As seen in The Journal News, December 2011:
Local Non-Profit provides Hope for the Holidays
While most children are making a list and checking it twice, many are just thankful for everyday necessities such as food and clothing. But The Children’s Hope Chest (CHC), a grassroots organization that began in Purchase, recognizes all children need to have their wishes granted, and will help make holiday dreams come true for a seventh consecutive year.
The group’s successful program, Hope for the Holidays, provides local children in need with their exact holiday gift wish. This year, CHC will make the holidays special for at least 800 children in the Bronx and Westchester through partnerships with the Carver Center, Andrus Children’s Center, Neighbor to Neighbor, My Sister’s Place, YMCA Camping Services of Greater NY, Friends of Karen, the Bronx YMCA, and the Pleasantville Cottage School.
“We’re a great local organization that helps out in the community, and that’s important,” said Mark Canno, a Rye Neck tennis and golf coach who volunteers with CHC. “This charity has gotten bigger every year and nobody involved makes a cent from it. Even with the economy what it is, we’ve realized there are many people in the area who still want to help out.”
The Children’s Hope Chest, with the cooperation of the Bronx YMCA and the Carver Center, is able to make the month extra special for the neediest families. They provide parents of the children they serve with the opportunity to “shop” for their children’s gifts. Volunteers create a celebration at their respective locations, and invite them to choose from clothing and small toys. Mothers and fathers choose the perfect gift, have it wrapped, and enjoy holiday sweets to complete the experience. The event takes place December 19 at the Carver Center.
“We started this program with the children in mind,” said Enza Dattero, Co-President. “What we didn’t realize was how much fulfilling these wishes means to the whole family and reminds them that someone cares.”
As seen in Harrison Patch:
http://harrison.patch.com/articles/childrens-hope-chest-makes-another-special-delivery
Children's Hope Chest Makes Another Special Delivery Children’s Hope Chest delivers on yet another successful campaign to ensure that the needs of less fortunate students are met.
Gathering all of the much-needed back-to-school supplies can be a very stressful endeavor for parents, especially those who are struggling with basic needs, like paying rent or putting food on the table.
These are the people the Children’s Hope Chest (CHC), a non-profit organization based in Purchase, works to help. The Children's Hope Chest coordinates year-round volunteer programs to help less fortunate children in Westchester, Fairfield and The Bronx. Every fall volunteers from the organization work on a program called “Backpack Buddies”, where brand-new backpacks are donated to children in need.
These backpacks contain valuable school supplies and an assurance that the kids will start the school year off on the same footing as others.
Children’s Hope Chest desires that each child start the school year off on a positive note and that they are ready to learn. Co-President Susan Nangle says that children need that sense of readiness on the first day of school.
“It sets them up for success and gives us a great feeling knowing that we can help so many kids have the same resources for the school year as others,” said Nangle, who was a part of the Children's Hope Chest's group of founding board members back in 2005.
More than 1,200 local children returned to school with backpacks and school supplies provided by The Children’s Hope Chest this fall. The supplies are purchased through donations from individuals who sign up as donors on the Children's Hope Chest website, or through funding from generous individuals, foundations or corporate grants.
Nangle said families enjoy volunteering and donating because they trust her organization will put the items that they purchase directly into the hands of a local child.
After making a delivery of backpacks and school supplies this week, Nangle said her son said to her, “Mom, now I get why you do this.”
Nangle said providing that opportunity to appreciate volunteerism is what the Children's Hope Chest is all about.
”We give volunteers the opportunity to go out and provide something specific for a child in need and even though that child may never see the face or hear the name of who donated to them, the child can feel the hope that someone cares for them,” Nangle said.
The Children’s Hope Chest is already busy implementing their fall program, “Coats for Hope”, which provides winter garments for children in our area.
With year-round projects with a wide range of services, the organization is always working to find more resources and ways to increase the quality of life for many children in our local community.
12/ 17/07 Photo and text from bxtimes.com
More than 300 families from the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn are enjoying a happy holiday season, thanks to the generosity of the Children's Hope Chest, an organization that helps families in need. In partnership with the YMCA of Greater New York/Bronx YMCA, the Hope Chest arranged for a donation of toys and clothing for more than 300 children to be distributed to either families with young single mothers or to foster families.
Bronx YMCA staffers and Children's Hope Chest volunteers were on hand to welcome the families as they arrived to pick up their special packages starting on Saturday, December 8. These families were selected from hundreds of participants of YMCA program services. The Children's Hope Chest was established to help meet the needs of families who are less fortunate.
“The YMCA is grateful to work with the Children's Hope Chest to make this holiday season happy and warm for over 300 children who will receive gifts,” said Elizabeth Toledo, executive director of Bronx YMCA. “This is a great example of a collaboration that strengthens our mission of building strong kids, strong families and strong communities.”
The Bronx branch is one of 19 run by YMCA of Greater New York throughout the five boroughs. Located in Castle Hill, the facility serves more than 9,000 youth and families each year in a variety of programs that include health and wellness, after-school childcare, summer camp and teen leadership and development programs.
The Children's Hope Chest is a nonprofit organization located in Purchase, whose mission is to promote volunteerism on behalf of local children. The Children's Hope Chest's objective is to help families with their basic needs after the traditional giving season has come and gone. They manage a variety of programs throughout the year that encourage volunteers to purchase toys, clothing and school supplies, and to send children to YMCA camp.
11/16/07 The Harrison Report
County group shares warm winter coats with kids. more
12/29/06 The Harrison Report
The Children's Hope Chest of Giving. more
6/16/06 The Harrison Report
The Children's Hope Chest Food For Hope Drive feeds needy families in our area. more
