It’s the Most Generous Time of the Year
December brought out the best in our community. And the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry was the grateful recipient of its generosity. Contributions came to us in many forms.
Christopher Galluzzo and the team from Sight & Sound were generous with their skills and created two videos about the people at the pantry and the services we provide. Take a look here, and feel free to share the video with others.
Young adults from the Living Resources day program have been generous with their time and enthusiasm. This crew has joined us a few times to pack delivery bags and seasonal goodies. Beyond the physical tasks, their eagerness to be helpful sparks joy in everyone working with them. We’re looking forward to their help in January and beyond.
Student-athletes at Mercy University, at left, led by coach Jack Nicholson, scored a hat trick of generosity. They donated a Stop & Shop gift card, food and their time to the pantry. Lifting many boxes filled with cans makes a great workout. Come back anytime.
Other Mercy students did a drive and dropped off bags of food, and students at Hudson Lab School combined construction with generosity in their CANstruction projects. After building towers out of cans, they donated the “building materials” to our pantry and the one in Hastings.
Main Street School in Irvington encouraged students to be global citizens and changemakers. After reading the book, “And Then, Boom!,” a story about a child living in poverty who bravely keeps going, no matter what happens, fourth and fifth graders in Ms. Lee’s and Ms. Parrillo’s classes organized a drive to collect diapers and wipes.
Christina Fitzmorris and Laura Cosgrove, teachers from DFHS, donated rice after doing an assignment with their students that looked at the impact of rice around the world. It certainly is a weekly staple at the pantry.
What generous extensions of the classroom curriculum!
Cold December days were chased away with new winter coats and cozy blankets. The Peluso-Fader family gifted warm winterwear for our clients. Pantry volunteer Kimberly Janeway sparked generosity in her neighborhood by organizing a blanket and clothing drive. She and Mary Anne Griggs then distributed all of them to our clients on an extra chilly morning, earning hugs from one client.
The Fitzgerald family volunteering together
The community reached out and organized many food drives with the guidance of Kristy Fitzgerald. Many thanks to Touro University, The Masters School, Alcott School, Ardsley public schools, Ardsley’s Club Pilates, Houlihan Lawrence realty, Irene Doufekias, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and more!
Our neighbors at Cabrini did a drive, and their contribution included laundry detergent, diapers and wipes.
We rely on our consistent contributors to the pantry and their generosity reaches its apex in December. Zion Episcopal Church in Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley United Methodist, Scarsdale Woman’s Club and Temple Beth Shalom in Hastings fill our shelves. Mom’s Organic Market, Panera Bread, Stop & Shop and Sunshine Bagels fill our tables every week.
The generosity continues into the new year. Jazz musician David Janeway is organizing a benefit concert for Sunday, February 2 from 2-5 pm at South Presbyterian Church. More details to follow, and follow us on social media for the latest pantry information.
Here are some of our volunteers. Everyone who volunteers generously gives their time and expertise to make our food pantry the best it can be. The extent of this effort is immeasurable.
WANT TO HELP?
Please consider donating money or nonperishable food to the pantry. All donations go directly to helping our neighbors in need, and monetary donations are tax deductible.
Sharon Bilman wrote this month’s newsletter. You can usually find her sorting and organizing all the donated goods along with Suzy Barnett. They know firsthand just how tremendously generous the community was in December. Please keep it going in 2025!
Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry 