because young children can make cards and help pick out items. Volunteer New York! will have a collection bin in our office during the month of November and into December. Donations can be dropped off Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 5:00PM.

Tarrytown, NY

Through 12/31/18

Create Sock Bundles this Holiday Season!

Create “sock bundles” for people experiencing homelessness. This is a DIY project that can be done at home with your children or as a group project. Socks are one of the most needed and least donated items in homeless shleters. Sock bundles consist of a new pair of mens socks, 2 items from the list below, and a homemade card in a quart-size ziplock bag. Socks should be for men, sizes large or extra-large. Please only use crew or knee high socks (black or white socks are fine). Please select 2 additional items for each bag: -Disposable men's razors -Shaving cream -Men's deodorant (high need) -Toothbrush, travel size with cover (high need) -Toothpaste -Comb -Brush -Lotion Bundles will go out in December and January, so general card messages work best: -Wishing you a wonderful day -Thinking of you -Hope this brightens your day Or anything similar. Please do not include holiday messages. These donations can be dropped off at Volunteer New York! in Tarrytown, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm and will be distributed to homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and pantries throughout Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. #RISE

Tarrytown, NY

Through 12/21/18

Volunteer to be Santa's Little Helper

We are looking for volunteers on December 21st to be Santa's Little Helpers. Volunteers will assist with gift wrapping, serving food, organizing and distributing gifts to children ages 5-13. For more information please contact Henry Wilson at 914.215.3063 or Ms. Donna Brown at 914.308.6261.

Mount Vernon, NY

12/21/18 5:30 PM

Holiday Gift Wrapping Days! Open Door Family Medical Center 2018

Open Door’s Annual Holiday Toy Drive and “Santa Days” have become a welcome source of Holiday cheer for underserved families throughout our community. This year, with your support, we plan to go BIG and distribute over 3,000 new, unwrapped toys and gift cards for our young patient's ages newborn to 14-years. Express Interest for Gift Wrapping Days- you will receive a sign-up link from Open Door High school, college, and adults only. Each shift can accommodate 10 volunteers. Groups Welcome. For additional information contact: Jane Levy, Manager of Volunteer Programs jlevy@odfmac..org

Ossining, NY

12/11/18 11:00 AM

Santa Helpers Needed to Distribute Gifts at Open Door Family Medical Centers

Open Door’s Annual Holiday Toy Drive and “Santa Days” have become a welcome source of Holiday cheer for underserved families throughout our community. This year, with your support, we plan to go BIG and distribute over 3,000 new, unwrapped toys and gift cards for our young patient's ages newborn to 14-years. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: Decorate the six health centers, Distribute toys with Santa. December 4 -Brewster/ December 7- Ossining/ December 10- Mt Kisco/ December 12th- Sleepy Hollow/ December 14th- Port Chester/ December 18th - Mamaroneck Limited: 18 Years and Up Each shift can accommodate 10 volunteers. Groups Welcome. Express Interest for Santa Days- you will receive a sign-up link from Open Door For additional information contact: Jane Levy, Manager of Volunteer Programs jlevy@odfmc.org

Ossining, NY

12/12/18 1:00 PM +more

Help Unload And Distribute Food

Our volunteer needs are as follows: Tuesday - November 13 - 10 - 12:30 unload delivery truck Friday -November 16 - 10 - 12:30 unload delivery truck Saturday - November 17 - 8:30 am - 12 noon - help distributing food,etc. Tuesday - December 11 - 10 - 12:30 unload delivery truck Friday - December 14 - 10 - 12:30 unload delivery truck Saturday - December 15 - 8:30 am - 12 noon - help distributing food, etc. For more information contact Nancy Claiborn- (914)654-0424

New Rochelle, NY

12/11/18 10:00 AM +more

Baby wipes: an ideal stocking-stuffer!

Surprisingly, so few people are aware of the struggle some of their neighbors face to provide one basic component of diapering their babies. At holiday time you you can help these families with a welcome "stocking-stuffer." Just donate a package (or more) of wipes! It's simple. It's small. It's needed. Please drop off at Wayside Cottage (bin on porch), 1039 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 or one of our drop-off locations. The Westchester County Diaper Bank thanks you!

Scarsdale, NY

Through 12/31/18

Pace University Mobile Food Pantry

Pace University has partnered with Feeding Westchester to bring a mobile food pantry to our campus. We are in need of volunteers to assist with the mobile food pantry on 11/27/18 and 12/13/18. Groups are welcome. The time commitment is broken down as follows: 11/27/18 3:30 – 4:00pm pm:Set up tables and unload food from truck 4:00-5:00pm: Distribute food to anyone who shows 5:00-5:30pm: Break down and help bring food to our pantry in Elm Hall 12/13/18 12:30-1:00pm: Set up table and unload food from truck 1:00-2:00pm: Distribute food to anyone who shows 2:00-2:30pm: Break down and help bring food to our pantry in Elm Hall

Pleasantville, NY

12/13/18 12:30 PM

The Simple Green Drive-Spread Awareness

the harris project advocates for teens & young adults with mental health and substance misuse/addiction (co-occurring disorders), and created a school-based prevention program – CODA (Co-Occurring Disorders Awareness) to empower high school students to change outcomes. the harris project has partnered with Fairco-Greentree Recycling (FGR) to collect unwanted textiles in the local area. Volunteers are needed to organize a textile drive to support the cause and spread awareness about co-occuring disorders. Ask your community to donate unwanted clothing, bedding, towels, shoes and accessories. Items donated can be in any condition (ripped, stained, old, or new). FGR will work with you to set up a convenient bin location and pick-up all donations Your effort will support the harris project’s CODA (Co-Occurring Disorders Awareness) prevention program Easy to organize and no cost to run For more information see the flyer here or contact Jodi Siegel- josiegel@optonline.net

White Plains, NY

Through 11/16/19

2018 Holiday Toy Drive

The YWCA Residence is in need of New Toy & New/Gently Used Book Donations for Children 12 years and under Please Note: - We cannot accept toy guns or "blasters" - We particularly welcome gender neutral toys - All toys should be unwrapped Please "express interest" below if you have any of these items to donate.

White Plains, NY

Through 12/21/18

Meal Delivery For Homebound Elderly

The Social action committee of Community Synagogue, along with the Bronx Jewish Community Council and the UJA will once again be participating in a project to reach out on Christmas Day to the Jewish elderly homebound. Please join us in the sprit of Abraham by participating in this wonderful mitzvah of M’aakhil R’evim, feeding the hungry on December 25th. We have volunteered to prepare and deliver 30 meals to 30 individuals in need. We will be preparing food and delivering the meals in the Bronx on Christmas morning and we need your help. Please be prepared to contribute a part of the meal and deliver to the Bronx. Please contact Robin Blum on how you can get involved or with any questions at robinblum79@gmail.com or at 914 623-3764.

Rye, NY

12/25/18 9:30 AM

Distribute FREE Nutritious Food at Port Chester Mobile Pantry

In partnership with Feeding Westchester, a specialized 36-foot refrigerated truck brings a “market on wheels” to Open Door Port Chester parking lot one Saturday a month so that fresh, nutritious foods can be delivered directly to those-in-need Food is set up as a farmer’s market where people can walk through to select their own food. Volunteers needed! Volunteers set up tables, unload the produce from large pallets, and pre-bag smaller items. Volunteers clean up the parking area and stack the sorted piles of empty cartons, crates, and pallets for the recycling. Spanish Language Helpful. Must be able to Lift 20 lbs. Time: Noon- 3 PM Dates: July 28th August 25th Sept 15th October 13 November 10 December 15

Port Chester, NY

12/15/18 12:00 PM

Host a Diaper & Wipes Drive

Surprisingly, so few people are aware of the struggle some of their neighbors face just to meet the basic need of diapering their babies. The Diaper Bank relies on donations, community drives, and corporate sponsorships. The JLCW is seeking individuals, community organizations and corporate sponsors to support the Diaper Bank and our families in the community. We will send you a “How to Host a Diaper Drive” kit to get you started. We’ll also provide you with posters and educational materials. We are in greater need of larger sizes (3, 4, 5 & 6) and pull-up's (all sizes). If you think you can easily encourage your donors to skew their collecting in that direction, we'd be most grateful. We also need baby wipes! This project is ideal for kids, companies, faith-based organizations, daycare centers and more!

Through 12/31/18

Donate Diapers and Wipes to the Westchester County Diaper Bank!

Surprisingly, so few people are aware of the struggle some of their neighbors face just to meet the basic need of diapering their babies. You can help thesse families by donating diapers of all sizes, types, and brands – newborn to toddlers. Please note, however, that the greater need is for the larger sizes (3, 4, 5 and 6; and pull-ups). Open packages accepted. Additionally, the Diaper Bank always needs wipes, so please send some along with - or without - diapers. Drop off: Wayside Cottage (bin on porch), 1039 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 or one of our drop off locations.

Through 12/31/18

Local Changemakers

Leandro Francisco

Volunteer Spirit Awards - Recipient of 2016 Safe Community Award

For Leandro Francisco, as with so many Americans, heart disease is a family matter, reaching him through his mother’s family. For Francisco and for many of the White Plains middle school students who have participated in Hoops for Heart and Hands Only CPR training over the years, the connection between heart disease, heart health and preventive measures is very personal indeed.

Puerto Rican-born Leandro was raised in the Bronx. He attended City College and received his Master’s degree in Health education from Lehman College. He has worked for nearly 30 years as a coach and health educator. For the last 20 years he has been in the White Plains school district at the Eastview Middle School.

To increase the impact of the event, Eastview schedules the event in March to take advantage of the March Madness excitement. For the 6^th graders, a Hands Only CPR training to the informative rhythm of the Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” was added. Students are taught to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke and when to call 911 and how to use a defibrillator. In order to better instruct educate the over 400 students in the program each year, Francisco has formed a collaboration with the nurses throughout the White Plains City School District.

Jake Gallin

Volunteer Spirit Awards - Recipient of 2012 New York Life Youth Leader Award

Since receiving the Youth Leader award in 2012 (at age 13) for his volunteer work as founder of local New Rochelle nonprofit, Stars for Cars, Jake has remained active with his commitment towards supporting Gold Star and Blue Star Military Families – going as far as being named a top-10 youth volunteer in the nation in recognition for his service by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, partnering with the USO and having his nonprofit selected to be part of the New York Yankees Hope Week (and amongst other distinctions as well). We asked Jake a few follow up questions recently about his experience volunteering:

What’s the most fun you have ever had volunteering?

That’s a difficult question because there have been so many wonderful experiences throughout the six years I have been volunteering. I probably had the most fun volunteering while selling our magnetic Star decals in New York City with my friends before Memorial Day 2015. Another fun experience was hosting a baseball clinic for Military Families at MCU Park last summer. It is always fun attending the Volunteer Spirit Awards!

Looking back at the time you’ve spent volunteering, what are you most proud of having accomplished?

It’s not the accolades and the awards, although I am very grateful that people have given me a platform to talk about Military Families, but I am most proud of the relationships that have been formed. I am proud to have formed lasting relationships with Volunteer New York!, the USO, Prudential Financial, the NY Yankees, and schools all across the country. The most important relationship is with the Gold Star Mother who inspired me to found Stars for Cars. If I can inspire one person to acknowledge the sacrifices of the “Blue Star” and “Gold Star” Military Families then that’s an accomplishment to be proud of.

What’s your advice to other youth?

Connect with something that you feel passionate about. Take that passion and inspire others. Conversely, if you see that passion in someone else, let that inspire you to serve. We serve each other to move the world forward. Our generation can move the world forward when we have passion and we inspire each other. The world can change because we move it, together.

What does it take to be a great volunteer?

If you are volunteering just to check a box, that isn’t a lot of fun. Engaging in a fun activity with a positive attitude makes a good volunteer. Passion makes a great volunteer.

What has volunteering prepared you to do, what are you working on next?

Volunteering helps to fine-tune my leadership skills and to visualize what real progress can look like. Within the past week we expanded the “3 Holidays Announcement” from 10 states to 23 states. Over the next few weeks (after finals), I plan to reach out to national organizations to ask them to say the announcement in their stadiums. During the summer, I plan to contact every U.S. Military Base in the world to let them know that the announcement is being said at home because people haven’t forgotten about their families. Since Military Families move on average nine times during a school career, it is important to let them know their sacrifice is acknowledged by whatever community they are in.

Paul Alcorn and Mel Berger

2018 Safe Community Award

As a longtime pharmacist in Mount Kisco, Mel Berger was keenly aware that a number of his clients were dealing with health issues related to exposure from the severe cold. There was also no escaping the sad fact that there were one or two deaths annually from people living and sleeping in cars, abandoned buildings, or the woods. While Mel was already busy with his work as chairman of the Mount Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council, and as a drug treatment referral liaison with local courts, he felt that he could not let the problems of the homeless in the area continue unaddressed. In fall of 2004, Mel approached the Northern Westchester Interfaith Clergy Association headed by Paul Alcorn to see if together they could find a solution.

Paul has served as the pastor of the Bedford Presbyterian Church for almost30 years. He says it is part of his job to help the community identify and solve problems. Paul gave his full support to the project and he and Mel, along with the leadership of the village of Mount Kisco, discussed the troubling problem of homelessness in Westchester. “Together we imagined what was needed and how it might work,” Paul remembers. The group acted quickly to bring together a handful of churches that would open their doors to offer members of the community a safe place to sleep, and the Emergency Shelter Partnership (ESP) began in January 2005. The Board was initially concerned that there might be backlash to the idea of the homeless being sheltered in local churches, near residential homes. These worries proved to be unfounded.

Today a coalition of 30 churches, synagogues and community agencies form a network of support for homeless men and women from November through March. They provide meals, a safe place to sleep, transportation and bagged lunches and snacks for the day. From its initial group of four men, ESP now serves 20 to 25 people each night. Furthermore, the model is being successfully replicated by a group of congregations in Ossining, with plans to merge the programs together this summer. ESP also works with various agencies to try to place people in housing. Just recently, a long term homeless man was welcomed into A-Home’s supportive housing program.

Christine Silverstein

2018 Social Advocacy Award

Christine Silverstein is quite clear on one point: women are excellent caregivers for their aging parents, their children, and their husbands. They are not nearly as good at asking for or accepting help when they need it. “Women always think that someone else needs the assistance more than they do. They are hard-wired to be the caregiver, not the receiver of care,” says the Rockland County native. Christine learned a lot about the challenges that one can face when she went through the high-risk pregnancy and delivery of her twin sons, Connor and Ryan, now 17-year-old seniors in high school. “I was confined to bed at the Westchester Medical Center for weeks. I was scared and depressed. I felt very alone. The medical bills were mounting and just overwhelming,” she remembers. That experience gave her a rich reserve of understanding and compassion to tap into years later when a good friend, who had a young son with cancer, was herself struck with breast cancer. It was Christine who stepped forward to offer her the support she needed.

What began as the simple gesture of helping a girlfriend through a medical and financial crisis blossomed quickly, and United Women of Rockland was formed as a nonprofit in 2014. Today over 150 volunteers form a web of support for women with the primary goal to help alleviate the financial stress of going through a medical crisis. Funds are raised through four annual events – including The Race, on May 12 – and on an as-needed basis. Everyone’s needs are unique however, and support can take on different, highly personal meaning. Some women need help going grocery shopping or preparing meals. Mothers may need a ride for their children to soccer practice, while others may need a ride to chemotherapy. Others need advice and direction to successfully navigate the various social services available. Oftentimes, Christine says, “People just need someone to make them laugh.”

Christine truly believes in paying it forward because she realizes you never know when you could be the one in need. And in that time, there is no doubt that United Women of Rockland will jump right in to lend a hand. .

Shakil Henriques

2018 Youth Leadership Award

Shakil Henriques admits now that he did not know what to expect when he was sent to volunteer on a daily basis at the Wartburg Adult Care program. “They told me to go in with an open mind and I did,” he recalls. “This was definitely new territory for me.”

Shakil is a resident of the Youth Shelter of Westchester, an early intervention residential program for young men ages 16 to 21 who are awaiting resolution of various charges in the adult criminal justice system. The Shelter is licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and is the only one of its kind in the state. In addition to the emphasis on continuing education, vocational training, and counseling, the residents are encouraged to volunteer. Many young men, like Shakil, go to Wartburg, an elder care facility and nursing home in Mount Vernon to connect and give back. They provide assistance to the Adult Care program, as well as help with other things to brighten the participants’ spirits, such as decorating for the holiday season. It is a unique pairing that has proved to be successful for the young men and for the Wartburg community.

Shakil’s day can be busy and varied during his 9am to 2pm work period. He greets people as they enter in the morning and helps them with their coats. He serves meals and helps with games and other recreational activities. Some days there can be as many as 90 registrants at Wartburg’s programs. As one of the supervisors noted, not everyone can work comfortably with the senior population, many who have dementia. When asked what he has learned from his volunteer experience, Shakil is quick to reply, “I learned that I am a people person. The registrants show you so much love. I began to laugh more and I learned not to be so timid.” Shakil also shares his positive experience with his peers at the Youth Shelter, encouraging them to volunteer and never be afraid to venture into new territory.

Next month, Shakil will begin a new chapter when he returns home. He hopes to start college soon and apply his newfound “people person” skills.;

Stephanie Marquesano & the New Rochelle High School CODA Club

2018 Education and Literacy Award

Stephanie Marquesano founded the harris project at her kitchen table in Ardsley during the profoundly sad and difficult days between her son Harris’ death, from an accidental drug overdose from co-occurring disorders, and his funeral in October 2013. Many people would not have had the emotional or physical strength at that dark moment to think clearly after what Stephanie’s son and their family had been through. Stephanie, however, recognized with great clarity that the treatment systems had failed her son in terms of the mental health component of the problem. People needed to be given the tools to sustain their recovery once they were back home. It became a defining moment.

Since that time, Stephanie has become a tireless advocate to raise awareness of co-occurring disorders. She serves as Co- Chair of the Co-Occurring System of Care Committee of the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health and is a Youth Advocate for the Mid-Hudson Regional Planning Consortium.

Through the harris project, Stephanie developed the CODA (Co-Occurring Disorders Awareness) prevention program, a student driven movement to change the conversation about the way society thinks about mental health and substance abuse. The program was piloted in a number of Westchester high schools, but the club at New Rochelle High School has been one of the most active and impactful in its first year with youth-led activities including school wide announcements, tabling with awareness information and materials, displaying messages of encouragement and compassion throughout the school, and holding educational workshops and assembly presentations with outside speakers. “I believe that the things that I am learning from CODA will be the key to a healthy and happy college experience,” says senior and executive committee member Kristin Gallagher. Fellow board member Claudia Marcelin, echoes this sentiment when she talks about the organization. “Of all the things that I do,” she says, “I hold CODA most dear. It is the key to building successful coping mechanisms for the problems that come up in high school and even college.”

Together Stephanie and the New Rochelle High School CODA Club’s goals are increased awareness, early intervention and a reduction in the stigma typically associated with mental health challenges/substance misuse.

Jim Rathschmidt

2018 Quality of Life Award

United for the Troops began quite simply with a gesture that parents everywhere can relate to: Jim Rathschmidt and his wife Patty mailed a care package to their son Luke who was deployed with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq. The package contained simple items like toiletries and snacks. Luke appreciated the package, but he told his parents that he felt badly because most of his fellow soldiers did not receive any mail or care packages at all. This bothered Jim, and he began collecting items to fill boxes to send to Luke’s friends and colleagues. In the early days, all the boxes were sent directly to Luke, who passed them around to his delighted fellow soldiers. Later on Patty sent out questionnaires asking what the soldiers would like to see in their packages. It was definitely a labor of love.

Today United for the Troops is a thriving nonprofit organization. Thanks to Jim’s tireless devotion and countless presentations, it is supported by a network of local schools, civic groups, Scout troops, and business leaders who help gather, sort items and pack boxes. Many also help by writing cards and letters that are tucked into packages to add a warm message of caring from the home front. The goal is always to support and remember deployed service members in the hope of making things a little easier for them. The organization works out of space provided by Putnam County to collect and pack the items needed to ship over 18,000 packages a year. The items that fill the boxes are all donated. Any money that is raised or collected is used to pay for the shipping which runs about $15 per box.

There is one point that Jim is most emphatic about: “My wife Patty and I are co-founders of United for the Troops. We each have done the things we do best. She works behind the scenes while I am the front man. We each have our roles to play in the success of the organization.” Together they are ensuring that those brave service members, in dangerous war zones, know they are not alone and thought of with a package from home.

Suzie Ross

2018 Going Green Award

Suzie Ross fulfilled a longtime desire to get involved with her community and to do something to make a real difference when she joined an advisory group that was writing a climate action plan for the Town of Ossining. At that time, Suzie was in the midst of a full-time career as a media research executive with two teenaged sons, Jake and Ben. She recalls feeling like a bit of an outsider sitting with people that she did not know during those early meetings. She felt uncomfortable with the thought that many had more academic credentials and experience. It didn’t take long however to realize that she did not need that level of expertise to get involved. “Being a concerned member of the community was what mattered. My opinions and commitment to the project were enough to make me an accepted member of the team,” recalls Suzie.

Today Suzie is the head of Green Ossining. Under her high-energy direction, the Greater Ossining Earth Day Festival has grown from 300 attendees in its first year to the largest such festival in Westchester County with 4,000 attendees in 2017. This year’s event will take place Saturday, April 21st, from 10am to 5pm. Recently Green Ossining launched a Repair Café where folks with skills gather to fix beloved but broken items, at no cost. As an extension of her engagement in environmental matters, Suzie recently attended Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Corp, which further ignited her passion and dedication to making Westchester a greener place.

In addition, Suzie heads the Ossining Documentary and Discussion Series, which has as its slogan: “Bringing Our Community Together One Film at a Time.” Each monthly documentary screening is followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A session. When asked about the connection between her Green Ossining work and the Documentary Series, Suzie quickly replied, “At one point, a lot of things started overlapping for me. A healthy community is an environmentally aware community and vice versa. They are related.”

While she may have a busy volunteering schedule, Ross admitted “I don’t really think of it as volunteering. I think of it as civic responsibility.”

Geri Shapiro

2018 Legacy Award

A senior advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Geri Shapiro is a long-time Westchester resident and intimately involved with a myriad of important issues that impact our community and its residents. She is a staunch advocate for the county, working with leadership from all levels of government, nonprofits and the business community. Geri understands intimate details of the “big picture” of any issue – seniors, people with disabilities, nuclear power, access to social services, healthcare – but her primary focus is always on the person or family whose life is directly impacted.

Geri’s first career was as a stay-at-home mom who devoted much of her time volunteering at her daughter’s school and caring for her aging parents. She was active in the Edgemont PTA and served as PTA president. In 2000, she began volunteering for Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Senate campaign. Known by her family as the “expeditor,” her skills and experiences were quickly recognized and, at age 59, she was asked to serve as Westchester County Regional Director for Senator Clinton. In 2009 she transitioned to Regional Director for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and currently serves as a Senior Advisor.

Geri is among those who are quietly working to make Westchester County a better place, all while inspiring and empowering others. Throughout her career, she has mentored staff, volunteers, and members of the community, particularly women. Geri has been honored with the National Association for Female Executives 2012 Women of Excellence Award for Service to New York for her “vision, courage, compassion, proven success and generosity as demonstrated by how they help other women succeed.”

For Volunteer New York!, Geri has served as a mentor to the organization’s leadership. She greatly values Volunteer New York!’s mission and has asked probing questions that have encouraged critical reflection, helped formulate effective messaging, and introduced the organization to her extended network. Geri has described our work as “infrastructure” and knows that volunteers are critical to the effectiveness of any nonprofit.

Volunteering, and a bit of tenacity, opened a new door in Geri’s life, and she believes in its power to do the same for others.

Irene Harris

SeniorCorps Week 2016 - RSVP of Westchester Volunteer Spotlight

Meet, Irene. An active member of RSVP of Westchester who loves to swim, read mystery books and the New York Times -- and just celebrated her 100th birthday without missing a beat.

Irene was born in Illinois in 1916, has one sister and two brothers. She has 7 grand kids and three great grandsons and lives in Thornwood. She graduated from Iowa University and got her masters from Columbia. She was a teacher and then a College Professor for Michigan State University and Washington State University. Irene loves to swim at the YWCA at least three times a week. Irene has traveled all over the world. At 100 years old, Irene drives to her volunteer job but doesn’t enjoy the traffic.

Irene found out about the Open Book volunteer opportunity through the church bulletin. She has been a RSVP member, volunteering with JCY’s OPEN BOOK program since 2000 at the Westchester Medical Center.

OPEN BOOK is a program that fosters reading and literacy among preschool children and families, distributing over 10,000 books annually. As part of the National Reach Out and Read Program, books are prescribed by the pediatricians to the families at the children's “well visits.”

Volunteers, like Irene and other RSVP members read aloud to the children in the waiting room and give them an age- appropriate book to take home; they also model reading techniques for parents/caregivers to use with their children. Parent Education Kits are distributed to the parents/caregivers.

Irene is a trained RSVP member that uses her skills to help the children learn new vocabulary words, proper word pronunciation and promotes a positive attitude towards reading.

When asked “what does volunteering at age 100 means to you?” Irene says “I feel useful” and “I love the kids, they are so adorable”

When Irene volunteers she feels that she’s using her expertise in education. She feels that the children need time to read and spend time to explore new ways of reading.

Irene gives each child one on one attention, cues them on the story they read and goes over vocabulary words with them. She is very passionate about children in general and loves to read books.

Do You Know A Changemaker?

Volunteer Nominations Are Now Open For the 2019 Volunteer Spirit Awards. Visit volunteernewyork.org/awards for more info and give an amazing volunteer you know a chance to be recognized for their spirit and community impact.

2019 Volunteer Spirit Award Categories:

Education and Literacy Award
Honors volunteers dedicated to education and literacy through activities including, but not limited to, tutoring, adult literacy, library-based initiatives, early childhood education, and intergenerational programs.

Going Green Award
Honors volunteers who work to protect and beautify our environment and natural surroundings, advocate for the preservation of our planet and strive to instill these values for our community.

Quality of Life Award
Honors individuals who work to improve the quality of life in the following areas, including, but not limited to, working to reduce illness or with the disabled, homeless, elderly, and veteran populations, as well with those with substance abuse problems or mental disabilities.

Safe Community Award
Honors volunteers who work to provide, promote and improve safe behavior in areas including, but not limited to, emergency preparedness, disaster response and relief, First Aid, fire prevention, internet safety.

Social Advocacy Award
Honors volunteers who advocate for and support the righting of injustice in our community in areas such as, but not limited to, human rights, minority rights, domestic violence, housing, job preparedness, etc.

Youth Leadership Award (Individual or Group)
Honors one youth (age 21 years or under) or group of youth for her/his/their outstanding volunteer service for a cause or nonprofit.