Our mission is to ensure the Northern Westchester community has a safe, warm and family friendly place to celebrate Christmas together.
By providing meals, warm clothing, gifts and entertainment on Christmas day, we hope to allow individuals and families in our community to fully enjoy the holiday. Our volunteers and guests draw from all over Northern Westchester with many returning to join us each year. The organization relies on a large team of volunteers who decorate, cook, serve and otherwise assist with the production of the event.
FAQs
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The dinner takes place on Christmas Day, December 25th, from 12:00 noon-3:00 PM in the St. Mary's School gymnasium, 99 Valley Road, Katonah, NY.
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Invitations are extended to approximately 300 of our community’s most needy individuals and families through various Westchester shelters and agencies.
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The event is sponsored and run entirely by the community. All aspects of the event are provided free of charge to guests thanks to the restaurants, merchants and hundreds of volunteers who donate their time and resources.
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Everyone’s help makes a difference.
We are in need of individuals as well as groups to make this event a success. See our Volunteer page for job descriptions.
There are various volunteer opportunities both big and small that need to be filled many months before the event, as well as on the day of and the day after.
Various donation drives can be organized, as well. For example, a drive was once organized for only sleepwear (PJ’s, nightgowns, slippers, robes). In another, students organized a drive for supermarket gift cards. Girl Scouts assist us in a big way each year by baking many wrapped goodies.
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100% of the items donated are used to support the success of the dinner or to provide assistance to people in our community during and after the event. Remaining donations are given out to various local programs and services after the dinner to further support outreach to those in need. Donations are tax deductible when receipt for purchase is provided. Download our food & gift donation tax form.
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Please wear clothing that’s appropriate for your volunteer function. But feel free to be festive!
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There will be no coat check for volunteers, so please leave your valuables at home.
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Press interviews are available upon request. Please reach out on the Contact page or at info@westchesterchristmas.org
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