Annual Coat Drive Benefits The Homeless In Rockland

The third annual Winter Coat Drive conducted by Legislator Aney Paul collected dozens of coats, sweaters, hats, gloves and other clothing for the benefit of Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland County. Ya’el Williams, Executive Director of Helping Hands for the Homeless, picked them up Tuesday.

“I sincerely thank everyone who made the effort to contribute to this important cause,” said Paul. “These donations will make a difference by helping to keep our homeless neighbors warm this winter.”

Williams said the donations would directly support clients, not only keeping them physically warm, but sending the message that they are not alone.

“No one wants to feel like they don’t matter or that they are invisible,” Williams said. “When a community turns out to provide donations like this, it lets our clients know that they are not forgotten.”

Helping Hands,a non-profit organization, now operates the Safe Haven program at the new Rockland County Warming Center in Pomona. The donations mostly went to clients using the Warming Center, and some will be given to those still on the street when the annual count of the homeless population is conducted later this month.

Williams said that about 60 people have been staying at the shelter as the cold snap continues.

Paul praised Helping Hands for its work.

“On a daily basis, Helping Hands is making a difference and improving the lives of local residents,” Paul said. “I thank the staff and the thousands of volunteers who contribute to making our county a better place.”

Helping Hands has been assisting Rockland’s homeless population for decades, relying on assistance from some 3,000 volunteers and the goodwill of local churches and synagogues who opened their doors to provide a place of refuge on the coldest of nights.

Last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo required shelter be provided to the homeless when temperatures drop below 30 degrees between Nov. 1 and April 30.

Rockland County’s response has been to establish the Warming Center, and to keep it open nightly throughout the six-month period, no matter the temperature.

Guests get hot food, a warm place to sleep, have use of laundry facilities and can meet with staff from the county Social Services Department to see if they qualify for certain assistance, including housing and job training.

Helping Hands also provides rides to the center. Pickup is done between 6 and 6:30 p.m. and again between 7:30 and 8 p.m. nightly from Nyack (South Broadway in front of the First Reformed Church); Haverstraw (commuter parking lot across from Village Hall); and Spring Valley (parking lot near Route 45 & Route 59).

For more information, call 845-356-0100 or 845-709-2415.

PHOTO/ Rockland County Legislature