Yorktown Woman's 'Love in Action' Expands into Second Store

Yorktown's Donna Simone-Sofo has been helping needy families for years and recently her "love in action" expanded to help even more people.

She has opened up a second donations center where proceeds from sales will go toward helping people pay their bills.

Simone-Sofo is able to do so through her non-for-profit organization Yorktown Love in Action, which she founded in 2011. Last year she opened her first thrift shop in Yorktown which sells donated items such as clothing, shoes, baby items, toys, household goods and appliances.

Her second store – called "Hidden Treasures and Donation Center" – is located at 3144 East Main Street (Route 6) in Mohegan Lake (across the street from the Wal-Mart plaza). She celebrated its grand opening on Monday, Nov. 4.

"We have helped many local people and are continuing to help more and more," she said. "Though I never expected to open our second one so quickly, the more centers we have the more families we can help."

At the store, people can drop off their slightly used items and at the same time shop for new ones. Proceeds from Simone-Sofo's two stores are used to help pay the medical, utility and insurance bills of people in need. The store carries a showroom of furniture and appliances.  

"We accept all good quality merchandise with the exception of books and tube TV's," Simone-Sofo said. "We also accept furniture, appliances and automobiles."

Yorktown Love in Action is nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Since she formed the organization, she has helped numerous families that it's hard to put an exact number on it, she said.

"Every day the number grows and every day there seems to be more and more people in need," Simone-Sofo said. "My heart just aches for everyone."

She wants community members to understand that the kind of people she helps are working people with homes, cars and most of them have jobs.

"They are not on government assistance and need a little help to get back on their feet," she said. There may have been a death in the family, an illness, divorce or something else beyond their control that set them back. They are back to work and mostly able to meet their current expenses."

Yorktown Love in Action gives them a helping hand to catch up, she said.

Recently, Simone-Sofo said, a young married couple – both with full-time jobs and three children but struggling to pay the bills – came into her Donation Center. They filled out an application see if they qualify for a discount to receive items from the Donation Center.

When they picked out a bedroom dresser, Simone-Sofo said she took down their information to have the dresser delivered to their home. At that point the young couple asked her how much they owed her.

Simone-Sofo said she told hem it was her pleasure to help them and they owed her absolutely nothing.

"The young woman stood their and tears began to stream down her face," Simone-Sofo said. "As we both cried and hugged each other I could absolutely feel the gratitude and love this woman has in her heart. I am honored to have this family as 'Friends of Yorktown Love in Action.' This is why my husband and I do what we do."

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In conjunction with the store's grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, Simone-Sofo is promoting their 'Hearts of Hope' Fundraiser through Nov. 30.

Establishments such as IHOP, Applebee's, Frankie & Augie'Z, Yorktown Insurance and Energy Movement Center will be selling 6" white ($1) and pink ($5) hearts, to their patrons. Proceeds from the sales of the hearts come back to Yorktown Love in Action which will then be used to help its 'families.' Yorktown Love in Action' will also donate $1 of every pink heart sold to the Support Connection.

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The two donation centers are located at:
3144 East Main Street (Rt. 6) Mohegan Lake NY 10547 and
3565 Crompond Road (Rt. 202) Cortlandt Manor NY 10567
For more information call 914-490-3966.