Watch volunteers pack 50,000 meals for Westchester NY families in need
Volunteer NY! brings volunteers together to pack 50,000 meals for Westchester families in need Sept. 5, 2025, in New Rochelle. (Tania Savayan/lohud)
- There are various charitable organizations in New York’s Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties.
- These nonprofits support a wide range of causes, including people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities and food insecurity.
- Other organizations focus on environmental preservation, educational services and support for immigrant communities.
The holiday season is all about giving. If you’re looking for a way to give back in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties this Giving Tuesday, look no further than this list of organizations working to help local and regional residents every day.
Here’s how you can support them this Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Lower Hudson Valley, NYC organizations supporting people with disabilities Team Nikhil Foundation
Team Nikhil Foundation is a charitable organization that was created to improve the lives of children with multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. The founders began the organization in honor of their son with complex medical needs, Nikhil, who died in 2021. One of their signature events is inclusive trick-or-treating in Bedford, which they host yearly in Nikhil’s memory.
How to donate: Head to teamnikhil.org and look for the “Donate” button under the “More” tab.
Spectrum Designs
Spectrum Designs also works with people with disabilities. Its mission is to create meaningful and inclusive employment for people who have autism or or neurodivergent, as well as provide vocational training opportunities. The organization has multiple locations in the area that hire people who are autistic or neurodivergent, providing them with opportunities that best suit their needs.
To donate: Head to spectrumenterprises.org and look for the “Donate” tab.
TDF
TDF supports disabled communities by making theatre and the arts more accessible for everyone. Its accessibility programs help obtain accommodations for theatregoers who are blind or have low vision; deaf or hard of hearing, or those who cannot climb stairs, need aisle seating or wheelchair seating. TDF’s Autism Friendly Performances provide access to sensory-friendly performances of Broadway plays and musicals.
To donate: Head to tdf.org and look for the “Donate” link under the “Support TDF” tab.
Lower Hudson Valley, NYC organizations that support LGBTQ+ communities Putnam Pride
Putnam Pride is an organization dedicated to creating welcoming spaces for queer people of all ages in Putnam County. They host events throughout the year but are most known for organizing the Putnam Pride festival yearly in June.
To donate: Head to putnampride.com and look for the blue “Donate” button.
Phyllis B. Frank Pride Center of Rockland County
The Phyllis B. Frank Pride Center of Rockland County, also known as Rockland County Pride Center, is another local organization focused on supporting LGBTQ+ communities, specifically those in Rockland County. It aims to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people through a number of initiatives, including community events, support groups, youth programs, healthcare programs, advocacy and more.
To donate: Head to rocklandpridecenter.org and look for the orange “Donate” button.
The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center
Another local nonprofit focused on LGBTQ+ communities is The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center based in White Plains. They provide a variety of in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs and community resources, including social activities and support groups, to support LGBTQ+ people “in every aspect of life, from health and wellness to community building and beyond,” their website reads.
To donate: Head to theloftcenter.org and look for the salmon pink “Donate” button.
Lower Hudson Valley, NYC organizations addressing food insecurity
With the recent federal threat of the removal of SNAP benefits, organizations that address food insecurity have been in high demand.
Feeding Westchester
Feeding Westchester is one local organization that’s addressing food insecurity throughout the area. A collaborative organization that frequently works in partnership with other local organizations, Feeding Westchester aims to support neighbors who struggle with hunger by creating solutions that address hunger and tackle its root causes.
To donate: Head to feedingwestchester.org and look for the orange “Donate” button.
Lincoln Park Conservancy’s Grow! Eat! program
Another organization, The Lincoln Park Conservancy’s Grow! Eat! program, also aims to address food insecurity through its Mobile Vegetable Market, which launched this summer. The mobile market provides free, fresh produce to community members throughout New Rochelle who need it from a food truck that sources from the Lincoln Park Conservancy’s community garden.
To donate: Head to thelincolnparkconservancy.org and look for the “Donate” tab.
Lower Hudson Valley, NYC organizations that preserve the environmentRiverkeeper
Riverkeeper fights to protect the Hudson River, and combines science, law and advocacy to ensure the Hudson River’s water remains clean and safe. Programming includes educational events, advocating for policy solutions and pursuing legal cases to stop polluters.
To donate: Head to engage.riverkeeper.org/give.
Lower Hudson Valley, NYC organizations that provide educational services Yonkers Partners in Education
For those interested in supporting education, Yonkers Partners in Education (known as YPIE for short) is the organization to check out.
YPIE works with low-income school district students, providing them with resources to overcome obstacles they may face applying to, getting into and graduating from college. They provide a wide range of programming, from college application assistance to mental health counseling and support for acquiring financial aid.
To donate: Head to ypie.org and look for the orange “Donate” button.
Lower Hudson Valley, NYC organizations that support immigrant communities United Community Center of Westchester
United Community Center of Westchester, or UCCW for short, blends direct service and advocacy efforts to provide “quality social, economic, and community development services” to community members who “face financial, educational, health, language, or cultural barriers to realizing their dreams,” according to their website. Based in New Rochelle, UCCW has run tons of programs in a variety of languages, including a Know Your Rights workshops, food pantry, employment services, help with passports and more, which have helped people living across Westchester and the Bronx.
To donate: Head to uccenter.org/how-to-help and look for the teal green “Donate Now” button.
Konbit Neg Lakay
Another local organization Konbit Neg Lakay works to support and empower the Haitian community in the area. Based in Rockland County, Konbit Neg Lakay provides essential resources, youth programs, charity efforts and more to assist people and families while emphasizing the values of solidarity, education and opportunity.
To donate: Head to konbitneglakay.com and look for the green “Donate Now” button.
Samantha Antrum is lohud’s community news and outreach reporter. She writes about cultural and social justice issues and events, with a focus on the city of New Rochelle. You can reach her at santrum@lohud.com.