Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Hearts & Homes for Refugees.

Pelham, NY (October 2020) – On Saturday, October 3^rd Hearts & Homes for Refugees (https://www.heartsandhomesforrefugees.org) – Westchester’s leading grassroots humanitarian organization – partnered with Neighbors for Refugees to co-host a hugely successful Winter Coat & Boot Drive at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Larchmont, NY.

Volunteer coordinator Ruth Gyure organized over 50 volunteers from the American Muslim Women’s Association, Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts of America, Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains, Hebrew Institute of White Plains, students from Manhattanville College, Mercy College, the French-American School of New York and United Nations International School, Students for Refugees volunteers from Scarsdale, Pelham, Mamaroneck, Rye Neck, Sleepy Hollow, and more. The organizers were able to collect, sort, and deliver much-needed winter coats and boots to 500 refugees throughout the tri-state area.

In addition to the winter coats and boots, Hearts & Homes for Refugees and Neighbors for Refugees received a generous donation of new socks from Bombas (www.bombas.com) distributed through United Way of Westchester and Putnam.  With a collection of more than $1,200 in Target and Burlington gift cards, to supplement the coats and boots, every family is certain to be warm and dry this winter.

“We are simply blown away by the outpouring of support and endless generosity of everyone who made this year’s coat and boot drive our most successful to date,” said Kathie O’Callaghan, president and founder of Hearts & Homes for Refugees. “We didn’t know what to expect, given the challenging circumstances created by the pandemic.  There was so much goodwill coming our way!  And even though there were fewer volunteers due to social distancing requirements,  the  *Fab 50* packed a punch working intensely over three days, proving that quality counts when quantity is limited!”

About Hearts & Homes for Refugees

Hearts & Homes is a nonprofit grassroots humanitarian organization that works with the U.S. State Department-designated agencies to welcome, assist and advocate for refugees.  To capture the power of grassroots to welcome refugees, Hearts & Homes lead the Westchester Refugee Initiative, a growing network of partners and volunteers —families, neighbors, community organizations, faith and civic groups—committed to the time-honored tradition of welcoming refugees. Hearts & Homes educates, inspires and equips people of goodwill to create safe and inclusive communities for those fleeing violence and persecution.