Westchester Kicks off Week of Volunteering

There are "thousands" of non-profit organizations in Westchester County and the desire for locals to give back is enhanced each year when they pause to remember the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Volunteer Center of the United Way Executive Director Alisa Kesten and Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino stopped by Pace University in Pleasantville today to formally begin a week of volunteer opportunities throughout the county called "9/11: Serve & Remember."

"This is part of a national movement to provide a productive and respectful way to honor the memory of those who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001; as well as all the first responders and our heroes," Astorino said.

Added Kesten, "The families of those who lost loved ones that day didn't just want us to reflect each year in sorrow. They wanted us to do something positive to honor the memory of those we lost."

September 11 has since become a national day of service, according to Kesten, but Westchester and the Volunteer Center of the United Way wanted to expand that effort and make it "convenient and efficient" for people to give back in their communities.

There are opportunities in the evenings, weekends and during the day to accommodate all work, school and family schedules, Kersten said.

All-month-long, locals are invited to drop off gently used sporting equipment with Operation Play It Forward to benefit Let's Play it Forward Inc. at Kensico Dam Plaza at Valhalla. The Rising at Kensico Dam will also be the site of the county's annual Sept. 11 event at 7 p.m. next week.

Pace University Provost Uday Sukhatme said at Tuesday's press conference that the school believes volunteering is beneficial for both the community and its students, and encourages them to give back to causes they enjoy.

Several students came together Tuesday, despite it being the first day of classes, to write letters of support for U.S. troops in the school's Kessel Student Center. Astorino, Sukhatme and Kesten also joined in and penned their own supportive sentiments.

Some volunteer opportunities coming up this week include organizing clothing donations at The Sharing Self in Port Chester on Saturday, volunteering at the Yorktown Grange Fair on Saturday, taking part in a Meals-on Wheels Delivery in White Plains Monday and writing Letters for Our Heroes on September 11 at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry. More opportunities are listed on the Volunteer Center's website.