'Holiday Lift' Campaign a Way for Ossining Residents to Help Others

OSSINING, NY — A Westchester County organization has kicked off its campaign to give people opportunities to spread holiday cheer and help men, women and children in need.

Lifting Up Westchester, a nonprofit agency that provides homeless and poverty services to individuals throughout the county, launched its Holiday Lift campaign.

Organizers said activities will include distributing coats and winter clothing, providing holiday meals, filling and giving out holiday food bags and wrapping and delivering holiday gifts.

Paul Anderson-Winchell, Lifting Up Westchester’s executive director, said preparing meals at Grace’s Kitchen on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s is a popular volunteer activity, and, as such, those slots are already filled.

“But there are many other ways for people to help, and it’s always heartwarming and humbling to see the community come together during the holiday season to make sure that everyone has something to eat, receives a small gift or has warm gloves for the cold weather ahead,” he said. “This is when we see the best of humankind.”

Nancy Inzinna, LUW volunteer and community outreach manager, said the next activity is Pie Day on Saturday, Nov. 19.

On that day, home-baked or store-bought pies can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the agency’s office at 35 Orchard St. in White Plains, just off I-287 at exit 6. Donations of brownie and cake mixes are also welcome.
Donations of home-baked Christmas cookies are also hoping to be received, Inzinna said.

“The guests at our soup kitchen seldom get a taste of home-baking items and nothing says Christmas like a plate of Christmas cookies,” she said, adding that getting children involved in baking and donating treats is a great way to introduce them to the spirit of giving.

Below are some other ways that the community can help LUW provide 2,000 holiday meals, fill 500 holiday food bags and give gifts for hundreds of individuals and families in need:

• Organize a food drive and involve your neighborhood, school, religious organization or community group. Foods needed most are turkeys, hams, instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix, stuffing, canned vegetables, canned cranberries and cake and brownie mixes.
• Donate the free turkeys that many grocery stores give away at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
• Donate $25 grocery store gift cards for food bags given to vegetarians and families who traditionally eat something other than turkey and ham for their holiday meals.
• Donate NEW gloves, hats and scarves for residents of the Open Arms Men’s Shelter and Samaritan House Women’s Shelter.
• Donate sports balls, board games and multi-cultural dolls for the children and teenagers in the Brighter Futures Youth Programs.
• Donate cash online at www.liftingupwestchester.org to help fill any gaps or last minute needs.

For more information, go to the Lifting Up Westchester website.
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