HOPE'S Homework Haven Celebrates
Grand Opening at Parkside Place

HOPE’s Homework Haven,  an afterschool program at Parkside Place for grades 2-8, celebrated its official grand opening on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 with a joyous ribbon cutting ceremony. The new learning hub was formed in partnership with HOPE Community Services, the NDR Group and the City of New Rochelle. Housed in the newly-renovated Community Room at 570 Fifth Avenue, New Rochelle, NY, HOPE’s Homework Haven provides free homework help, tutoring, arts and crafts, games, and recreational activities.

Walter Ritz, Executive Director, Hope Community Services said, “The residents of Parkside Place are very special to HOPE. We formed our relationship with them during the Pandemic and have been with them ever since. I am thrilled to be able to better serve this wonderful community with Homework Haven.”

“For more than 15 years NDR Group, Inc. has supported activities and programs for our residents and children at Parkside Place apartments.  The affordable housing, we provide to our residents is complemented with a modern hi-tech Community Room with after school programs for Parkside’s children in an enriching educational environment administered by HOPE Community Services,” said Charlie J. DePasquale, Vice President, NDR Group, Inc.      

“HOPE mobilized in a time of crisis to bring much-needed assistance directly to a community that is geographically cut off from other service providers. HOPE has become a valuable community resource for Parkside residents and I am thrilled to see HOPE expand their efforts to include afterschool programming,” said New Rochelle Deputy Mayor Sara Kaye. “I am grateful for the welcoming community space NRD Group has provided. As a parent, I understand the need for a robust support system in order for our children to thrive and I am very happy the City was able to provide the resources to create this vital program.”   

During the Pandemic, Parkside Place residents faced a greater challenge connecting to relief services due to their physical distance from many providers. HOPE’s Mobile Food Pantry assisted by bringing much-needed emergency food, toiletries, clothing, books, masks and laundry detergent. NDR Group, property owners, refurbished the Community Room to accommodate this effort long-term and with the further assistance of the City and HOPE, the afterschool program was established.