Mother’s Day Baskets
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
-J.Holmes
Over the past month, donations have been pouring in to Julia Brogan’s room for Mother’s Day Baskets for local women’s shelters. At first, the plan was to donate 10 baskets to Hope’s Door Women’s Shelter, however the overwhelming generosity of the teachers, aides, and staff made it possible for Julia to reach out to My Sister’s Place which runs two local shelters and donate an additional 25 baskets. In total, 35 Mother’s Day baskets were assembled and delivered this past weekend.
On Friday afternoon, I joined Julia Brogan (and her 3 kids), Donna Bianco, Catherine Bianco (recent graduate), Eva Cieloszyk, Toby Gillen (and her 2 kids), Dian Grandefeld, Georgiana Stewart, Kathy Marron (and her two kids), Diane Murphy (and her daughter), Joyce Myers, Heather Norman, and Maria Pizzolato assembled and decorated 35 Mother’s Day baskets which were delivered to Hope’s Door and My Sister’s Place. The mother’s day baskets were filled with beauty and toiletry items, a book with a personal inscription from a BXV staff member, a flower pen made by the volunteers on Friday (thanks to Joyce Myers’ guidance), a journal, treats (both salty and sweet), and a cookie jar. The cookie jars were made and donated by the Middle School Community Service Club and students from Saint Joseph's CCD class (with a special thanks to Pam Kohlhoff). Each gift basket had a handwritten card from a Bronxville faculty member wishing them a Happy Mother’s Day (see image of cover of card).
The recipients at the women’s shelters were overwhelmed with gratitude to be showered with such love on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is often a forgotten holiday for women seeking refuge, but thanks to the Bronxville staff this year Mother’s Day was one that was honored and celebrated.
This was all made possible by the generosity of over 50 Bronxville faculty and staff who include: Lauren Geremia, Mary Reilly, Megan Figueroa, Denise Lutter, Pam Simpson, MaryBeth Gettelfinger, Pam Kohlhoff, Kathryn Marron, Gillian Garzia, Eva Cieloszyk, Kathe Sosa, Jillana Valente, Roseann Silves, Julia Brogan, Noreen Herber, Beth Agarabi, Joyce Vastola, Georgiana Stewart, David Katz, Vicki Kreiss, Jacquelyn Frawley, Virginia Gentile, Maria Pizzolato, Patrick Clarke, Lissi Alcivar, Linda and Gene Orsenigo, Julie Clarke, Heather Norman, Frank Viggiani, Carol Lockwood, Peter Royal, Lindsey Blackhurst, Karen Green, Donna Bianco, Jim Brogan, Toby Gillen, Mandy Gersten, Kendall Fousek, Regina O’Dwyer, Diane Murphy, Dian Grandefeld, MaryEllen Mullin, and countless other donors who left donations in Julia’s room.
Thank you to each of these donors. Here is a thank you that we received from one of the shelters.
Dear Julia and friends:
It takes a lot of work and a lot of heart to help victims of abuse, and we'd never get the job done without people like you who share in our mission. Your support of Hope's Door sends a clear and compelling message to those we serve that they are not alone and that others do care.
Thank you so much for your recent donation of Mother's Day gifts to Hope's Door. Your gift supports our efforts to end domestic violence and to empower victims to achieve safety, independence, and healing from the trauma of abuse.
Last year alone, Hope's Door served 592 adult victims, which helped them and their 924 children. We opened an office in Ossining, resulting in increasing the numbers of survivors served in that community by 66%. In addition, our "Love Shouldn't Hurt" program empowered 7,786 teens with potentially life-saving information with the goal of breaking the inter-generational cycle of abuse.
Thank you for sharing in our mission and making a difference. Together we can end domestic violence.
Sincerely,
Tami Shimkin
Hope's Door, Inc.
Office Manager/ Executive Assistant
Also an enormous thank you to Julia Brogan, whose leadership and passion for others inspire so many to donate their time to the benefit of others.
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
-J.Holmes
Over the past month, donations have been pouring in to Julia Brogan’s room for Mother’s Day Baskets for local women’s shelters. At first, the plan was to donate 10 baskets to Hope’s Door Women’s Shelter, however the overwhelming generosity of the teachers, aides, and staff made it possible for Julia to reach out to My Sister’s Place which runs two local shelters and donate an additional 25 baskets. In total, 35 Mother’s Day baskets were assembled and delivered this past weekend.
On Friday afternoon, I joined Julia Brogan (and her 3 kids), Donna Bianco, Catherine Bianco (recent graduate), Eva Cieloszyk, Toby Gillen (and her 2 kids), Dian Grandefeld, Georgiana Stewart, Kathy Marron (and her two kids), Diane Murphy (and her daughter), Joyce Myers, Heather Norman, and Maria Pizzolato assembled and decorated 35 Mother’s Day baskets which were delivered to Hope’s Door and My Sister’s Place. The mother’s day baskets were filled with beauty and toiletry items, a book with a personal inscription from a BXV staff member, a flower pen made by the volunteers on Friday (thanks to Joyce Myers’ guidance), a journal, treats (both salty and sweet), and a cookie jar. The cookie jars were made and donated by the Middle School Community Service Club and students from Saint Joseph's CCD class (with a special thanks to Pam Kohlhoff). Each gift basket had a handwritten card from a Bronxville faculty member wishing them a Happy Mother’s Day (see image of cover of card).
The recipients at the women’s shelters were overwhelmed with gratitude to be showered with such love on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is often a forgotten holiday for women seeking refuge, but thanks to the Bronxville staff this year Mother’s Day was one that was honored and celebrated.
This was all made possible by the generosity of over 50 Bronxville faculty and staff who include: Lauren Geremia, Mary Reilly, Megan Figueroa, Denise Lutter, Pam Simpson, MaryBeth Gettelfinger, Pam Kohlhoff, Kathryn Marron, Gillian Garzia, Eva Cieloszyk, Kathe Sosa, Jillana Valente, Roseann Silves, Julia Brogan, Noreen Herber, Beth Agarabi, Joyce Vastola, Georgiana Stewart, David Katz, Vicki Kreiss, Jacquelyn Frawley, Virginia Gentile, Maria Pizzolato, Patrick Clarke, Lissi Alcivar, Linda and Gene Orsenigo, Julie Clarke, Heather Norman, Frank Viggiani, Carol Lockwood, Peter Royal, Lindsey Blackhurst, Karen Green, Donna Bianco, Jim Brogan, Toby Gillen, Mandy Gersten, Kendall Fousek, Regina O’Dwyer, Diane Murphy, Dian Grandefeld, MaryEllen Mullin, and countless other donors who left donations in Julia’s room.
Thank you to each of these donors. Here is a thank you that we received from one of the shelters.
Dear Julia and friends:
It takes a lot of work and a lot of heart to help victims of abuse, and we'd never get the job done without people like you who share in our mission. Your support of Hope's Door sends a clear and compelling message to those we serve that they are not alone and that others do care.
Thank you so much for your recent donation of Mother's Day gifts to Hope's Door. Your gift supports our efforts to end domestic violence and to empower victims to achieve safety, independence, and healing from the trauma of abuse.
Last year alone, Hope's Door served 592 adult victims, which helped them and their 924 children. We opened an office in Ossining, resulting in increasing the numbers of survivors served in that community by 66%. In addition, our "Love Shouldn't Hurt" program empowered 7,786 teens with potentially life-saving information with the goal of breaking the inter-generational cycle of abuse.
Thank you for sharing in our mission and making a difference. Together we can end domestic violence.
Sincerely,
Tami Shimkin
Hope's Door, Inc.
Office Manager/ Executive Assistant
Also an enormous thank you to Julia Brogan, whose leadership and passion for others inspire so many to donate their time to the benefit of others.