Community Corner
Help Yourself by Helping Others
Whatever your interests, there's a worthy cause—and a tax break—for your donations.
The holiday season, filled with celebrations and family gatherings, is also about the magic and joy that come from giving. In addition to helping people in need and feeling good about it, giving has a practical side—you can deduct charitable contributions on your tax return. There is a catch, however—to claim a donation on your 2011 return, you must make it by the end of the year. Looking ahead, if volunteering is among your resolutions for 2012, there are numerous organizations that would appreciate your time as well as your treasure.
Here are a few suggestions gathered from a year-end review. Please tell us in the comments section below if you have others. Thank you for caring.
In Yorktown:
Local Fire Departments, Ambulance Corps
Find out what's happening in Yorktown-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
If you're interested in joining the community of first responders in the area, they are always looking for new members. For the , call 914-962-2148. To volunteer at the Lake Mohegan Fire Department, call 914-526-0823. To reach call 914-245-9822.
on the third Wednesday of the month. Volunteer opportunities include working at Thrifty Me at the Cultural Center to raise money for food purchases, set up, organizing collections from other sites and distribution. For more information call 914-962-1144. The organization is based at the , 1974 Commerce St. in Yorktown Heights.
Find out what's happening in Yorktown-Somerswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Leos and Lions work together. The mission: "To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs." The Lions Club is known as the largest community service organization worldwide.
Around the area:
The Salvation Army
https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=206
Peekskill center, 117 Nelson Ave., 914-737-0280
Peekskill thrift store, 1022 Main St., 914-737-3022
The Salvation Army offers social services and specialized programs addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs of families, individuals and elderly people. In addition to financial
donations, the organization also needs clothing, toys and household goods and is seeking volunteers for after-school programs such as homework tutors and music instructors who could offer their time to kids as a long-lasting gift.
Gilda's Club of Westchester
80 Maple Ave., White Plains, 914-644-8844
Gilda's Club Westchester seeks to create welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer–men, women, teens and children–along with their families and friends. Volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities. The first Gilda's Club opened in New York City in 1995 in honor of comedienne Gilda Radner, and in 2001, Gilda's Club Westchester opened its red doors at its current location in White Plains. Today, there are more than 2,800 Gilda's Club Westchester members from Westchester, Rockland and Fairfield Counties.
American Red Cross/Westchester County Chapter
106 N. Broadway, White Plains, 914-946-6500
http://www.nyredcross.org/?nd=metro_north_ny
The Westchester County Chapter of the American Red Cross was founded in 1898 to help care for injured soldiers returning from the Spanish-American War. Today, services extend far beyond the blood drives and life-saving programs for which the organization is renowned. Red Cross personnel can also be found on the front lines of any disaster or catastrophic event, prepared to offer a wide range of relief assistance to individuals and families. Volunteers of all ages are needed in offices, schools and home to respond to and help others in the event of a catastrophe, to teach life-saving techniques, provide counseling and companionship for both young and old victims, donate blood, recruit and organize others to donate, and to perform a host of other clerical and office management tasks.
Food Bank for Westchester
358 Saw Mill River Road, Millwood, 914-923-1100
www.foodbankforwestchester.org
Food Bank for Westchester supplies more than 200 of the county's hunger-relief programs, along with managing the warehousing and administration of its emergency food-distribution network. The Food Bank's staff is nowhere near large enough to accomplish its mission so the organization relies on a large network of volunteers to help. Opportunities include organizing and holding community food drives, repacking and warehousing bulk food and grocery items, conducting awareness and fund-raising events, and serving on its board of directors.
26 Village Green, Bedford, 914-234-4714
The Junior League of Northern Westchester is a nonprofit and nonsectarian volunteer organization of women from the ages of 21 to 93 trained for effective leadership in community activities and dedicated to the belief that volunteer service is an essential part of responsible citizenship. The Junior League of Northern Westchester reaches out to and is composed of women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, voluntarism. The Junior League is a great way to meet people and learn about the communities that need help throughout the year. Click here to learn more about joining the Junior League.
Midnight Run
97 Main St., Dobbs Ferry, 914-693-7817
Midnight Run is composed of volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups who distribute food, clothing, blankets and other items to homeless and poor people on the streets of New York City. The late-night "runs" offer a chance to build a sense of trust, understanding and affection—through an experience of sharing—among those who have and those who don't. Volunteers learn that the homeless are men and women who deserve respect and dignity, while the homeless learn that the cares and concerns of "mainstream" adults and teenagers extend beyond their individual lives and families. Individuals who wish to be organizers train first as crew members under the supervision of an experienced leader. Organizers assemble their own groups, which usually consists of about a dozen volunteers (including at least two adults); all should be at least 14.
SPCA of Westchester
590 N. State Road, Briarcliff Manor, 914-941-2896
If you have a love for animals, the SPCA has volunteer opportunities ranging from dog walking, cat care, dog bathing and grooming to greeters programs, event planning, humane education, outreach therapy programs, shelter beautification and administrative work. You can also donate your time if you've got a special skill, such as photography, carpentry or art. The Briarcliff Manor facility was established in 1921 and is still the only humane society in Westchester County that can enforce animal cruelty laws and relies solely on financial support from donations and the support of volunteers.
based in Tarrytown, is available as a one-stop resource that matches volunteers to meaningful opportunities through its online database—a great way to keep that holiday spirit alive all year long.
