WINTER WARMTH TO UNITED WAY FOR THOSE IN NEED

From left: Mark Blandford, executive vice president, Diamond Properties; Michelle Pollas, Human Development Services of Westchester; Tom Gabriel, president and CEO of United Way Westchester and Putnam; and Kemi Pogue, founder and program facilitator for Hit a Home Run Against Drugs.

A shipment of desperately needed supplies from Delta Air Lines and a coalition of groups who worked together, including Good360, Penske Logistics and Diamond Properties, were recently given to United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP). More than 700,000 duvets, blankets and pillows were provided and distribution to social services agencies, schools, homeless shelters in Westchester, the Bronx and other locations in the metro area has already begun.

Several hundred agencies are expected to receive goods from now through Friday, Nov. 13.

“More than 40% of our neighbors are living in poverty, paycheck to paycheck or are food insecure right now. Winter is always a difficult time, but with the pandemic and the depletion of supplies, these blankets and pillows generously donated by Delta Air Lines will keep hundreds of thousands of our neighbors warm in the coming months. We also want to thank Good360, Penske Logistics and Diamond Properties for their assistance,” said Tom Gabriel, president and CEO of United Way of Westchester and Putnam. “It is partnerships like these that help us to fulfill our mission to lift up people in crisis to self-sufficiency.”™”™

As a Good360 nonprofit partner, UWWP has access to highly needed, donated goods that Good360 sources from hundreds of socially responsible corporate donors. To help facilitate this donation, Penske donated transportation services to deliver the goods to a Mount Kisco warehouse that was provided by Diamond Properties.

Gabriel said that in the past year, United Way has provided $2 million in donations through the Essential Goods for Basic Needs program, which helps to funnel millions in corporate and other donations to the public through its not-for-profit partnerships.     

Faith Butcher, chief impact officer for UWWP, said United Way is asking agencies in need of blankets and pillows to contact UWWP at uwwp.org or call 914-997-6700.