Community Corner
The Arc Rockland Gives Back
The Arc will donate 100 backpacks filled with necessities to be distributed by Helping Hands to people who are homeless.
From The Arc Rockland: James Fraser, Director of Helping Hands, and Katherine Rife, co-founder of Soup Angels were guest speakers at The Arc Rockland’s, September 8, Managers’ meeting and buffet dinner at The Nyack Seaport. The Arc will donate 100 backpacks (supplied by Vision Sports Club) filled with necessities ( such as toothpaste, shampoo, Band-Aids, hats and gloves) to be distributed by Helping Hands to people who are homeless.
A cash donation will go to Soup Angels which shares space with The Arc hub located at the First Reformed Church in Nyack. Mr. Fraser noted that Helping Hands currently shelters more than 50 people a night with a capacity of 75. In addition to the overnight accommodations, the organization also offers a breakfast program among other initiatives. Ms. Rife explained that with the help of many volunteers and ten professional chefs, Soup Angels now serves more than 30,000 meals a year. The guests who dine with Soup Angels are served restaurant style, with table cloths and china. No matter what the weather conditions, Soup Angels vows that “Under no circumstances will we not be there,” said Ms. Rife The Arc Rockland’s Day Habilitation department sponsored a bake sale which garnered funds towards the cash contribution to Soup Angels and towards the purchase of items to supplement backpack products donated by area businesses. The Arc is grateful to the following companies for their contributions to this effort: Vision Sports Club; Atrium Pharmacy; Guardian; Hilton Pearl River; Aetna; HMS Host; Steve Hurtubise, Hoffman, Hanafin and Associates and PDI.
PHOTO/ The Arc Rockland
