THE GIVING SEASON YMCAS HELP CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH RESOURCES
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MCAs across the city worked with elected officials and community partners to reach those in need at Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, the Castle Hill, Chinatown, Coney Island, Flatbush, La Central, North Brooklyn, and Northeast Bronx Ys gave away food and turkeys to community members. Altogether, approximately 1,400 turkeys were given out in collaboration with partners such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Construction & General Building Laborers’ Local 79, DJ Funkmaster Flex, Grassroots Grocery NYC, NYC Department of Sanitation, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Ruff Ryders, Spectrum, UA3, Zulu Nation, and former Council Member Ari Kagan.
Jamaica Y teens sort through donated toys for children at Brighter Days Urban Resource Institute, a shelter for domestic violence survivors.
Staff at the La Central Y handing out family-sized turkeys. 4
WE’RE HERE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS –
to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community.
At the Harlem Y, volunteers from Morgan Stanley helped distribute donated coats, gloves, socks, and winter accessories to asylum seekers through the New Americans Initiative and kids and their families from local school, P.S. 175, to help them bundle up this winter. Morgan Stanley’s Global Capital Markets Group is a longtime partner of the Y, with annual volunteer work including Y Community Markets and career events for Y teens.
Castle Hill Y Executive Director Sharlene Brown shares a turkey and supplies with a community member.
Similarly, the Castle Hill and Cross Island Ys partnered with South Bronx Mutual Aid and Bushwick Ayuda Mutua to distribute bags of donated winter coats, gloves, hats, and more to newly arrived migrants with no cold weather clothing. At the La Central Y, a partnership between Wilson Sporting Goods and YUSA brought NFL player Garrett Wilson, WNBA player Kahleah Copper, and players from the Savannah Bananas to share knowledge and smiles with kids and teens. Over 150 youth left the Wilson Gift of Game event with a Y membership and sporting goods. The Rockaway Y hosted a free community baby shower in collaboration with Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Cassiah’s Gems. New and expectant families received giveaways and information, as guests such as Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson, District Leader Lisa George, and representatives from the Office of State Senator James Sanders and NYPD Community Affairs from 100th precinct showed support.•
(l to r) Council Member Kevin Riley, Congress Member Jamaal Bowman, State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, Congress Member Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, YMCA President and CEO Sharon Greenberger, Fidel Malena from the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, Rodney Capel from Spectrum, and members of Local 79 support the Northeast Bronx Y in distributing turkeys.
