Love Triumphs in Greenburgh
Over the past few days, I have had the great fortune of experiencing an extremely heart-warming example of “love triumphant over adversity,” right here, in our wonderful and caring Town of Greenburgh. As you the residents of our community have come to understand, in times of adversity and need, our neighbors “step up,” offering support and compassion in a manner which reflects the depth of caring evident in the hearts of our residents.
On Friday, 12/17/21, a group of local Girl Scouts, troop leaders, veterans, businesspeople, and community volunteers, joined together to assemble holiday gift baskets, to be distributed to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, residing away from their families in group homes. These wonderful volunteers selflessly spent countless hours, prior to that day, raising funds to pay for the baskets and their contents and traveling throughout Westchester and NYC collecting materials, so that each recipient would receive a beautifully decorated basket, replete with a holiday greeting card, a gingerbread house kit, Girl Scout cookies, candy, 10 apples, 10 pears, 10 oranges, and bunches of red & green grapes. Each basket was individually wrapped and elaborately decorated for delivery. Our local teams of “real-life heroes” assembled 140 gift baskets and transported them to previously established distribution locations, where additional volunteers delivered these beautiful holiday treats to group homes and facilities, this past Saturday morning.
The grateful recipients, coming from myriad ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds, are individuals who face the daily challenges associated with living with severe emotional, psychological, and physical disabilities, “each and every” day of their lives. The staff at the residences are “angel-like” caretakers, who come from equally diverse backgrounds, who were born in locations across the globe and warmly offer 24 hour per day support and care for this vulnerable population. As each basket was delivered, the sense of excitement became more palpable, as the faces of the recipients lit up brightly when they viewed these beautiful holiday gifts. It was an extraordinary experience for all involved!
Thank you to the wonderful people of Greenburgh for their good will and generosity, especially during these busy holiday times. Our community remains a beacon of light that allows Greenburgh to triumph over adversity with unconditional love.
We wish all our neighbors and their families, peace, health, and happiness during this holiday season and going forward. I am sure you join us in wishing the same to the women and men serving in our Armed Forces, whose selfless devotion ensures our safety and well-being.
With great appreciation and respect.
Hugh McAuley
Veterans Advisory Committee