Help with the holiday gift driveIt's that time of year again when Westchester County asks the public and local businesses to open their hearts and make donations to help Westchester children during the holiday season.

This is the 10th year of the Westchester County Holiday Gift Drive, which provides presents to children in the care of the Department of Social Services and to children living in homeless shelters with their families awaiting permanent housing. Last year, the program brought holiday gifts to about 650 foster children.

Eight students from Eastchester High School have already done their part, raising $3,000 in gift cards for the children.

County Executive Robert P. Astorino thanked the students, saying, "The holidays are a special time of year to be with family and friends. Unfortunately, for many Westchester children that is not the case. It is at those times that the county's Holiday Gift Drive steps in to help. I thank the Eastchester students for their initiative and decision to support the county drive and urge all of our residents and businesses to consider a donation."

The seniors who raised the money for the gift card are Brooke Eigen, Olivia Hughes, Yasmeen Safaie, Olivia Heffernan, Ilana Morris, Ryan Winnie, Natalie Ewing and Anna Hughes. They were assisted by their  faculty advisors, Ellen Eldred and Edye Caine. Each year the senior class organizes an annual fair that raises money for charities that support children. For the second year in a row they selected the county's holiday drive to be the beneficiary of the effort.

Commissioner of Social Services Kevin McGuire said of the program: "It gives me great pleasure when I see all the gifts ready to go out to children in need all over the county."

Collection bins for unwrapped presents are at the  following county buildings:

  • Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Ave., White Plains
  • Department of Social Services Central Office, 112 E. Post Road, White Plains
  • Mount Vernon District Office, 100 East First Street, Mount Vernon
  • Peekskill District Office, 750 Washington Street, Peekskill
  • White Plains District Office, 85 Court Street, White Plains
  • Yonkers District Office, 131 Warburton Ave., Yonkers  

Gifts may also be dropped off at  WFAS radio, 365 Secor Road, Hartsdale.  

The program makes a special appeal for gift cards and cash contributions, so that gifts can be matched with the wish lists of the recipients (mostly older youth). If you would like to donate or sponsor a child's wish list, e-mail us at or call either Terri Guillen at 995-8381 or Philippa Seltzer at 995-5331.