Rockland Reporter

Westchester County issued the following announcement.

New Yorkers Called to action in spirit of resilience.

The 10th Annual 9/11: Serve + Remember Event from Volunteer New York! will allow for volunteers to participate from home and through no-contact donation drop off sites.

In honor of those whose lives were lost or forever changed by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Westchester County Executive George Latimer will join with Volunteer New York! to host the 10th annual “9/11: Serve + Remember.” Volunteer opportunities will be available starting Tuesday, Aug.18 through Friday, Sept.11 with a major focus on a special #911day Covid-19 Relief Healthy Food Drive initiative throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. This community-wide action event is sponsored by Robison Oil.

Latimer said: “Food insecurity has always been a serious concern here in Westchester. Due to Covid-19 and its deleterious impact on our community, the issue has reached new heights. Our pantries – and volunteers – are stretched thin and efforts like those taken here by Volunteer New York! aim to combat this rising tide.”

Additional #911DAY DIY (Do-it-yourself) volunteer opportunities that can be done from home include making protective face masks for those in need, writing letters to our troops overseas and making no-sew fleece blankets for children’s hospitals. DIY project supplies will be provided for free upon registration and available for no-contact pickup on a first come, first served basis and while supplies last.

Volunteer New York! Executive Director Jeanette Gisbert said: “Every volunteer on September 11, 2001 risked something by showing up to help. On this #911DAY we call on all New Yorkers to show up in this same spirit of resilience and community once again ready to give in whatever way they can. You don’t have to go it alone either, consider getting your family, office or friends to join you. We’re stronger together.”

Volunteers are also invited to a special panel discussion that will be presented virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. with nonprofit leaders and food insecurity experts as they look into the alarming state of hunger in our community in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Online registration for any/all of these #911Day opportunities is required and will be available starting Tuesday, August 18 at volunteernewyork.org/service.

Fighting Food Insecurity

Over the last 10 years, we have asked "How will you volunteer on September 11?" as part of this annual community-wide initiative to inspire, mobilize and unite thousands in giving their time in tribute to the memories of those lost and to the volunteer heroes who responded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 tragedy that occurred only miles from our community.

This year as we are limited in how we can volunteer together, we call on all New Yorkers to join us for our most important day of service ever -- as we focus the power of community and volunteering on a single goal: fighting food insecurity.

Feeding Westchester has reported that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented 40% spike in food insecurity in our community, some local pantries have seen a 300-900% increase in people requesting food, which has been shown to be disproportionately devastating to our Latino and African-American community members. The following food pantries have joined to support a community-wide Covid-19 relief healthy food drive to help alleviate this intense and timely need:

Westchester

Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP)/ Fred's Pantry -  Peekskill

Hope Community Services -  New Rochelle

Community Food Pantry of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow - Tarrytown

Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry -  Mount Kisco

Don Bosco Community Center -  Port Chester

United Community Center of Westchester -  New Rochelle

Thomas H. Slater Center -  White Plains

Life Progressive Services Group, Inc. - Vernon

Ossining Food Pantry - Ossining

Rockland

People to People - Nanuet

Putnam

Putnam Community Action – Brewster

This #911DAY Covid-19 Relief Healthy Food Drive will be available starting Tuesday, August 18 through Friday, September 11. To register and to receive a list of approved/requested healthy donation items visit volunteernewyork.org/service. Food pantries kindly ask that you only donate items that have been explicitly requested. For all related questions, contact Nicole Lowrance by e-mail at  or by phone at (914) 948-4452.

New: Live Streaming Event

State Of Hunger - A Special #911DAY Panel Discussion

Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 7 to 8 p.m. | Cost: Free

Join Volunteer New York!, local community leaders and experts on the topic of Food Insecurity for a special live panel discussion that will be presented virtually and focus on the alarming state of hunger in our community in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Volunteer New York! Corporate Relations and Service Events Manager said: “We need people to take action, but we also need to raise awareness about the severity of what’s going on right in front of them. Food insecurity is too often hidden in plain sight. And we hope adding this new State of Hunger panel discussion this year will inform and inspire volunteers to join us in taking action on September 11 and beyond.”

The free hour-long panel will offer volunteers the opportunity to learn about how COVID-19 impacts the most vulnerable in our community, how local organizations are fighting back, and how volunteers can take part in this fight against food insecurity.

To register please visit volunteernewyork.org/service starting August 18. For all questions related to 9/11: Serve + Remember, contact Nicole Lowrance at  or (914) 948-4452.

About Volunteer New York!

The core mission of Volunteer New York! (volunteernewyork.org) is to inspire, mobilize, and equip individuals and groups to take positive action to address pressing challenges, support non-profits and improve the quality of life in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. For 70 years the organization has encouraged adults to serve, youth to build character, families to bond, young professionals to lead, mature adults to share their wisdom and businesses to engage through volunteerism.

Volunteer New York! helped coordinate over 275,000 hours of service, which were devoted last year to more than 500 nonprofits at a value of over $8.7 million. The Corporate Champions who strongly support the mission of Volunteer New York! include: Con Edison, MasterCard, PepsiCo, Regeneron, The Journal News & Lohud.com, Empire City Casino by MGM, Entergy, Harrison Edwards PR, John Gallin & Son, 96.7 K-Love Radio, Markham Rollins, M&T Bank, Morgan Stanley, TD Bank, WMCHealth, Acorda Therapeutics, MAG Real Estate Advisors, Inc., NewYork-Presbyterian, PCSB Bank, PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP, Robison Oil Corporation, IBM, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., NorthEast Community Bank, Pentegra Retirement Services, Sterling National Bank, Webster Bank, Wells Fargo, and Westmed Medical Group.

With additional and ongoing support from Westchester County, Corporation for National & Community Service, and the New York State Commission on National and Community Service. For more info about our 70 years of impact and history as an organization, visit volunteernewyork.org/vny70.

Original source can be found here.