Youths Hold Fundraisers to Support Yorktown Causes

The Yorktown Leos Club raised money for the town’s D.A.R.E. program by selling hot dogs today. They raised a total of $1,050 from the sales. Members of the Leos Club were stationed at the  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and held up signs encouraging people to stop by and support their cause. 

Jeff Besselman was driving on Route 202 when saw the signs and asked his kids if they wanted to a hot dog after having just finished soccer practice.

"Whenever you can help a charity, you help," he said and added that he explained to 6-year-old twins Carly and Devin, and 7-year-old Aidan what charities are meant for. 

Liz McGowan and her 13-year-old son Tim also came to support the fundraiser. She said her four children, Lakeland school district students, have gone through the D.A.R.E. program. It's an important program because it teaches kids that the police could be their friends, she said, and it breaks that gap. 

"I can't think of a better cause to support programs that encourage kids to find alternatives to use of drugs and alcohol," Stefanie Carbone said of her reasons behind buying a hot dog today. 

Youth Officer Richard Finn is the D.A.R.E. instructor of the programs in the Yorktown and Lakeland school districts. Detective Sean Lewis said New York State cut funding to the program a few years ago and the program completely relies on fundraising.

Sponsors of the D.A.R.E. program are the Yorktown Police Benevolent Association, the Yorktown Athletic Club, Shrub Oak Athletic Club,  the Yorktown Lions Club and the Yorktown Leos Club, Harrison Apar Field of Dreams Foundation, Alliance for Safe Kids, Sonic Sports and Murphy's Restaurant.

Those interested in making a donation to the D.A.R.E. program can mail their checks to the Yorktown Police Benevolent Association, P.O. Box 178, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 and write D.A.R.E. in the memo.

Also, in town  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. All proceeds were to benefit the recently started committee Young Yorktown Advocates United. The charity was created in memory of her late sister Lauren and other Yorktown youths have died. D'Amato is raising money so that To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide, could come to Yorktown and speak to young adults. 

To find Young Yorktown Advocates United on Facebook, click here. To follow them on Twitter: @YYAU4Change or visit their website. For more information or questions email yyaucommittee@gmail.com.

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