THE WESTCHESTER COALITION FOR THE HUNGRY AND HOMELESS, INC. LAUNCHES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Citing the escalating number of county residents that required food and/or shelter last year, the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless, (WCHH) Inc., announced the launch of a public awareness campaign designed to generate more support for its work.

Citing the escalating number of county residents that required food and/or shelter last year, the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and Homeless, (WCHH) Inc., today announced the launch of a public awareness campaign designed to generate more support for its work. The coalition, an umbrella organization headquartered in White Plains, NY, said that over 240,000 of its 948,000 citizens, or 25.4%, turned to the 38 soup kitchens, 72 food pantries and 33 shelters located in 24 communities from Mount Kisco to Mount Vernon, NY for help. Over 5 million meals were served to the elderly, homebound, working poor and their families, half of which were children. Most notable were the growing numbers of unemployed middle class residents that sought these services. Over 3,154 citizens occupy shelters; half of those are children. The needs are not diminishing, theyre growing," said WCHHs Executive Director Rosa W. Boone, we have a crisis on our hands," she remarked. In the current economy we fully expect the numbers to grow beyond the usual 5% annually," said WCHH Board President Anthony R. Wynne, Esq., and we need the medias help to make the real story known," he stated. These are difficult times and we need the publics help," he concluded.

   To that end, WCHH has created a new brochure reflecting these facts complete with a chart indicating the sites in which the 143 services providers function in area churches, synagogues, community centers and other facilities. Simultaneously, WCHH has launched a campaign to travel to county business parks bringing its message to those that live and work in Westchester. The first such event, a breakfast hosted by Related Properties at The Centre at Purchase on Manhattanville Road, took place in late May. Tenants in the complex were invited to meet WCHH representatives and three of their corporate neighbors -- Sprint, OTA Limited Partnership and Diversified Investors -- who, over the years, have supported the Coalitions work in a multitude of ways including food drives and direct contributions. Other such corporate visits are planned for the fall.    
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