Westchester Junior Leagues Feed the Hungry

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Six Junior Leagues Across Westchester County Team Together to Feed the Hungry

Junior Leagues inWestchester are asking residents to donate just one item for food banks throughout the county as part of the “May No One Go Hungry” campaign this month April 28, 2009, Larchmont,NY…The six Junior Leagues of Westchester County announced today that they are teaming together to collect food donationsto stock food banks throughout the county this May. The Junior Leagues “May No One Go Hungry” campaign is being driven by the extreme need food banks are facing in these tough economic times. Food banks acrossWestchesterCounty have reported that demand for food has risen over the past several months, doubling in some locations. The Junior League is asking residents to make a small donation of even just one item during the first three weeks of May. Residents can participate in the ‘MayNo One Go Hungry’ Campaign by donating food such as boxed milk, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned beef stew, canned beans, canned vegetables, healthy cereals and dry beans. Donations are being collected in locations throughout the county during the month of May.“We felt it was important as a volunteer organization focused on supporting women and children in our communities that we work to help stock these food banks,” said Meg Tym, President of the Junior League of Westchester on the Sound. “I encourage all county residents to join with us in this campaign to fight hunger.”Each of the six Junior Leagues has taken on this initiative in different ways but all are starting with their membership and collecting donations from all of its volunteers to start the campaign. In addition: TheJunior League of Bronxville(JLB) will be collecting non-perishable food donations from its over 400 active and sustaining members at their Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 14 at the Bronxville Field Club. The collected food will be given to the Eastchester Community Action Program (ECAP) food pantry. ECAP assists low and fixed income families residing in Bronxville,Eastchester and Tuckahoe through various programs and services. For more information or to participate, please contact the JLB at info@jlbronxville.org or visit our websitewww.jlbronxville.org. TheJunior League of Central Westchester(JLCW) is collecting donations from its 242 volunteer members and is encouraging residents to drop off two food items at Wayside Cottage,1039 Post RoadinScarsdale between May 1-May 19. JLCW will deliver all of the donated food to the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless (WCHH). The WCHH is composed of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters and works to address issues related to hunger and homelessness in our region. In addition, as a part of its ongoing hunger initiatives, the JLCW will provide both a hot and cold meal at the Grace Church Community Center Soup Kitchen during the month of May. The Grace Church Community Center Soup Kitchen is one of only two places inWhite Plains where free mid-day meals are regularly served to the needy. Finally, the Junior Junior League committee, composed of members volunteering together with local children, will visit the Food Bank ofWestchester to help with sorting and repacking food. For additional information, or to participate, please contact the JLCW at 914-723-6130 or visitwww.jlcentralwestchester.org. TheJunior League of Northern Westchester(JLNW) will be collecting donations from its 200 volunteer members and local residents from May 1-19. The JLNW will deliver food items to the Mt. Kisco InterFaith Food Pantry. The InterFaith Food Pantry is an alliance of 10 churches and synagogues dedicated to fighting hunger in the greater Mt.Kisco area. For more information or to participate please contact the JLNW atinfo@jlnw.orgor visit our websitewww.jlnw.org. TheJunior League of Pelhamwill be collecting donations for a pasta dinner at their annual dinner on May 19th. The collected items will be given to Community Service Associates inMount Vernon who have fed the homeless and hungry since 1986. Community Service Associates is a multi-service family agency that provides over 72,000 meals and ancillary services each year to those in need. For more information please visitwww.jlpelham.org. TheJunior League of Westchester-on-Hudson(JLWOH) is collecting donations for The Food Bank forWestchester through May 19.  The Food Bank supplies food to soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, day care centers and senior citizen centers.  In addition, JLWOH members are planning to participate in a food repacking event at the Food Bank facility in the early fall.  For more information please visit our websitewww.jlwoh.org. TheJunior League of Westchester on the Sound(JLWOS) is collecting donations from its over 292 active and sustaining members and is encouraging residents to help by bringing two food items to its thrift store, The Golden Shoestring, in Larchmont between May 1-May 19. All those who donate food items will receive a coupon for 10% off a purchase at the shop in recognition of their contribution. JLWOS will be collecting food from its members and presenting all of the donated food as well as a grant of $500 each to the following Food Banks in its service area at their Annual Dinner on May 19: Larchmont/Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force; HOPE Community Services of New Rochelle; andHolyRosaryChurch inPort Chester. For more information or to participate please contact the JLWOS atoffice@jlwos.orgor visit our websitewww.jlwos.org. “We are excited to participate in the “MayNo One Go Hungry” campaign,” said Trina Fontaine, President of the Junior League of Northern Westchester. “Not only will we be helping to feed the over 200,000 hungry in our community, but by collaborating with our sister Junior Leagues we bring over 1,500 volunteer members together to focus on this great need,”  Residents with any questions regarding the “MayNo One Go Hungry” Campaign can call Maggie O’Hara at 914-320-8787 or e-mail office@jlwos.org. For more information on the Junior League visitwww.ajli.org. *** About the Junior LeagueThe Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Each of the Junior Leagues in 292 communities inCanada,Mexico, theUnited Kingdom and theUnited States, works to identify local needs and develop programs to meet those needs. Because each League focuses on targeted programming specific to its community, Junior Leagues can be credited with implementing changes and improving conditions in almost every sector of our society.