Astorino Joins Volunteer NY! and the Junior League of Central Westchester to Announce Day of Service in Honor of Victims of Sept. 11, 2001
Launch of Westchester County Diaper Bank, Mentor Opportunities, Furniture Drive and More
In honor of those whose lives were lost or were forever changed by the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, County Executive Robert P. Astorino has once again joined with Volunteer NY! to host “9/11: Serve & Remember” at the County Center on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 12 noon to 6 p.m.
New this year will be the launch of the Westchester County Diaper Bank in partnership with the Junior League of Central Westchester. Westchester County’s formal 9/11 memorial ceremony will take place Sept. 11 beginning at 7 p.m. at The Rising at the Kensico Dam. The public is invited to attend both events.
“Volunteering is one of the best ways to honor the memory of the victims of September 11, 2001, as well as pay tribute to the heroism of those who came together to help,” Astorino said.
Detailed information is available at www.volunteernewyork.org/service and early registration is encouraged. The “9/11: Serve + Remember” events at the County Center are the first in a four-day series of community-action projects coordinated by Volunteer New York!
“We are especially happy to announce the Westchester County Diaper Bank,” Astorino added. “Diapers are a basic need for children – as essential as food, shelter and a parent’s love. I want to thank the Junior League of Central Westchester for this tremendous partnership.”
Alisa H. Kesten, executive director of Volunteer NY!, said: “As an agency devoted to strengthening our communities through active volunteer engagement in Westchester and our surrounding communities, we see this as an important opportunity for people of all ages and interests to join together in service to build a permanent and positive legacy that rekindles the spirit of unity that followed the tragic events of Sept. 11.”
Service projects taking place at the County Center on Sept. 11 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. include:
· Diaper Drive – bring in unused diapers of any size, brand or variety to benefit the Diaper Bank
· Blood Drive (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) – give blood to the New York Blood Center in partnership with county government
· Food Drive – bring non-perishable food items to benefit the Food Bank for Westchester
· Lamp Drive – help furnish homes for those in need through Furniture Sharehouse
· Mentoring and Tutoring Fair – learn more about the need for mentors and how you can help
· Blanket making for Project Linus – help keep children in hospitals and shelters warm
· Postcard writing for Reverse the Course – support education for girls in Africa
· Literacy Project – help Head Start students retell their stories and master early reading
· Additional projects that will run through Sept. 14 can be found at www.volunteernewyork.org/service
The Westchester County Diaper Bank will be collecting all sizes, types and brands of disposable diapers as part of an ongoing partnership between the Junior League of Central Westchester and Westchester County government. Donations for baby wipes are also accepted. The goal is to help get clean diapers to families that struggle to afford them in Westchester. Donations can be made anytime, while the Diaper Bank is expected to begin operation later this year.
A recent study found that one in three American mothers struggles to afford clean diapers for her child. On average, diapers cost $18 per week, or $936 per year for each child, according to the Huggies study. Without an ample supply of diapers, babies are left in soiled diapers for too long, leading to poor health from infections, discomfort, and emotional struggles. For families, the list of tough choices – pay the bills, buy food, buy diapers or miss work due to lack of diapers for daycare – can also cause distress.
Westchester County’s Department of Social Services will help to warehouse the diapers as well as distribute them to residents in need. The county’s Department of Health, meanwhile, will help provide information and referrals to parents about important health topics.
People are encouraged to help by donating to the Westchester County Diaper Bank. For more information, contact the Junior League of Central Westchester at (914) 723-6130 or jlcwdonatediapers@gmail.com or simply visit www.jlcentralwestchester.org.
Special thanks goes to the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless, which already has made a generous donation of 50,000 diapers to the Westchester County Diaper Bank.
JLCW President, Nikki Hahn explains, “With the establishment of the Westchester County Diaper Bank, the Junior League of Central Westchester believes, with the community’s help, we can significantly reduce diaper deprivation, leading to improved emotional outcomes for babies and their caregivers. Simply stated, Changing Babies…Changing Lives; that’s the goal, and we encourage community members to contribute to this important cause and are thrilled that Westchester County has agreed to partner with us.”
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About the Junior League of Central Westchester
The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) is an organization of approximately 250 women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.