Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and
New Year!
Making a Difference - One Stitch at a Time
Students at Frederick Douglass Academy VIII in Brooklyn bring holiday warmth to New York City's homeless men and women.Twice a week after school 40 students, teachers, and parents gathered to sew sleeping bags that were hand delivered to Project Renewal's MedVan.
Rolled up inside each sleeping bag is a hat and toiletries. Each has a pillow with one seam open for stashing money, papers and other crucial possessions. Genesis, a student said, "It makes me just want to cry to see how homeless people can just be without sleeping bags. Together we make a difference."
Trees of Love for Homeless New Yorkers
Our Lady of Peace students
with their tree (Top)
Dave Wood on the Medvan (Bottom)
Students at Our Lady of Peace School are decking the halls with "Christmas Love" trees this holiday season. Instead of decorative ornaments, they are hanging donated items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand wipes and tissues to spread some holiday cheer to the homeless. The idea of decorating trees with practical gifts for the homeless came to a small group of students with big dreams. "Most of us are young and not really adults, but doing the project is like a chance to help the community and homeless people", said student Zeeliah.
MedVan physician assistant Dave Wood provided a list of practical gifts homeless New Yorkers need. The "Christmas Love" trees were put up Thanksgiving week and all of the donated items will be distributed through Project Renewal's MedVan.
BT Employees Give Back
Bernie Shaw (2nd from left) who organized the annual food drive at BT poses with her co-workers and the donations!
BT employees reached out to Geffner House tenants with their annual holiday food drive. Employees collected non-perishable food, beverages, and toiletries to deliver to the food pantry at Geffner House, just around the corner from BT's midtown headquarters. Ellis Eisner, Recreation Director at Geffner House, thanked BT staff for thinking of their neighbors. "Our residents are on fixed incomes, and the food pantry plays an important role for many who struggle on a limited budget. Tenants can select up to 6 items every other day, and it means a lot to receive a donation like this which adds to the variety of items available in the pantry."
Rolled up inside each sleeping bag is a hat and toiletries. Each has a pillow with one seam open for stashing money, papers and other crucial possessions. Genesis, a student said, "It
