Local Business Donates Toys to Rockland Psych Center

Despite the light drizzle, two women managed to haul more 100 toys to the Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center in Blauvelt on Thursday morning. Janis Kowalski and Darlene McDermott of Organizers To The Rescue donated a variety of toys from electronics and stuffed animals to puzzles and a piano keyboard.

“Darlene saw an ad in the newspaper that RCPC needed donations. I didn’t realize that they had such a need for it,” said Kowalski.

“There’s been a lot of community support for the kids, especially around the holidays. They’re really happy, even the older kids,” said Anita Daniels, RCPC executive director. “They appreciate all of these little touches. We service at least 300 kids at any given time in our community service, or outpatient program.”

This program is implemented in six counties in the Hudson Valley region.

Organizers to the Rescue is a Rockland business that serves Rockland, Orange, Westchester and Bergen counties, helping individuals, families and businesses de-clutter and organize. The toys are from homes they have helped organize.

“I think it’s great because we’ll just keep coming back since they have such a great need for it. This is where I grew up,” said McDermott, originally from Blauvelt.

Not all items were toys. RCPC also accepts household items, gifts and clothes.  

“These other items, we give to the kids so they can gift wrap them for the holidays or mother’s day to give to their parents or guardians,” said Kristen Guarnieri, recreation therapist at RCPC. “We accept anything.”

RCPC is a psychiatric hospital exclusively for children and adolescents, run by the NYS Office of Mental Health. It offers an inpatient facility and outpatient services such as school-based aftercare programs, day treatment programs and clinics.

“The kids have a tough road ahead of them. Some have mental health issues, but then they also have the pressures of being a normal kid or teen,” said Daniels.

About Organizers to the Rescue

A TV show was their muse.

“We were watching a show on HGTV called Mission Organization,” said Kowalski, adding that she and McDermott started Organizers to the Rescue eight years ago after being inspired by the show. “We got training, read books and we started by organizing homes of friends and family first.”

“We go through every room of the house,” said Kowalski, adding that they also offer administrative organization for businesses or offices. “We want to keep everything green. It’s not what you have but who you are and what you can give back to the community, your personality and kindness.”

She said that she’s been able to collect unwanted clothes, shoes, household items, toys and pocketbooks and donate them to organizations such as People to People, in Pearl River, Suffern United Methodist Church, , the Salvation Army and local libraries.

“If we’re going to organize for you, we will also take the donations to where you want them to go,” said Kowalski.