Rye Y Fights Hunger Through Multi- Agency Food Drive
The Rye YMCA celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Togetherhood community service program earlier this month by holding a six-day food drive for four local pantries: Bread of Life, Carver Market, Harrison Food Pantry, and Larchmont-Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force. In total, 52 large bags of non-perishable food items were distributed to the organizations.
Thanking the Y for its “unwavering support,” Carver Center CEO Anne Bradner said “we believe that access to nutritious food is a fundamental right for everyone. The Y’s generous donation to our Carver Market not only fills plates but also fuels hope, strength, and resilience in our community.”
Sue Wexler, Director of Community Outreach for the Rye-based Bread of Life, remarked that her organization “is very grateful to our wonderful partner, the Rye YMCA, for their efforts on behalf of hunger relief.”
Launched in May 2014, Togetherhood engages people of all ages in community service. For the first project in August 2014, volunteers painted the stairwells at St. Ignatius Middle School in the South Bronx, a need identified by Rye resident Eavan O’Driscoll, then president of the school. Since then, the Y has engaged hundreds of volunteers in 51 service projects with 19 different community partners. The projects are identified and organized by a volunteer committee, led by the Rye Y’s Director of Community Impact and Social Responsibility Denise Woodin.
Rye Y CEO Sabrina Murphy observed “Togetherhood not only addresses real needs in the communities we serve. It also brings people of all walks of life together for a common purpose.”
For more information about Togetherhood, contact Denise Woodin at denisewoodin@ryeymca.org
