Great Ways to Get Involved in Your Local Community This Holiday Season

By Fiona Dogan, Licensed Realtor® in the Rye office of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty

'Tis the season! Now is a wonderful time to get involved in your local community by volunteering your time or donating to local charities. Below are just several of the deserving nonprofits in Rye and surrounding communities that offer wonderful opportunities to "give where you live." A special thank you to Volunteer New York!, which has a great online database of volunteer opportunities.

Caritas of Port Chester

caritasofportchester.org

For Volunteer New York! volunteer link, click here.

Personal shoppers wanted! Caritas of Port Chester provides food, clothing, counseling, and education for local residents in need. Twice a week Caritas rolls out the racks and stocks the shelves with a healthy variety of groceries, produce, meats, eggs and fish. Our volunteers assist in setting up the pantry before escorting our clients down the aisles. Clients get to choose from a selection of grains, vegetables, dairy, proteins, fruits, soups, and miscellaneous items. It's fun. It's personal. And it is immensely rewarding for all. Why not give it a try?

The New Jewish Home/Sarah Neuman Center, Mamaroneck

jewishhome.org

For Volunteer New York! volunteer link, click here.

Calling all pet owners! This senior care center needs gentle and well-behaved animals of any kind (and their owners) to visit with residents. Pets and their owners are scheduled for an hour to an hour-and-a-half visit on any day of the week. The residents enjoy visiting and playing with the pet, often reminiscing about having a dog or cat of their own.

Family Services of Westchester, Port Chester

fsw.org

For Volunteer New York! volunteer link, click here.

Volunteers are needed to sort and package children's clothing for Family Services of Westchester (FSW)'s Sharing Shelf, which collects new and gently used children’s clothing for ages 0-17 and distributes it through social service agencies, teachers, and others to children in need at no cost. FSW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Westchester County with a broad range of social and mental health services.

Carver Center, Port Chester

carvercenter.org

The Carver Center, which has been serving the Port Chester community’s children and families since 1943, is looking for donations to its food pantry, including rice, beans, pasta, tomato sauces, tuna, canned or frozen vegetables, cereal, milk, peanut and almond butter, cooking oil, and packages of cheese (yellow American). More information is available by clicking here. The center is also looking for volunteers to help work in their food pantry, assist with after school programs, and serve breakfast to seniors. For more details about volunteering, click here.

Happy holidays to all, and remember, it is wonderful to be able to give as well as to get!

Photo: Volunteers at the Carver Center.

Fiona Dogan is a Licensed Realtor® in the Rye office of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. She is a Westchester Five Star Real Estate Agent, Platinum Award winner, and an Accredited Buyer Representative. For more information, please contact Fiona Dogan at: fiona.dogan@jbfsir.com or visit her website at www.fionadogan.com.