Community Wide Action Day Honoring Memory of Those Lost on Sept. 11 to Focus on Addressing Local Cov

(White Plains, NY) – In honor of those whose lives were lost or forever changed by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Westchester County Executive George Latimer will join with Volunteer New York! to host the 10th annual “9/11: Serve + Remember.” Volunteer opportunities will be available Today, September 1, through Friday, September 11 with a major focus on a special #911day Covid-19 Relief Healthy Food Drive initiative throughout Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. This community-wide action event is sponsored by Robison Oil. Latimer said: “Food insecurity has always been a serious concern here in Westchester. Due to Covid-19 and its deleterious impact on our community, the issue has reached new heights. Our pantries – and volunteers – are stretched thin and efforts like those taken here by Volunteer New York! aim to combat this rising tide.” Additional #911DAY DIY (Do-it-yourself) volunteer opportunities that can be done from home include making protective face masks for those in need, writing letters to our troops overseas and making no-sew fleece blankets for children’s hospitals. DIY project supplies will be provided for free upon registration and available for no-contact pickup on a first come, first served basis and while supplies last. Volunteer New York! Executive Director Jeanette Gisbert said: “Every volunteer on September 11, 2001 risked something by showing up to help. On this #911DAY we call on all New Yorkers to show up in this same spirit of resilience and community once again ready to give in whatever way they can. You don’t have to go it alone either, consider getting your family, office or friends to join you. We’re stronger together.” Volunteers are also invited to a special panel discussion that will be presented virtually on Tuesday, September 1 at 7 pm with nonprofit leaders and food insecurity experts as they look into the alarming state of hunger in our community in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Online registration for any/all of these #911Day opportunities is required and will be available starting Tuesday, August 18 at volunteernewyork.org/service. Fighting Food Insecurity Over the last 10 years, we have asked “How will you volunteer on September 11?” as part of this annual community-wide initiative to inspire, mobilize and unite thousands in giving their time in tribute to the memories of those lost and to the volunteer heroes who responded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 tragedy that occurred only miles from our community. This year as we are limited in how we can volunteer together, we call on all New Yorkers to join us for our most important day of service ever -- as we focus the power of community and volunteering on a single goal: fighting food insecurity. Feeding Westchester has reported that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented 40% spike in food insecurity in our community, some local pantries have seen a 300-900% increase in people requesting food, which has been shown to be disproportionately devastating to our Latino and African-American community members. The following food pantries have joined to support a community-wide Covid-19 relief healthy food drive to help alleviate this intense and timely need: WESTCHESTER • Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP)/ Fred’s Pantry - Peekskill • Hope Community Services - New Rochelle • Community Food Pantry of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow - Tarrytown • Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry - Mount Kisco • Don Bosco Community Center - Port Chester • United Community Center of Westchester - New Rochelle • Thomas H. Slater Center - White Plains • Life Progressive Services Group, Inc. - Mt. Vernon • Ossining Food Pantry - Ossining ROCKLAND • People to People - Nanuet PUTNAM • Putnam Community Action – Brewster This #911DAY Covid-19 Relief Healthy Food Drive will be available starting Tuesday, August 18 through Friday, September 11. To register and to receive a list of approved/requested healthy donation items visit volunteernewyork.org/service. Food pantries kindly ask that you only donate items that have been explicitly requested. For all related questions contact Nicole Lowrance at nicole@volunteernewyork.org or 914-948-4452.