#PortGivingTuesday - You Can Make PW a Better Place

After that second piece of pecan pie on Turkey day, stacking all those shopping bags from Black Friday and then seeing an inbox jammed with invoices from Cyber Monday, here is something that will make you feel better. It’s a thing called Giving Tuesday, an idea that started in New York two years ago and quickly spread via social media.

Why not consider giving (or volunteering) to the causes that matter to you and make a difference in your own backyard. Port Washington has over 200 nonprofit organizations and your contribution of money, talent, or time can make a difference. Here is a spotlight of just a few of the local non-profits that help the Port Washington Community.

Parent Resource Center (“PRC”)

The Parent Resource Center is a parent-led coop that offers classes for kids ages 0-5, social events, vacation workshops, open play, parent university, and an outreach program for low income families. In celebration of it’s 35th year, the “PRC” underwent a massive facilities renovation and upgraded it’s programming. Interested in helping us continue to grow and make a difference for young families in our community? For details, visit www.parentresource.org or call 516.767.3808.

Residents for A More Beautiful Port Washington

Since its start, “Residents” has been committed to creating a strong, unified and sustainable community in Port Washington and surrounding areas. Residents’ initiatives include the water play area at Blumenfeld Family Park, the Shoreline Trail, The (added quote marks) ‘Keep Main Street Clean’ campaign, and the Main Street Revitalization project. The organization has many more initiatives including a long term sustainable plan for parking and traffic. For details, visit www.pwresidents.org or call 516.767.9151

Friends of the Port Washington Library (“FOL”)

FOL aims on strengthening the ties between library and community and creating a center for life-long learning, information and culture. FOL is currently renovating the Children’s Room at the library – new design, new furnishings, new technology, and more space for kids and tweens to learn, explore and create. For details, visit www.pwpl.org or call 516.883.4400.

North Shore Animal League

North Shore Animal League is the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. For more details, visit www.animalleague.org or call 516.883.7575.

Save Hempstead House CampaignFriends of Sands Point Preserve

This organization is dedicated to preserving and protecting the historic homes, vast green open spaces, beachfront, indigenous wildlife and miles of extraordinary trails at the Sands Point Preserve. Curently there is a campaign to save the Hempstead House who is in urgent need of refurbishing and updating so that future generations can enjoy this historic building. For details, visit www.thesandspointpreserve.com or call 516.571.7900.

The Ed. Foundation (Formerly PWEF)

The Ed. Foundation raises private contributions to fund educational grants to all of Port’s public schools touching students from pre-K to 12h grade. Ed. Foundation grants have funded such projects as a highly successful weekly after-school tutoring program, math literacy workshops, SMART technology, a robotics competition, college tours and more. For details, visit www.theedfoundation.org

Landmark on Main Street

The Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street brings world-class performing artists and children’s theater in our community. For details, visit www.landmarkonmainstreet.org or call 516.767.1384.

HEARTS

HEARTS aims to add meaningful value to children’s lives and our community by supporting, promoting and enriching the arts in Port Washington and its public schools. HEARTS is well-known for its annual fundraiser, PortFest, a family festival featuring local artists, musicians, and performers of all ages. For details, visit www.heartspw.org .

Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

CNPHS maintains the Sands-Willets House, which dates from the early 1700s, as a museum and educational center. The Dodge Homestead is also maintained by the Society. Both houses are typical of the Long Island farmhouses that grew to fit the need of the families who lived in them. The Sands-Willets House currently is featuring The Costumes and Culture, Our Heritage Our Fashion Exhibit sponsored by Brook Brothers through Feb 6th. For donations, ticket information, or more information. www.cowneck.org

The Community Chest

The Community Chest of Port Washington awards grants to 25 local charities whose funded programs serve close to 10,000 people, or one in three Port residents.

These Community Chest grants deliver a range of needed services to our community, including social and nutritional programs for seniors, leadership programs and scholarships for children, youth and veterans, job training, college scholarships, food distribution, childcare and parenting education, cultural enrichment scholarships and more. www.portchest.org jmharnick@portchest.org

The Art Guild

The Art Guild of Port Washington, Inc. is a 501 ©3 nonprofit organization providing encouragement, education and a forum for the appreciation of the visual arts. The Guild seeks to offer residents from local and neighboring communities an avenue to broaden their creative pursuits. www.theartguild.org 516-304-5797

Twin Pines Co-op

The Twin Pines of Port Washington Charitable Thrift & Food Pantry goals are mainly two: redistribute food, clothing, and other household goods to children, seniors and others in need, plus provide training and work experience for the challenged. This wonderful charitable thrift store is open Sundays thru Saturdays, 10 ~ 7. Please see our facebook friends page www.facebook.com/pwtwinpines

Buy local and support local nonprofits in Port Washington, Please visit the new #GivingTuesday facebook page to see more spotlights of local organization that give back to Port Washington. Do you want to feel good? Give back, it always makes you feel great! www.facebook.com/PORTGivingTuesday

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