FAMILIES IN WESTCHESTER AND PUTNAM RECEIVED HOLIDAY GIFTS

United Way teamed up with Toys for Tots and local nonprofits throughout Westchester and Putnam counties to make sure thousands of children from low- to moderate-income families received toys during the past holiday season.

In northern Westchester communities and in all the communities in Putnam County, United Way partnered with Toys for Tots and DoorDash to distribute toys to children through its Ride United program, which delivers food and other essential goods using DoorDash.

“This was a true community effort,”™”™ said Tom Gabriel, president and CEO of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “Thank you to Jonathan Schneider for leading the Toys for Tots efforts in Putnam and northern Westchester, all the local businesses and police departments that held toy drives and the local school districts and Putnam County government for helping to connect us with families and allowing us to distribute out of their buildings”¦.”

In addition to the toys gifted by Toys for Tots, United Way, through its Essential Goods for Basic Needs program, provided more than $50,000 worth of toys to more than 1,000 children in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains, Port Chester, Elmsford and Mamaroneck through its nonprofit and school district partners.

“United Way of Westchester and Putnam brought two truckloads of toys to our offices to give out to Yonkers children,” said Maddie Cheatham, president of Pamela”™s Big Heart Foundation. “The United Way of Westchester and Putnam has given back to Yonkers”™ residents in such a big way during the pandemic by giving blankets, slippers, brooms, clothing and other necessities”¦.”

The United Way of Westchester and Putnam supports education, income and health initiatives to help residents become self-sufficient and thrive.