As the engagement manager for Volunteer New York!, I help recruit volunteers for other local nonprofits, and Westchester Parks Foundation is my go-to recommendation for families and corporate teams alike. Not only do our volunteers have a blast getting outdoors and helping the environment, but they have the opportunity to make new friends and to learn about their surroundings with the WPF's many park cleanups and other cool activities.
On my own time, I make sure to volunteer as part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup Day with WPF, and it's one of my favorite activities. Cleaning up local beaches—not to mention, weighing all that trash!—is so fulfilling, and I love seeing how much of an impact volunteers can make in just a few hours.
Special shoutout to Erin Cordiner for running one of the most well-organized and exciting volunteer programs around! I'm looking forward to the next park cleanup!
Westchester Parks Foundation has expanded my awareness and appreciation of our county parks, trails and open spaces. The dynamic, Knowledgeable and accessible staff effectively collaborate with Westchester County government, corporations and numerous volunteers in producing and sponsoring impressive programs. For example, I've enjoyed as a participant and/or volunteer Bike Sunday on the Bronx River Parkway during the summer months, Winter Wonderland's acres of outdoor holiday magic at the Kensico Dam during December, the annual Pitch in for Parks' county parks cleanup and planting at my local Willson's Woods, summer lunch for seniors at Saxon Woods, a concert of Latin American music on the grounds of Lasdon Park and Arboretum. Their summer camp brings low income children and children at risk in contact with nature - Camp Morty for young children, Merriwood, for tweens. There is so much more. And, it is important to note that they make excellent use of the media in informing the public about their programs, their goals and achievements. For me, this is an organization that make a difference.
The Westchester Parks Foundation provides me with a couple of very basic, but valuable tools: 1) By virtue of their newsletters and reminders, I stay connected with news about Willson Woods Park, which is an under-resourced gem of my community. 2) With their spring clean up initiatives, I and others are also able to donate our time, which unlike money, connects us emotionally to a critical piece of land and the water in our community. That connection has created a sense of "emotional ownership" of Willson Woods that endures yearround and is contagous.
William Holmes - Proud Mount Vernon Resident