Love in Action: Yorktown Businesswoman Creates Charity to Help Families Get Back on Their Feet

Donna Simone-Sofo has been unofficially helping displaced families for years and has often provided shelter in her own home. But the Yorktown resident and business owner officially filed the paperwork to become a 501-c charitable entity two weeks ago—right around the time a new report revealed New York has the lowest rate of volunteerism in the United States.

Simone-Sofo's new volunteer organization, Love in Action, is aimed at helping local families who are struggling to make ends meet. 

“Times are hard on the middle class," said Simone-Sofo, owner of Simone CPR. "My goal is to be there for those families who for some reason—whether it’s illness or death of a family member, or a lost job—are unable to make it without a little held."

Currently, Love in Action’s focus is helping families with clothes, furniture, and other basic services. For example, she said, she has spoken with the local laundromat owner about providing discounts. Eventually, the group wants to be able to provide short term financial assistance for families who need help paying their mortgage or utilities. 

“I’m working with a woman who was out of work for two years while she battled cancer and got behind on her mortgage," Simone-Sofo said. "My goal is to be able to say to her, how many months mortgage do you need to get you back on your feet? And to get there we need volunteers and we need funding. I tell people, if you only have an hour to donate or $1 to give, every bit helps.”

To raise funds, Love in Action is hosting a community fair Aug. 20 at the . The fundraiser, which will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include a tag sale, jewelry and apparel vendors, food and drink, and face painting.

“Times are tough, and it is hard to get people to volunteer their time and donate their resources," Simone-Sofo said. "The reward is the look of joy on the faces of the children we help—there is no greater reward."

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