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The City of New Rochelle, in partnership with Volunteer New York! and Monroe College is proud to announce its selection as one of only 11 exclusive Feed the Funnel sites nationwide. This special initiative, part of the federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, will unfold on Friday, September 8th, aiming to pack and distribute 50,000 meals within the New Rochelle community.

“Volunteers contribute immeasurably to the health and vitality of New Rochelle, making an especially positive difference in the lives of neighbors facing challenges.  This year, once again, we have an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to one another and to honor 9/11 through service,” said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson.

The Feed the Funnel Initiative will be held at the Monroe Athletic Complex at 19 Lecount Place. From 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM, local volunteers, Monroe College students, faculty, and staff; and community members will join hands to fight hunger, packing 50,000 meals for Monroe’s on-campus student food pantry and various local partners that are part of Feeding Westchester’s hunger relief network in New Rochelle. Volunteers aged 18 and over, or 16-17 with an adult and a signed Youth Waiver, are invited to participate in meal preparation, weighing, sealing, and packaging.

“This year marks Monroe’s 40th anniversary as a proud, warmly welcomed member of the New Rochelle community,” said Marc Jerome, President of Monroe College. “In celebration, we are delighted to continue our strong tradition of community service by opening our doors and rolling up our sleeves to be a part of this incredible event to help our local neighbors in need.”

In alignment with Volunteer New York!’s 13th annual 9/11: Serve + Remember event, this exclusive Feed the Funnel program highlights the resilience and unity that emerged in the wake of September 11. The region-wide day of service will continue from Friday, September 8th, through Monday, September 11th. In addition to the meal-packing event on Friday, volunteers will have the opportunity on Saturday, September 9th, and Monday, September 11th, to address various local needs, from food insecurity to park beautification, to creating satchels for Hope Community Services and more.

Now, 22 years since that tragic day, a whole generation has grown up in the shadow of 9/11. Those of us who remember that day are fortified by the strength that all Americans showed in its aftermath. This strength includes the thousands of local volunteers who have contributed to 9/11: Serve + Remember over the last 13 years. We encourage local students and families, especially those born after 2001, to participate this 9/11 Day to foster a deeper connection to service and understanding of 9/11’s significance.

“The more time that passes, the more important it is that we pause to remember the spirit of unity and service that emerged following the tragic attacks of September 11. It’s a day of tribute to those we lost, and an opportunity to reignite our belief in community and in the power of people to do good,” said Volunteer New York! Executive Director, Jeanette Gisbert. “This year we have ensured that people of all ages and abilities will find meaningful ways to serve. What act of kindness will you do this 9/11 Day?”

To learn more about the Feed the Funnel event in New Rochelle, or to explore other local 9/11 Day volunteer opportunities starting September 8th, visit serveandremember.org. Advanced registration is required. For inquiries, please call 914-948-4452.

This year’s 9/11: Serve + Remember event presented by Volunteer New York! and Westchester County is made possible with critical support from Major Sponsor: Robison Oil; Event Sponsor: Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts; Project Sponsors: Levitt-Fuirst Associates and Webster Bank.

9/11 Day was created in 2002 to meaningfully honor the memories of those lost on September 11, 2001, and to inspire Americans and others to do good deeds in support of creating a better and more peaceful world. It is also a day that is meant to help rekindle the extraordinary spirit of togetherness, volunteerism, and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.

Since becoming a National Day of Service, 9/11 Day has grown into the United States’ largest day of charitable service. By volunteering on 9/11 Day each year, you help support their mission to transform the anniversary of September 11 into a worldwide day of good and a symbol of American resilience, while helping to keep the spirit of all who were lost alive in our hearts and minds. The positive legacy that we create together on 9/11 Day can be passed down for generations upon generations to come. Learn more about the #911DAY movement at 911day.org

Volunteer New York! is proud to support the City of New Rochelle to help increase local volunteerism and spread awareness of local nonprofits’ volunteer needs. For an active list of ways to volunteer in New Rochelle, please visit volunteernewyork.org/newrochelle or call 914-948-4452.

Volunteer New York!’s mission is to mobilize our community to address its greatest challenges. We envision a community that is vibrant, resilient, and equitable and see volunteerism and civic engagement as important and powerful strategies to achieving this vision. Volunteer New York! is a one-stop resource devoted to increasing volunteerism in Westchester and our surrounding communities.

Last year, Volunteer New York! helped to inspire more than 37,000 volunteers to take action and to coordinate more than 388,000 hours of service that supported more than 300 nonprofits and local organizations, providing a value of $13.7 million back to our community.

The Corporate Champions who strongly support the mission of Volunteer New York! include: MasterCard, PepsiCo, Regeneron, The Journal News & LoHud.com, Con Edison, M&T Bank, Morgan Stanley, PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP, Retirement Transformed, Robison Oil Corporation, Webster Bank, Hudson Valley Credit Union,  PCSB Bank, PCSB Community Foundation, WMCHealth, Acadia, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, MAG Real Estate Advisors, Inc., Meridian Risk Management, RAND, and TD Bank. With additional and ongoing support from Westchester County and AmeriCorps Seniors.  

Feeding Westchester serves Westchester County, providing food to a hunger-relief network of more than 300 partners and programs. With a mission to nourish their neighbors in the fight against hunger, the organization sources and distributes good, nutritious food and other resources to wherever it is needed most. 

In fiscal year 2023, Feeding Westchester provided more than 21 million pounds of food equivalent to more than 17 million meals through soup kitchens, food pantries, schools, shelters, residential programs, and mobile distributions. That served 220,000 neighbor visits – including visits from children, seniors, veterans, and hardworking families – every month. The nonprofit, a 4-star Charity Navigator organization, is committed to creating a community where all people have access to the food they need today, and the fundamental resources to build a better tomorrow. 

Feeding Westchester is located at 200 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. For more information, visit feedingwestchester.org.