People To People Launches Project Joy! & Joy! Store

, about 60 volunteers were taping, folding and tying gift after gift for Project Joy! Now a year has past and People to People is launching this annual initiative again to help ensure Rockland families in need get presents this holiday season. 

As Rockland’s largest food pantry, People to People is expecting that 1,000 families in the area will need some assistance, up from the 800 requests that came in from needy families last year. They fulfill holiday wishes of the county’s neediest children, those whose families are living at or below the poverty level after answering hundreds of letters. Now they need help from the community to answer these letters and help make other families’ dreams come true.

 “Parents who are struggling to feed their children are particularly hard-pressed during the holidays," said Diane Serratore, Executive Director of People to People. "The money for gifts just isn’t there for these families but they still want to be able to bring some joy to their children during the holidays. We’re asking people to do what they can to bring some joy to the lives of those Rockland children who often go to bed hungry and cold."

Individuals, businesses, civic organizations, houses of worship, schools and Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops are invited to adopt Project Joy! letters. Letters and wish lists are available for review at . 

• 121 West Nyack Road in Nanuet
• Monday - Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and until 6:30 p.m. on Thursda
• People to People will have special weekend hours on Nov. 19 and 20 (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.) to accommodate donors who aren’t able to visit during regular business hours.

Joy! Store

Want to help but don't have time or can't adopt a whole family? Check out the Joy! Store.

“Parents who come to us for help don’t have a ‘plan B.’ Either People to People helps them or there will be nothing under the tree for their kids on Christmas,” Serratore said. 

Through this you can help families who were not "adopted" and provides families with two gifts per child. Here are some gift suggestions for those wishing to participate in the Joy! Store:

• building blocks
• sports equipment
• journals
• scrapbooks
• photo albums
• craft kits
• action figures
• toy trucks
• dolls
• musical toys
• educational toys
• books

For more information about donating to Project Joy! or the Joy! Store, visit www.peopletopeopleinc.org or contact Diane Serratore at diane@peopletopeopleinc.org.

For more information about volunteering for Project Joy! or the Joy! Store, contact Priscilla Dawes atpriscilla@peopletopeopleinc.org.

About People to People

People to People, Rockland’s largest food pantry, is feeding Rockland’s hungry by providing nearly 1,500 families with groceries, produce, dairy and meat or poultry products every month.  In addition, People to People works to help an ever-increasing number of struggling Rocklanders through difficult times with dignity by providing clothing, school supplies, refurbished computers and other support. For more information, contact Diane Serratore at 845-623-4913 or at diane@peopletopeopleinc.org.