How Can You Give This Holiday Season?

There are so many ways to donate and volunteer this time of year it can be dizzying, but the impacts of our efforts and contributions can perhaps best be measured (and felt) when we go local. 

Here are just a few of the many ways to lend a helping hand this season here and nearby.

Have a charity that could use some help right now? Share the details in the comments and we'll spread the word.

Need inspiration? Bethel’s Springvale Inn writes that they "participated in the recent Croton Caring Committee Food Drive by providing a drop-off point in its lobby where members of the community and residents from the Inn donated a variety of non-perishable food items." (Photo above.)

Operation Holiday Joy 

anyone? Bring cheer to MHA's neediest children, families, and individuals. Fulfill a wish list today! Contact the Mental Health Association of Westchester to find out how.

Care Packages for Soldiers

From Village of Ossining news: "Boy Scout Troop 49 with Cub Pack 49 in partnership with Parker Bale American Legion Post 1597 is collecting articles for Care Packages to be sent to our soldiers in time for Christmas. The Scouts ask you to please donate all or any of the suggested items below. Boxes will be placed for drop off at: Parker Bale Post 1597, 11 Old Albany Post Road. The deadline is December 8th. 

Suggested items are: 

• "Deodorant, Bath/Body Wash, Hand Sanitizer, Nail Clippers, Lip Balm, Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste, 2 Razors, Shave Gel, Wash Cloth, 1 Comb and Pic, Skin Lotion, Sun Screen, Pens, Spiral notebooks, Envelopes, Large sizes of Green, Brown or Tan T-shirts. Black boot socks. White athletic socks worn for physical training and under the boot socks. A note expressing gratitude and support for their service to our country. Please do not wrap the articles. Simply place items in bag and deposit in the box."

Help a Wounded Veteran 

The charity "Westchester All Stars Christmas for Wounded Veterans Concert" at the Tarrytown Music Hall on Dec. 6 promises: 

• "a wonderful night of holiday music will include Westchester’s Best musical talents including Latin Grammy nominee Bernie Williams, Jon Cobert, Tom Dudley, Bill Edwards, David Keyes and Duchess Di, Johnny Feds, and Da Bluez Boyz, Kristen Capolino, Jessica Lynn Scott and Mia Staton, Chuck St. Troy, The Renovators, and The Barnstormers. The emcee for the evening is Actor Tony Darrow from Goodfellas, The Sopranos, and Analyze This. Kick off the Holiday season with a great night of holiday music and laughs to benefit wounded veterans organizations such as The Bob Woodruff Foundation." Click here for more info and to buy tickets. 

Soup Kitchens, Food Banks

Click here for a short list of Westchester County Soup Kitchens and food banks you can volunteer at.

Five Community Campaigns

Local efforts that could use your help now, including Tarrytown’s Coffee Labs very pink (and flashy) effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Ossining Toys for Tots

Donation boxes are all over Ossining and beyond. From their Facebook page: "Find one at THE BOATHOUSE restaurant, EMIGRANT BANK, Claremont Gardens Leasing Office, Town of Ossining offices, Town/Village Clerk's offices, Ossining Fire Dept. headquarters and Ossining Police Dept." For more info visit them on Facebook.

The Baker-Collyer Christmas Cheer Fund 

was started by an Ossining merchant who witnessed two children picking through a garbage pile for food, 95 years ago. The current Chairman of the Baker-Collyer Cheer Fund is John Crawford. Over 300 local needy families in the greater Ossining area are aided through the fund each year, thanks to the generous efforts of the community. The funds go solely to purchase food for the holiday baskets, packed and delivered by members of the Ossining Volunteer Fire Department. This year the packing will take place at the A&P, Pleasantville Road on the evening of December 22nd and delivered in the early morning of December 23rd. Contributions can be sent to the Baker-Collyer Christmas Cheer Fund, c/o Town of Ossining, 16 Croton Avenue, Ossining, NY 10562 or by contacting John Crawford at 914-438-9843, 914-762-1958 or johngcrawford@aol.com.

Open Door Holiday Drive

Bring joy to a child this holiday season, donate a new toy! Open Door Foundation collects gifts for the neediest of our young patients. Each year we are able to make the holidays brighter for children and their families with community support. For most, this is the only gift they may receive during the holidays.  For a wishlist of items and the addresses of Open Door centers in Sleepy Hollow, Ossining and beyond, click here.

Want more?

The Volunteer Center is Here to Guide You...

A huge list of ways to help and contribute in the region is compiled, and coordinated, by Tarrytown-based The Volunteer Center of United Way. Check it out here.