Here’s Where to Volunteer in Westchester This Thanksgiving and Help Local Families
With the rising cost of groceries and the current job market, many families in Westchester are facing food insecurity. It ‘s especially tough as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday. There are several local organizations that need volunteers to help prepare and deliver holiday meals. Some ways to help are to collect food, host drives, or make donations. Check out where you can get involved right here in our community!
Psst… Check Out Gov. Hochul Allocates $65M for New Yorkers Facing SNAP Cuts, Declares State of Emergency
Feeding Westchester Holiday Food Drive
200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford
Feeding Westchester seeks donations and volunteers all year long. They look for people to host a fundraiser, contribute funds, or donate food. This season, choose items from the Holiday Food Drive list and drop them off at the distribution center, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Visit their website to learn more and sign up to get involved.
Family Services of Westchester
2975 Westchester Ave., Suite 401, Purchase
Family Services of Westchester helps local families celebrate the holiday with dignity through its Thanksgiving in a Box program. Each box contains all the essential ingredients for a holiday feast. You can also donate at fsw.org.
Community Center of Northern Westchester Holiday Food Drive
84 Bedford Road, Katonah
Each year, the Community Center of Northern Westchester collects food and monetary donations as part of its annual Holiday Food Drive. Since the Center is currently rebuilding and operating from a temporary location, supporters are encouraged to contribute by visiting the Center’s Amazon wishlist to have items shipped directly or by making a monetary donation.
HOPE Community Services
50 Washington Ave., New Rochelle
HOPE Community Services distributes pantry bags every other Wednesday from 9 am –12 pm and 2 – 4 pm and welcomes volunteers to help prepare and deliver food. Volunteers are needed to assist on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with packing, unloading, sorting, and distributing food. They must be at least 12 years old, and those aged 12–13 must be accompanied by an adult. Sign up online at hopecommunityservices.org/volunteer.
Carver Center
400 Westchester Avenue, Port Chester
Every day, the Carver Center food services team prepares and distributes about 700 nutritious meals to children and teens in after-school and Teen Center programs. Through a partnership with Feeding Westchester, Carver’s Retail Recovery program rescued 275,411 pounds of food from 16 local stores last year, providing 40% more food to families who rely on the Carver Market each week. You can help by making a donation online, sending a check to Port Chester Carver Center, PO Box 429, Port Chester, NY 10573, or contributing food or other needed items. Contact Olivia Jimenez at ojimenez@carvercenter.org for more information.
DOROT Thanksgiving Package Delivery and Friendly Chat For Seniors
925 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200, White Plains
DOROT hand-delivers holiday meals directly to older adults in the community. They are seeking volunteers to deliver meals on Sunday, November 23rd from 10:30 am to noon. All volunteers must be at least 18 years old. If Thanksgiving slots are full, DOROT offers a variety of year-round volunteer opportunities for Westchester residents. Learn more at www.dorotusa.org
The Pantry
300 East Main St., Mount Kisco
The Pantry serves over 2,000 people weekly by letting them pick their choice of fresh produce, dairy, grains, and proteins. It is mostly run by volunteers and depends on neighbors and donors to stock shelves, pack produce, make deliveries, and help anyone who stops by. High-need items include rice, beans, canned protein, pasta, cereal, peanut butter, and fortified milk. If you are 16 or older, you can also sign up to be a volunteer.
Psst…Check Out A Guide to Food Pantries and Food Resources in NYC
