Children learn what they are taught. They mimic what they see. Transfer your values to the next generation. Actively engage them in thinking about what it means to be concerned about the common good. Teach them that there are many ways to be philanthropic, but that it is important for each of us to find the way that suits us best. Some will give time, some will give talent, some will give treasure. Each will learn to give based on their personal experiences; those with more experience are likely to better understand the joy of giving, be wise and effective givers, and inspire others to give.

                                                                            
                                                                       --Edid Ablowitz, Teaching Children to Give

Multi-need Donations (food, clothes, bedding, etc.)

• Jan Peek Homeless Shelter in Peekskill: 736-2636
• Croton Caring Committee: 38 Penfield Ave. Croton, 271-4979
• Interfaith Council for Action Spring Street Exchange: 138 Spring Street in Ossining, 941- 5252 (gently used clothing, bedding, jewelry, belts, pocketbooks, kitchen dish sets, food goods, etc.)
• Westchester County Food Banks: check the website for various locations
  • Most needed food drive items (.pdf file)
• Goodwill (800-664-577)
  
• Salvation Army: 117 Nelson Avenue in Peekskill, 737-0280 and 800-728-7825
  
• NY Cares: December coat drive
• Freecycle
  

Donating Women's Clothes

• Local women's shelter: call Barbara to inquire about current needs, 747-0828
• Career Closet - providing wardrobes and accessories for women moving from welfare back to work, located in the Briarcliff Congregational Church on South State Road in Briarcliff Manor, 944-1472, open Saturdays 9am - 11:30am
• The Women's Alliance
  • Bottomless Closet providing wardrobes and training for women moving from welfare back to work: 545 8th Avenue in Manhattan, 212-563-2499, open M-Th 9:30am - 5pm and some Saturdays
• Dress for Success
• Charity Guide's list for Women's Clothing

Donating Men's Clothes

• Midnight Run: located in Dobbs Ferry

• Hand-me-downs New York
  
•  Project Night Night

• The Baby Chain
  
• Swap Style
  
• Dig-N-Swap
• neighBORROW
• Swap Thing
• Title Trader
  

VOLUNTEER & SOCIAL ACTION OPPORTUNITIES

• Kids Next Door: ideas for helping children get involved in supporting their communities
• Westchester County Food Banks
• NY Cares
• Charity Guide
• Idealist.org
• USA Today article with links and ideas for kids' volunteer opportunities
  • Kids Care Clubs (www.kidscare.org)
  • Do Something (www.dosomething.org)
  • Points of Light Foundation's FamilyCares project (www.pointsoflight.org/ forvolunteer/ family.cfm)
  • "20 Ways for Teenagers to Help Other People by Volunteering" (www.bygpub.com/books/tg2rw/volunteer.htm)
  • Volunteer Match (www.volunteermatch.org)

• Network for Good: A Kid's Guide to Giving
  
• "Teaching Tolerance" is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. November 2008 Teaching Tolerance magazine was a special edition focused on youth engagement.
• Barbara A. Lewis, The Kid's Guide to Service Projects: Over 500 service ideas for young people who want to make a difference, 1995
• Barbara A. Lewis, The Kid's Guide to Social Action: How to solve the social problems you choose - and turn creative thinking into positive action, 1991
• Learning to Give: K-12 curriculum, stories and other resources
• Edid Ablowitz, Teaching Children to Give, 2005.