THE GIVING SEASON

YMCAS HELP CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH RESOURCES

YMCAs 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.

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.

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.•

(top) Jamaica Y teens sort through donated toys for children at Brighter Days Urban Resource Institute, a shelter for domestic violence survivors. (above) Staff at the La Central Y handing out family-sized turkeys

Castle Hill Y Executive Director Sharlene Brown shares a turkey and supplies with a community member.

(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.

Bushwick Ayuda Mutua volunteers Greg Bruno and Gina Tribotti join Cross Island Y staff Faith Miner to collect clothing donations at an afterschool site to be shared with newly arrived migrants.

Volunteers from Morgan Stanley help distribute clothes at the Harlem Y

Volunteers from South Bronx Mutual Aid take coats collected at the Castle Hill Y directly to migrants waiting outside for housing.

NFL player Garret Wilson shares a fun moment with youth at the La Central Y

youth try on and try out their new baseball mitts at the La Central Y; YMCA Vice President of Field Operations La-Vena Francis joins a new mom and District Leader Lisa George

YMCA Vice President of Field Operations La-Vena Francis joins a new mom and District Leader Lisa George