WHO WE ARE

The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) is a nonprofit women’s organization committed to promoting volunteerism; developing the potential of women; and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Headquartered at historic Wayside Cottage, the JLCW has served the communities of Eastchester, Greenburgh, Scarsdale and White Plains for over 60 years.  Our approximately 250 active and sustaining members are accomplished collaborators who identify community needs and develop effective and responsive programs to serve those needs.

MEMBERSHIP

The JLCW invites women of all races, religions and national origins who are committed to volunteerism to become a member.  New members join the JLCW twice per year, in the fall and in the spring. For more information, call 914.723.6130, email us at jlcw@verizon.net or visit our website at www.JLCentralWestchester.org.

JLCW COMMUNITY IMPACT

Working with our community partners, the JLCW engages in an annual process of exploring the issues facing our service area.  To address these issues, the JLCW engages in a combination of community projects, focused grants, public policy advocacy and the recruitment and training of volunteers.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

The most significant component of the work of the JLCW consists of designing projects to address identified issues facing members of our service area, and providing funding and volunteers for these projects.  Many of these programs are designed and implemented in cooperation with our community partners.  Organizations wishing to partner with the JLCW can submit a Project Proposal to the JLCW.  The Project Proposal form and information on submission and approval dates can be obtained on our website at www.JLCentralWestchester.org, through our offices at Wayside Cottage, 1039 Post Road, Scarsdale, New York 10583, or by telephone at 914.723.6130.

CURRENT COMMITTEES AND PROJECTS

LITERACY PROGRAMS:

Since its inception, the JLCW has been committed to improving childhood literacy.  Recognizing that parents are the primary educators of children, the JLCW’s Family Literacy Fair (2007-2010), now part of the Family Literacy Program (2009-2010) (see below), encourages families to engage in activities that build and celebrate literacy.  Parents are provided with information (in English and Spanish) that explains how they can help their children improve their literacy skills.  The children are provided with books and other tools that are essential to improving their reading, writing and fine motor skills, so that they can practice these skills at home as well as at school. This project was developed in conjunction with the Family Services of Westchester Head Start preschool programs, a comprehensive, intergenerational program that helps parents and children learn together, provides parents with strategies to support learning at home and gives them the opportunity to learn about child development.  Approximately 90 families from Westchester head start programs attended The Family Literacy Fair annually in previous years.  The Family Literacy Fair supports Head Start’s efforts to build on family literacy as one pathway to self-sufficiency. 

In 2009 the Story Time project (see Past Projects) and Family Literacy Fair were combined to form the Family Literacy Program.  The reorganization of these projects seeks to leverage the benefits gained by targeting the same population of children and tracking their literacy progress.  JLCW members will visit Head Start preschool classrooms on a monthly basis, read to the children, lead an activity to reinforce early literacy skills, and provide books and other essential tools for improving literacy for children to bring home.  This way the children can build literacy skills at home and at school.  JLCW members will also organize and staff a one-day family event for the same children and their parents to provide parents with support and encourage literacy as a family endeavor.  

SERVICES TO THE  HOMELESS AND OTHER NEEDY POPULATIONS:

Throughout the year, the JLCW Grace Church Community Center Soup Kitchen committee (2006-2010) provides six hot and ten cold meals sufficient to serve 75-100 individuals at the Grace Church Community Center Soup Kitchen, one of only two places in White Plains where free mid-day meals are regularly served to the needy.  

Through the Stepping Stone committee (2002-2010), the JLCW has provided restoration, furnishings, support and upkeep of a home in Scarsdale for families in transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency under the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (or, in one unusual case, to a family forced to relocate temporarily for extended medical treatment).  We have organized goods drives, provided Friday night dinners and fulfilled holiday wish lists for the children in this home.  This project was designed in cooperation with Westhab, the largest provider of housing for the homeless in Westchester.

The JLCW collaborates with the five other Westchester Junior Leagues (creating a volunteer force of over 1,500 women) to help the local population through Westchester Joint Projects.  In 2009, the May No One Go Hungry initiative collected over 2,300 food items to help prevent hunger in Westchester.  In 2009-2010, the JLCW will create Special Angel Memory Boxes for Westchester hospitals to give to women who have suffered a late term pregnancy or infant loss to honor their child; and make blankets for Project Linus, an organization which supplies blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need.

WAYSIDE COTTAGE AND LOCAL HISTORY:

Since 1953, the JLCW has been the custodian of Wayside Cottage, a national historic treasure that dates from colonial times and which enjoys a rich history as a center of community service.  As custodians of this 18th century historic site, Wayside Cottage committee members conduct historical research projects, oversee the maintenance of the Cottage, and develop and implement restoration, preservation and redecoration projects.  In addition, this committee provides guided educational tours in period dress for local schools and community groups and hosts social/educational functions attended by government officials, educators, senior citizens and the general public.  

In 2007, the JLCW published Steps to Liberty, a children’s picture book based on the history of Wayside Cottage during the Revolutionary War period, the culmination of two years of work researching, writing and producing the book.  Author and JLCW member Laura Marsh continues to conduct author visits at schools and libraries throughout the community.  This project brings to life the exciting history of this national historic treasure and educates children about everyday life during the 18th century.

PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY:

The JLCW supports its work in the community with advocacy on both the state and local levels through our standing New York State Public Affairs committee.  The JLCW acts as an advocate for women’s and children’s issues.  The JLCW also hosts an annual breakfast for community organizations and local representatives to discuss issues of local interest.

HEALTH:

The new Kids in the Kitchen (2009-2010) program seeks to combat childhood obesity by teaching children and their families about nutrition and exercise. The goal of the program is to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.  Interactive cooking demonstrations, fitness activities and take-home educational materials and recipes are provided. The Association of Junior Leagues International provides extensive program materials and marketing support for Kids in the Kitchen and, in 2009, over 215 Leagues participated.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND/OR TRAINING:

Twice each year, our New Members (formerly called “Provisionals”) develop and implement a project of relatively limited scope as part of their training.  These New Member Projects (many of which are more fully described under the historic projects section below) allow the JLCW to support additional targeted needs while initiating new recruits into our project work.

The goal of the Junior Junior League initiative (2008-2009) was to train the next generation of volunteers.  The JLCW recruited children in our service area to participate in small-scale projects such as assisting in preparing meals for the hungry, assembling holiday food packages, and doing art projects for senior citizens.  For 2009-2010, the JLCW will build on this commitment.  It is now the responsibility of one of the Board level positions to find opportunities to involve children, where appropriate, in JLCW programs to promote volunteering to the next generation.

Each year since 2001, the JLCW has awarded up to a $2,500 Volunteer Service Award scholarship to a female high school senior who will be attending a 2- or 4-year college.  The scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to volunteerism. This program seeks to raise awareness of volunteerism and to support the development of young women as volunteers.

PAST COMMITTEES AND PROJECTS

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

In 2005, the JLCW held its first Dental Day (2004-2007).  Free dental screenings were provided by local dentists to 150 underserved children and their siblings from a Head Start program and a White Plains public school.  In addition to the screening, the program featured lunch, games and entertainment, all in an effort to make this event fun and encourage participation.  Information regarding low-cost and no-cost dental insurance programs were provided to parents in order to encourage and assist on-going dental care.  Committee members followed up with these families after the event to further encourage on-going care.  In subsequent years, Dental Day was held at the George Washington School in White Plains.  Participating students were selected by the nurses from the five White Plains elementary schools and a group of children from the Coachman Family Center participated.  The program continued to offer dental screenings and provide educational materials, information on follow-up care and insurance, food, entertainment and a goody bag for the children to enjoy.

The JLCW Domestic Violence Committee collaborated with My Sisters’ Place to develop and implement a domestic violence education and prevention program serving at-risk middle school and high school students in this area, developing a conference entitled “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” (1995 – 2008) . With a grant from NYS Senator Oppenheimer, the JLCW created a video of the program, “Student Workshop:  Teen Dating Abuse and Violence” and related teaching materials.  This video has been used throughout the United States as one of the premier teaching tools on the subject.  The conference features an improvisational skit, a presentation by a teen abuse survivor, breakout groups moderated by professionals and a panel discussion. Teens learn about the different types of abuse and how to help themselves or their friends if they are in an abusive relationship. The conference is attended by over 250 students and 35 teachers annually and draws from 19 area high schools in central and southern Westchester.  Significantly, some of the teenagers attending this conference have acknowledged abusive relationships in their lives and begun to seek support and assistance while attending the conference.  After developing the conference and running it for 4 years, the JLCW turned the event over to My Sisters’ Place.  The JLCW continued to support the conference by providing volunteers to work at the conference and awarding grants to help fund the conference in subsequent years.

The JLCW Protect the Children project (2005-2007) consisted of the presentation of a series of lectures to educate parents and teachers about Internet safety, stranger danger and other child safety issues. In addition, the JLCW sponsored a speaker from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who spoke at school assemblies in several Scarsdale elementary schools to educate the children about Internet safety.

The JLCW coordinated and staffed Safety Town (1999 – 2003 and  2005 – 2007), an annual weeklong program introducing safety awareness and preventive procedures to 60 children entering kindergarten.  The program addressed a wide variety of safety issues (toys, poisons, fires, crossing streets, stranger danger, bicycle safety, etc.) through both classroom instruction and simulated activities in a model “Safety Town”.

In 2006, the JLCW Women’s Health Initiative committee (2005-2007), in partnership with the Young Survival Coalition, organized a screening of “Breast Cancer Legacy,” a documentary film with an in-depth look at the genetics of breast cancer in women age 40 and under.  The documentary was followed by a panel discussion including survivors and medical experts.  In addition, in October 2005 and 2006, JLCW members organized local participation in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at Manhattanville College.

In 2007, the JLCW Provisional class sponsored the Head Start Healthy Kids Day for 100 preschoolers at the Head Start program at St. Bernard’s in White Plains.  An activity session focused on running and movement games that can be played at home to educate the children about the importance of being active. A dietitian read a book entitled “The and provided the children with a healthy snack. The children also decorated shirts designed to promote the importance of healthy living.

In the Spring of 2006 and the Fall of 2008, the JLCW sponsored Head Start Safety Days for approximately 100 preschoolers from the Family Services of Westchester Head Start programs.  The children learned the basics of safety and accident prevention, as well as poison control from the Hudson Valley Poison Control Center, met a policeman and a fire fighter, visited a fire truck, and brought home a favor bag filled with such items as fire detectors, batteries, safety coloring books, crayons, fireman’s hat, and bilingual safety handouts for their parents.

The JLCW, Westchester Jewish Community Services and the Child Care Council of Westchester collaborated to present the Safe Kids Now Workshop (2006-2007) to educate preschool teachers, day care workers and social workers about how to identify the signs of domestic violence in young children, understand its impact, and learn about the resources available in Westchester County to help children and their families heal from the trauma of abuse.

LITERACY PROGRAMS:

Through the Story Time project (1950’s – 2009), efforts were focused on children who were not exposed to reading at an early age and who may not have had easy access to books.  Members of this committee provided face-to-face reading time, often using over-sized books and “story gloves” to enhance the children’s experience.  In addition, the JLCW provided books to the children in this program for them to take home and share with their parents.  Over the years, our partners have included:  WestHELP, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, St. Bernard’s Head Start program, Blythedale Children’s Hospital, and Westhab.  Through this program, the JLCW read to over 1000 children in our service area annually.  Story Time visits to Family Services of Westchester’s Head Start preschool classrooms are now part of the Family Literacy Program, described in Current Committees and Projects.

In our Literature to Life (2003 – 2004) program, the JLCW partnered with the American Place Theatre to bring this performance-based literacy program to Westchester high schools.  The Literature to Life program presented professionally staged, verbatim adaptations of significant American literary works.  In April 2004, over 300 people attended a performance of “The Secret Life of Bees” at a local school and two sold-out performances were given at Pelham Manner Theatre to students from Bronxville Middle School, Tuckahoe Middle School, the German School and certain Rye schools.

JLCW Provisional members in the Fall of 2007 organized a “Reading Fun Day” for children participating in an Eastchester afterschool program.  The JLCW provided both an interactive read-aloud and discussion groups, organized literacy-themed crafts and activities, and supplied the Center with books and educational computer software.  In addition, each child received books to bring home to create their own home library. This project was designed and executed in cooperation with the Eastchester Community Action Program (ECAP).

SERVICES TO THE  HOMELESS AND OTHER NEEDY POPULATIONS:

Through the Adopt a Family Program (2008-2009), the JLCW supported homeless families identified by the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless at four critical times during the year.  Food, clothing and other items were provided based on each family’s needs for back to school time, the holiday season, the spring holidays, and summer break preparation.  Over the course of the year, approximately twenty families and over fifty individuals were assisted by this project.  

In 2004 and 2005, the JLCW Soulful Bowlful committee worked with Westhab to create a business to employ female residents of the shelter in the assembly, packaging and marketing of gourmet dried soup mixes.  The brand “Top Chef’s Soup” became fully operational and was sold in a number of supermarkets and specialty stores throughout Westchester.  The JLCW continued to support Top Chef’s Soup through the sale of the soup at our annual Holiday Boutique and the establishment of a link from our website to theirs.

Through our Westhab Mentoring Program (2003 – 2005), the JLCW collaborated with the Westhab family shelter to mentor women for job interviews as a part of an employment-training program for adults attempting to become independent.  JLCW mentors met with the women as a group to discuss their hopes for the program and to share stories.  Each volunteer was then teamed up with one of the women to work with her on her specific goals.

In our 2002-2003 operating year, the JLCW organized a clothing and accessory drive for female residents of a homeless shelter.  The goal of our Dress for Success project was to help the over 40 female residents create a wardrobe so they could feel comfortable when they participate in life events, such as job interviews. This project was designed and executed in conjunction with the Westhab Family Center, a 104 unit family shelter in Greenburgh.

The JLCW Fall 2005 Provisional Class organized the installation and stocking of a clothing closet for the children in a Head Start program in White Plains and their parents.  The project provided a resource for over 234 families in the Head Start program for clothing for themselves at no cost.  Also a part of this Head Start - Clothes Closet and Community Event, the JLCW sponsored a “community event” where the approximately 65 children met with four community volunteers (police officer, fire fighter, mail carrier and medical doctor), did crafts and had their pictures taken as a remembrance of the day.  The project sought to provide the children with community role models and age-appropriate educational materials.

In cooperation with the Coachman Family Center, a homeless shelter in White Plains, the JLCW presented a series of after-school programs for homeless teenage girls.  The Coachman Family Center Workshops  program (1998-2001) consisted of workshops with guest speakers on topics such as personal hygiene and nutrition, health and exercise, career opportunities, and domestic violence.

In spring of 2009, the JLCW improved the Youth Services Recreational Room at the Coachman Family Center, which generally has at least 160 children in residence.  The JLCW created a “reading nook” with six colorful and durable vinyl bean bag chairs, provided books for children, provided recreational activities, including a Wii and Wii fitness board, flat screen TV, DVD players, DVDs and board games, and painted and decorated the room with colorful travel posters and flags of various countries.

The JLCW helped design and implement the Art Builds Confidence (ABC) program (2007-2008) consisting of monthly art projects serving 13 mentally retarded/developmentally disabled women provided in a day care setting.  JLCW volunteers designed each project, purchased the necessary supplies, and executed each project with the women. The program was designed to instill confidence and independence in the young women, through their love of art.  For this Project, the JLCW worked with the Cardinal McCloskey Services which operates a Day Habilitation Center where a wide range of community inclusion activities are provided to support their clients’ development of social, recreational, work and self-help skills.

The JLCW created a recreation room at a White Plains group foster home for teenage boys. The multi-purpose room was designed for relaxation, entertainment, exercise and homework.  In addition, members held a holiday party for these boys and the girls who lived in another FSW group home. This Fall 2003 Provisional Class Boys Recreation Room Project was designed in cooperation with Family Services of Westchester.  In the Spring of 2004, the JLCW Provisional class created a Girls Recreation Room at a White Plains group foster home for teenage girls, also sponsored by Family Services of Westchester.  Also in cooperation with Family Services of Westchester, the Provisional Dining Room Renovation Project in the Fall of 2004 was the renovation of a dining/social room at an assisted living residence in White Plains.  This facility offers assisted living for approximately 15 adults suffering from various mental and emotional illnesses.  

Through the Grace Church Community Center Samaritan House Project in the fall of 2006, the JLCW provided bedding and furnishings for the bedrooms, kitchen and living room for Samaritan House, a shelter for women in White Plains.

In the Spring of 2001, the JLCW Make a Difference Day project with Habitat for Humanity consisted of site cleanup and construction work on two houses in Yonkers and the donation of funds for construction materials.  In addition, JLCW members participated in the cleanup of a public park in Yonkers as part of that town’s designated cleanup day.  

In Operation Support Our Troops in the Spring 2005, the JLCW provided 20 fully stocked care packages to “Operation Support Our Troops” for delivery to our troops in Iraq.

The JLCW Social Services Drive in the Winter of 2004 consisted of the donation of paper goods, diapers, wipes, coats, hats and gloves to help the individuals serviced by the Family Employment Retention Services of the Department of Social Services.

In our White Plains Hospital Playroom Room Refurbishment project, the JLCW 2005 Spring Provisional class transformed a dreary hospital room turned storage closet into a warm and welcoming playroom for children admitted to the hospital for observation or treatment.  The refurbished room was a fun, kid-friendly place to play, draw, read and relax during a hospital stay.  Similarly, through the Spring 2008 provisional Pediatric Waiting Room Refurbishment project with the White Plains Hospital Family Health Center, the JLCW painted a garden themed mural and furnished toys and activities for the pediatric waiting room.

PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY:

In 1989, a group of women from three traditionally African American community organizations and the six Westchester Junior Leagues met to talk about racial issues in Westchester County.  The first meeting proved so useful that the women decided to establish a formal collaboration, and the Interracial Women’s Leadership Roundtable (IWLR) (1989-2007) was created.  The IWLR served as a coalition of individual women leaders and organizations who met to address prejudice and discrimination in Westchester.  JLCW members participated in monthly roundtable discussions.  As the IWLR developed, the organization undertook action-oriented programs, including adoption of a policy on multicultural education, annual public forums and workshops, children’s hours on diversity, meetings with media and distribution of books on racially diverse heroes.  Examples of the IWLR’s programs included: Multicultural Children’s Hour at the White Plains Library with musicians, a puppeteer and book readings for the children; and “Can We Talk?” a public forum which focused on our ability to talk about race to our children, friends and family.

SHORT-TERM PROJECTS:

The JLCW Done in a Day Committee planned and implemented a variety of short-term projects that benefit the community.  Our 2005-2008 projects included:

·         Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) “Teacher Wish Lists” – The CRC provides medical, therapeutic and educational care to children with developmental disabilities and their families.  The JLCW organized a drive for school supplies requested on “teacher’s wish lists” and delivered the supplies to the school.

·         Gilda’s Club of Westchester “Halloween Noogie Fest” – The JCLW hosted Noogie Fest, Gilda’s Club’s annual Halloween party, for children whose lives have been affected by cancer.  The JLCW chose a theme, decorated a party room and organized games, activities and stories for the children.

·          Special Olympics “Physical Fitness Day” - The JLCW supported the Westchester Special Olympics in Yonkers with volunteers.  Approximately 150 special athletes participated in the games from various local groups such as Sound Shore and Westchester-Putnam County Special Athletes Leagues. 

·         Operation “Santa Claus” - The JLCW provided holiday gifts to over 60 children in Westchester County.  The JLCW worked in conjunction with the White Plains Post Office and with The Bridge Fund, an organization that works with low-income families to help prevent them from becoming homeless, to respond to Santa letters and gift requests from less fortunate children.

·         Magazine & Book Drive for Meals on Wheels – JLCW volunteers delivered magazines and books to elderly recipients of Meals on Wheels, who are homebound and cannot get to the library.

·         Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) Outdoor Refurbishment – The JLCW refurbished an outdoor area used for group socialization and therapy, purchased outdoor seating, and planted flowers and shrubs.  Disabled clients have partial responsibility for the upkeep of the area in order to promote development of socialization and life skills.

·         Kids in the Kitchen - JLCW presented an interactive nutrition exhibit at 2007 White Plains Hospital Center’s Neighborhood Health Fair.

·         Bronx River Clean Up in partnership with the Bronx River Conservancy.  Members and their children cleaned up trash along a stretch of the Bronx River.

GRANTS:

Each year, when possible, the JLCW designates funds to be awarded to one or more community organizations in the form of grants.  The purpose of the JLCW grant awards is to provide financial support to areas of community need in our service area that are not being met by current JLCW projects or programs.

RECENT GRANTS AWARDED BY THE JLCW:

AJLI Disaster Relief Fund – 2005   A grant was awarded to the AJLI for their Disaster Relief Fund to benefit other Junior Leagues and their communities in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina or in areas that may be affected other disasters in the future.

The Bridge Fund of Westchester, Inc. – 2009   A grant was awarded to help prevent families from becoming homeless through a combination of paying rental arrears, providing intensive individual and group budget counseling and making referrals to supportive community services;

Centro Hispano – 2008   A grant was awarded to furnish a computer for the organization’s new technology center, which will help to educate local Hispanics in need, and also to provide them with the online educational, medical, housing, and financial info/support needed to help them achieve self-sufficiency.

Family Services of Westchester (FSW) – 2004    A grant was awarded to FSW to help fund their Camp Viva Program.

Grace Church Community Center (GCCC) – 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009   Grants were awarded to GCCC to fund food and clothing for the residents of Samaritan House, a women’s shelter; to provide scholarships for underprivileged and homeless children to attend the GCCC summer camp; and to purchase SAT and test taking preparation materials for 70 high school juniors and seniors participating in the GCCC After-School Mentoring Program which encourages at-risk students to enroll in either a two or four year college.

Music Conservatory of Westchester- 2008  A grant was awarded to provide 30 hours of music therapy to local individuals, primarily children and adolescents with developmental, behavioral, physical and other disabilities.  Music therapy uses the power of music in a focused way to accomplish growth, learning, healing, and change.

My Sisters’ Place – 2004 - 2008  Grants were awarded annually to offset expenses relating to the domestic violence education conference “Love Shouldn’t Hurt”.  This conference reaches over 250 teenagers annually.

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) – 2005,2008, and 2009   Grants were awarded to the WJCS Caregiver Support Group to provide respite care allowing caregivers to attend support group sessions; to the Geriatric Outreach Department (in 2005) to fund its project “Life Stories” - an oral history project; and to the Hartsdale clinic for specially designed therapeutic toys and games needed for play and child therapy, and for items to create a warmer, more child-friendly environment.

The Women's Enterprise Development Center Inc. – 2009    A grant was awarded to pay for a program for victims of domestic abuse to learn how to create and grow a microenterprise as a path to financial independence. The goal of the project is to enhance economic opportunities for women who have been in abusive situations and to create more secure financial futures for domestic violence victims and their families.

YMCA of White Plains – 2004 and 2007  Grants were awarded in 2004 to the YWCA of White Plains for the Westchester County Courthouse Childcare Center, which was previously established and furnished by the JLCW and the YWCA.  In 2007, a grant was awarded to purchase computers, software, educational reference materials and video games for the center.