Daniel O'Donnell

Paying It Forward This Holiday Season Dear Neighbor,   Every year, millions of Americans look forward to the holiday season to reflect on everything we are grateful for. We count our blessings, we spend time with our families and friends, and we celebrate love.   The holiday season is also a time to think of our neighbors, many of who are struggling to make ends meet. I ask that we keep them in mind as we prepare for Thanksgiving and think about what can we do to give back to our communities during the next few weeks.   The smallest contribution can have an enormous impact in someone's life -- by supporting local food banks and soup kitchens with donations and/or volunteer hours, we can make sure vulnerable New Yorkers are not left behind.   Below are a few ways you can give back in our neighborhood, courtesy of DNA Info. From volunteering, to food donations, to financial contributions, I am confident that the generosity of our community will serve to uplift those in need. Finally, I will be hosting a Holiday Toy Drive on Monday, December 12th, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at my Community Office (245 West 104th Street between Broadway and West End Avenue.) For more details on donating unused and unwrapped gifts for children and teen, see below.   Very truly yours,   Daniel O'Donnell Cathedral Community Cares Thanksgiving Dinner 1047 Amsterdam Ave. at 112th Street The group Cathedral Community Cares (CCC) will host a Thanksgiving meal that's open to all on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CCC offers a drop-in soup kitchen every Sunday.  For the Thanksgiving feast, donations of fully cooked turkeys, chickens and apple and pecan pies are requested. Drop off your contribution between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday. Race to Deliver God's Love We Deliver (GLWD) is hosting its 23rd Annual "Race to Deliver" in Central Park on Sunday, Nov. 20 with the goal of raising $475,000 to fund 475,000 meals for people who are too sick to cook or shop for themselves.  While the race is already sold out, you can donate to support the local race here.  Thanksgiving Meals at Goddard Riverside 593 Columbus Ave. at West 88th Street Goddard Riverside Community Center hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for those with homes and those without and needs volunteers for the meal.  Here's the sign-up sheet for volunteering and for offering to bring food.   If you can't volunteer, you can make a donation towards the meal here: $25 buys five boxes of cookies; $50 buys four cakes and pies; $100 buys three turkeys.  Thousand Turkey Challenge The West Side Campaign Against Hunger  263 W. 86 St. off Broadway, Basement level   The West Side Campaign Against Hunger is challenging the community to help supply 1,000 turkeys to families in need this Thanksgiving. Last year, WSCAH donated 1,345 turkeys to low-income families. This year, they want to do even better. A donation of $18 purchases one turkey, which you can give via check, online or by texting TURKEY to 77948.    For those who'd prefer to donate a turkey in person, the open donation sessions are as follows:  Monday, November 21, 9 am to 8 pm Tuesday, November 22, 9 am to 8 pm  or  Wednesday, November 23, 9 am to 1 pm   Note: WSCAH prefers frozen turkeys. Free Turkeys Giveaway 451 Columbus Avenue (between 81st and 82nd streets) at the Warburg Realty store Tuesday, Nov. 21, 4 to 7 p.m. Upper West Sider Jason Haber and his family are continuing their annual tradition of giving away turkeys for free to those in need. You can help by connecting those in need - neighbors or community members - with this resource. Families in need can register to claim a free turkey here.  Assembly Member O'Donnell's Holiday Toy Drive 245 West 104th Street  (between Broadway and West End Avenue) We invite you to join Assembly Member O'Donnell for a Holiday Toy Drive on Monday, December 12th, 2016. Please visit our Community Office from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm to donate unused & unwrapped gifts for children and teens, and to enjoy Sara Bennett's "Life After Life in Prison" exhibit currently on display in our Community Office. Assembly Member O'Donnell is happy to announce that the unused and unwrapped toys will be given to Angel Tree Christmas. Founded in 1982 by an ex-prisoner who witnessed firsthand the strained relationship between incarcerated people and their children, Angel Tree has grown to become the largest national outreach specifically for the children of incarcerated parents. Angel Tree volunteers will wrap your holiday gifts on behalf of incarcerated parents and deliver it to their children. Contact Amanda Roberts at (212) 866-3970 or robertsa@nyassembly.gov for more information.

Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell, 245 West 104th Street, Suite 1D, New York, NY 10025