9/11: Serve & Remember Draws More than 800 Volunteers Who Served Over 1,160 Hours

They came, they saw, they volunteered.

Sponsored by Westchester County and The Volunteer Center of United Way, “9/11: Serve & Remember” from Sept. 3-11 drew more than 800 volunteers from Westchester as well as Putnam, Rockland and Ulster who collectively donated more than 1,160 hours of service, according to The Volunteer Center.

“Volunteerism is a part of the fabric of Westchester County, so this enormous outpouring does not surprise me,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino.

Volunteer accomplishments included:

·      preparing 880 pounds of medical supplies for shipment overseas at the Afya Foundation

·      donating 95 life-giving pints of blood,

·      writing 500 letters to soldiers

·      collecting 135 food items for HOPE Community Services' food pantry

·      creating more than 14,000 sight word flash cards for schools and after-school programs

·      donating 169 sporting goods to Let's Play It Forward, Inc.

·       sorting more than 12 boxes of girls’ clothing for Family Services of Westchester's The Sharing Shelf

Alisa H. Kesten, executive director of The Volunteer Center, said: "We are delighted at the large turnout of volunteers who donated their time and energy to support local nonprofits as part of 9/11: Serve & Remember. We also want to remind residents in Westchester and the surrounding communities that there are volunteer opportunities year-round, and we are always here to help them connect to activities that match their interests."

For more information on how you can get involved with volunteering, please visit: www.volunteer-center.org. 

The Volunteer Center's annual community-wide call to action for the 9/11 Week of Service and Remembrance was made possible thanks to the generosity of Westchester County, United Way of Westchester and Putnam, and Corporate Champions: IBM, New York Life, PepsiCo, Con Edison, Bunge, Journal News Media Group, Mack-Cali, Robison Oil Company, Scent 2 Market, M&T Bank, Regeneron, The Rollins Agency, The Dannon Company, Chubb, Erie Insurance Company, O'Connor Davies LLP, Reader's Digest and RPW Group. 

Participating nonprofits included: Afya Foundation in Yonkers, Arc of Westchester in Mount Kisco, Clay Art Center in Port Chester, Common Ground in Montrose, Dominican College in Blauvelt, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities in Dobbs Ferry, Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights, Greenburgh Nature Center in Scarsdale, HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle, Hudson Valley Blood Services (blood drive, Westchester County Center in White Plains), Job Readiness Project, Let's Play It Forward, Inc. (collection spots at locations across Westchester), Meals-on-Wheels of White Plains, Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New Rochelle Public Library, Pass It On Kid's Kloset/Westchester Jewish Community Services in White Plains, Pace University in Pleasantville, Putnam Community Action Program/WestCOP, Inc. in Brewster, Richmond Community Services in Yonkers, Rye Nature Center, Family Services of Westchester's The Sharing Shelf in Port Chester, SUNY New Paltz, Support Connection, Inc. in Yorktown Heights, the White Plains YMCA, the White Plains YWCA, and Yorktown Grange #862.

About The Volunteer Center of United Way
Recently awarded a Top-Rated Nonprofit designation, The Volunteer Center's core mission is to inspire, mobilize, and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support nonprofits and strengthen the quality of life in our community.  The Volunteer Center is a one-stop resource devoted to increasing volunteerism in Westchester and our surrounding communities.  We encourage adults to serve, youth to build character, families to bond, young professionals to lead, mature adults to share their wisdom and businesses to support our community. Through organized volunteer projects, as well as by connecting individuals to nonprofit organizations, The Volunteer Center helps people take action to strengthen the quality of life in their community. Over 254,000 hours of service were devoted last year to 500 nonprofits at a value of over $7.7 million. In September 2011, The Volunteer Center was designated one of ten Regional Volunteer Centers in the State of New York, covering the Mid-Hudson Valley.  For more information, visit www.volunteer-center.org.