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COMMUNITY GIVING CUPBOARD: We Rise by Lifting Up Others
"We give them food so they don't have to look any further." - TEF Dreamer
A Food Pantry Guest cried upon reading the Blessing Card included in the decorated bag with 4 meals she received. Our donated meals include love.
TEF’s Community Giving Cupboard (CGC) initiative is designed to provide support for two diverse but sometimes overlapping populations in need: disabled individuals and food insecure families.
The sobering reality is that one in three Westchester County residents is food insecure and food pantries are burdened to meet the growing demand.
The marginalized and invisible young adult IDD population has historically never been considered a resource in helping to solve community problems, yet they want what we all want: to be productive and meaningfully engaged with peers and within their greater community. The CGC initiative affords them this opportunity. Witnessing the Dreamers’ enthusiasm for all aspects of CGC underscores their desire to be included, valued, seen, and celebrated for making a significant difference in the lives of others.
TEF’s mission is to address both needs simultaneously.
Because The Extended Family participants feel strongly about giving back, our Community Giving Cupboard initiative provides Dreamers the opportunity to pack and distribute goods, like our Chef created Meals-In-A-Bag (each meal serves 4), to neighbors in need. With grit, determination and heart, Dreamers delivered almost 64,000 individual meals to our food pantry partners in under three years!
Art with a Purpose
Each meal is delivered in a bag designed by the Dreamers. Every design is a unique artistic expression from the heart, along with a personally decorated card. No art experience needed!
SERVE OUR STUDENTS (SOS)
Too many school children do not have adequate or even any food over the weekends, school vacations, holidays and summer break. We have created an extension of the CGC initiative to help address this need and are excited to share that we're now providing school break lunches for families who rely on school lunches during the entire academic year. Our generous Dreamers enthusiastically pack ingredients for a minimum of 225 lunches for each delivery. We've donated more than 2500 student lunches to date!
Get Involved
Your donation of $100 buys food for more than 50 lunches! Or donate whatever you can as every bit helps!
ACT OF KINDESS KITS (AOK)
Hygiene Kits for Men, Women, & Children
Another new initiative is our Act of Kindness Kits for Men, Women, and Children who are without shelter. Each uniquely Dreamer designed Canvas Kit is packed with shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and other toiletries, along with a pair of socks — the number one most requested item from those without shelter. Our Dreamers are distributing the kits to our Food Pantry partners who were thrilled to hear of our efforts for those in need. We have delivered more than 1500 kits so far and as usual our Dreamers are just getting started.
Our Food Pantry Partners
Eric packed 13 bags of our Morning Munch Delight cereal to donate to our food pantry partners.
Leigh & Luke donate Blessings Soup, Holiday Candy, and Ornaments.
Sean delivers Valentine's Day treats & cards to Pound Ridge's Neighbor to Neighbor organization supporting Seniors and home bound individuals.
Erica delivers donations of love to
TEF partners with Brewster High School's Bear Essentials programs to provide essential goods for families in need.
Joey delivers holiday treat bags to
