Community Corner

Live Up to Your Resolution to Volunteer, and Start Now

Whatever your interests, there's a worthy cause for your time this holiday season and throughout the year.

It is that special time of year, full of holiday celebrations and family gatherings. But most of all, the season is about the magic and joy that come from giving.
If you are looking for opportunities to give of your time, there are numerous organizations in the area that are seeking volunteers for the month of December and beyond. based in Tarrytown, is available as a one-stop resource that matches volunteers to meaningful opportunities through its online database. It is a great way to keep that holiday spirit alive all year long. We have complied a few suggestions to get you started.

In Peekskill-Cortlandt:

Peekskill Presbyterian Church Christmas Day Dinner

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Volunteer at the church’s community dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Day. The dinner is free and open to all community members and the church is looking for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound residents or help out at the dinner. Contact Ray Brown at 845-565-4360 for more information.

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The Peekskill Salvation Army serves many needy families in our area by providing food, clothing, toys and social services.

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities available that you can read about here.

The Salvation Army is also always looking for donations. This year Envoy Chaka Watch is asking community members to sponsor a bell-ringing bucket, or to stop by the buckets around town (Home Depot, Walgreens) and donate while you shop.

Volunteer Your Blood

The Hudson Valley Blood Center is sponsoring a blood drive this Friday, Dec. 23,  9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Wagner Conference Room at .  Please take a moment from the holiday shuffle to donate blood.  Winter is a time when blood supply decreases while emergency needs remain the same.  It is easy to get caught up in the holiday shopping and arrangements, but the person who is fighting for his or her life is counting on you to give the ultimate gift - the gift of life!

 For more information on local blood drives check the American Red Cross website.

Hudson Valley Hospital Center

The ever-evolvoing HVHC currently has the following volunteer opportunities:

  • Information Desk – Greet patients & visitors, give directions to various departments, deliver flowers and patient mail to nursing units, transport patients in wheelchairs when necessary.
  • Book Cart – Visit patient floors with book cart offering free magazines and books.
  • Gift Shop – sell food, beverages, gifts, candies etc.

Local Fire Departments, Ambulance Corps

If you're interested in joining the community of first responders in the area, they are always looking for new members. For the Peekskill Fire Department 914-737-2773; to volunteer at the Lake Mohegan Fire Department, call 914-526-0823; to volunteer at the Buchanan Fire Department call 914-737-5010; to volunteer at the Montrose Fire Department call 914-737-8919.

To reach Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps call 914-737-5310; to reach the Cortlandt Volunteer Ambulance Corps call 914-739-0081.

Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill

CHOP has several different volunteering opportunities. You can help with its Sunny Donut program, serving breakfast to those in need every day. They also ask for volunteers to prepare meals for the Jan Peek House Shelter, coordinate food drives for Fred’s Pantry or toiletry drives for the shelter. If coordination is not your thing, you can just stop by Fred’s Pantry and volunteer on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church located on 137 North Division St. in Peekskill.  Contact CHOP by visiting their website or by calling them at 914-736-2636.

Veterans Affairs Hospital, FDR Campus at Montrose

One of the best volunteer opportunities available in our community is the chance to give back to our veterans who have sacrificed everything for our country. The Montrose VA hospital is always in need of volunteers to read to patients, help feed older patients and help in various other areas.

Click here to read about the opportunities and call Ellie Schaffer, Voluntary Service Specialist (FDR), 914-737-4400, x3715, for more information.

You can also donate money or non-monetary items like hygiene products or food. Read about it here.

Become a Coach

Local little leagues are always in need of coaches and board member volunteers. Visit the Lapolla Little League and Cortlandt American Little League website for more information.

Join the Rotary or Hendrick Hudson Lions Club

If you are looking to make a long-term commitment to service, consider joining the Peekskill or Cortlandt Rotaries, or the Hen Hud Lions Club. The organizations are designed to create and strengthen community ties and personal relationships between members while promoting and engaging in community service. They sponsor projects that help local families, children and programs and the community as a whole. Read about the Peekskill rotary here and the Cortlandt Rotary here.

The Hendrick Hudson Lions Club's mission is to improve the community in any way they can and they are always looking for new members. Their projects are diverse and many, from feeding the hungry to screening preschoolers for eye disease and sponsoring fun community events like our Easter Egg Hunt and Pumpkin Fest. They meet twice a month. Find more information can visit HenHudLions.org, or email info@henhudlions.org.

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IN THE REGION
Gilda's Club of Westchester

914-644-8844

Gilda's Club Westchester, located at 80 Maple Avenue in White Plains. The mission of Gilda’s Club is to create welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer – men, women, teens and children – along with their families and friends.  Volunteers are needed now and throughout the year in a variety of capacities. The first Gilda's Club opened in New York City in 1995 in honor of comedienne Gilda Radner, and in 2001, Gilda's Club Westchester opened its red doors at its current location in White Plains.  Today, there are over 2,800 Gilda's Club Westchester members from Westchester, Rockland and Fairfield Counties.

American Red Cross/Westchester County Chapter

914-946-6500

The Westchester County Chapter of the American Red Cross was founded in 1898 by then Mt. Kisco resident, Nancy Marquand, to help care for injured soldiers returning from the Spanish American War. Today, their services extend far beyond the blood drives and life-saving programs they are renowned for. They can also be found on the front lines of any disaster or catastrophic event, prepared to offer a wide range of relief assistance to individuals and families alike. Volunteers of all ages are needed in offices, schools and home to respond to and help others in the event of a catastrophe, to teach life-saving techniques, provide counseling and companionship for both young and old victims, donate blood, recruit and organize others to donate, and to perform a host of other clerical and office management tasks.

Food Bank for Westchester

914-923-1100

Food Bank for Westchester is responsible supplying over 200 of the county's hunger-relief programs, along with managing the warehousing and administration of its emergency food-distribution network. The Food Bank's staff is nowhere near large enough to accomplish its mission so the organization relies on a large network of volunteers to help. Opportunities include organizing and holding community food drives, repacking and warehousing bulk food and grocery items, conducting awareness and fund raising events, and serving on its board of directors.

The Junior League of Northern Westchester

914-277-4547

The Junior League of Northern Westchester is a nonprofit and nonsectarian volunteer organization of women from the ages of 21 to 93 trained for effective leadership in community activities and dedicated to the belief that volunteer service is an essential part of responsible citizenship.  The Junior League of Northern Westchester reaches out to and is composed of women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to voluntarism. The Junior League is a great way to meet people and learn about the communities that need help throughout the year. Click here to learn more about joining the Junior League. 

Midnight Run

914-693-7817

Midnight Run is comprised of volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups who distribute food, clothing, blankets and other items to the homeless and poor on the streets of New York City. The late-night "runs" offer a chance to build a sense of trust, understanding and affection — through an experience of sharing ‑ among those who have and those who don't. Volunteers learn that the homeless are men and women who deserve respect and dignity, while the homeless learn that the cares and concerns of "mainstream" adults and teenagers extend beyond their individual lives and families. Individuals who wish to be organizers train first as crewmembers under the supervision of an experienced leader. Organizers assemble their own groups which usually consists of about a dozen volunteers (including at least two adults); all should be at least 14.

SPCA of Westchester

914-941-2896

If you have a love for animals, the SPCA in Briarcliff Manor has volunteer opportunities ranging from dog walking, cat care, dog bathing and grooming, greeters programs, event planning, humane education, outreach therapy programs, shelter beautification, administrative work. You can also donate your time if you've got a special skill, such as photography, carpentry or art. The Briarcliff Manor facility was established in 1921, and is still the only humane society in Westchester County that can enforce animal cruelty laws and relies solely on financial support from donations and the support of volunteers.

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