Paul: ‘Thanks To All Who Helped Spread Comfort & Joy'

From the Rockland County Legislature

Bags filled with donations of hats, gloves and cozy throws were delivered today to People To People, which will disperse the items along with gift cards to local residents. Rockland County Legislator Aney Paul sponsored the collection.

“I want to thank everyone who pitched in for this successful effort,” Legislator Aney Paul said. “In particular I want to thank People To People’s CEO, Diane Serratore and her agency’s staff for the opportunity to participate in a grassroots program that does so much to lift the spirits of our neighbors while also helping them to put some gifts under their holiday trees.”

People to People is Rockland’s largest food pantry, currently assisting 5,000 individuals per month with putting nutritious food on their tables. But it also conducts other outreach, including – prior to the pandemic - the Project Joy program that paired the wish lists of kids from low-income families with local volunteers willing to help fulfill the wishes.

This year, the program was modified to the Comfort & Joy Project, providing each of the 1,600 children PTP serves with either a new throw, a blanket, a pair of hat & gloves, a scarf, or a pair of socks. That’s the comfort part. Each child will also receive a $35 gift card to purchase clothes, toys or whatever they (or their parents) decide. That’s the joy part.

Serratore and her “elves” – the volunteers who spend hours wrapping, transforming the donations into gifts – have amassed a stockpile of presents that would make even Santa proud. They expect to disperse the vast majority this weekend but will have some set aside for the parents who can’t make it until next week.

Scores of hats, gloves and mittens, throws, blankets, scarves, and socks were donated to Legislator Paul’s collection. All donations were transported directly to People to People’s headquarters in Nanuet. The organization also received support through other collections.

“So many people helped with this effort, from children to teens to adults and it goes to show what caring people we have in Rockland County,” Legislator Paul said. “Thanks to these donations, we will help warm our neighbors’ heads, hands and feet, as well as their hearts this winter.”