Launched in 2014 in conjunction with the Westchester County Government, the diaper bank supplies 8,000 to 12,000 diapers and wipes every month to caregivers of infants and toddlers helping to relieve stress from already stretched families. The JLCW operates the diaper bank and distributes the diapers through the Westchester County Department of Social Services. Learn More >

The Sharing Shelf was founded to address clothing insecurity and meet the basic material needs of low-income children and teens in Westchester County. The Junior League partners with Sharing Shelf to enable 250 teens to “shop” for clothing at an annual event for teens. Each attendee receives a certificate upon arrival and is empowered to choose and take home a week’s worth of clothing from age-appropriate excellent condition used and new clothing. Each girl also receives her choice of menstrual products and a toiletry kit filled with full-size hygiene items.  Learn More>

Abbott House is dedicated to supporting nearly 2,500 children in foster care and unaccompanied immigrant children in the New York Metropolitan Area and the Hudson Valley. Their goal is to help them create a durable sense of family, home and community, and prepare them for a promising future. The organization provides services to children ranging in age from 1 to 18 years old. The Junior League of Central Westchester is one of several sponsors in Westchester that will partner with Abbott House to assist with their annual holiday toy drive and provide 1,500 children with gifts from their wish lists this holiday season. 

The New York State Public Affairs Committee (NYSPAC) is a coalition of 17 Junior Leagues across New York, formed to educate and take action on public policy issues relevant to The Junior League Mission. Representing over 7,500 women, NYSPAC identifies issues that resonate with our members and develops strategies for tackling them. This advocacy takes many forms—it can be as straightforward as building awareness and educating the public about a pressing problem, or as ambitious as sponsoring and writing a bill that ultimately becomes a law.

Hearts & Homes for Refugees was started in 2016 in Westchester County, NY to mobilize the most powerful and untapped resources in our communities—the passion and the goodwill of its one million residents to welcome refugees. Junior League is partnering with Hearts & Homes for the second time this year through the Helping Hands program to support 2-3 families new to the US and provide them with services and donations of goods to ease their transition to the area. In addition, the Junior League collects coats and boots for their winter clothing drive.

We are fortunate to be the custodians of Scarsdale’s historic Wayside Cottage. Historians believe Wayside dates back to around 1715, making it the oldest landmark in the Village of Scarsdale and one of the oldest preserved residences in the United States. The JLCW is honored to call this historic landmark our home and has carried out widespread restorations and returned it to its rich Colonial past. In addition to acting as the home of the JLCW, the cottage serves many functions in the community. Each year, tours of the cottage are given to schoolchildren, who learn about colonial living from JLCW guides dressed in period clothing.  Learn More>

Through our literacy program, we are building up home libraries through book donations for more than 200 Head Start students each year and conducting monthly literacy, nutrition, and exercise education programs.

JLCW accepts donations of both new and gently used children’s books to support our literacy programming. Books accepted should be appropriate for preschool, kindergarten and first grade reading levels. Books may be dropped off at Wayside Cottage by appointment or in our collection bin on the front porch.