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YONKERS, N.YThe holidays are a time of year when we think of the wants and needs of those who we love most: family, friends, and ourselves. For Katonah resident Danielle Schoen, there was an additional group occupying the forefront of her gift-giving mindset.
Schoen, a senior at John Jay High School in Cross River, travelled to Yonkers on Monday to pick out and donate items for The Childrens Village, a foster care facility, in Dobbs Ferry. Schoen, a school-based mentor at the facility, garnered clothing, sports equipment, toys, and electronics for 10-year-old boys at the Village. It was all on the house of the store she searched through, National Wholesale Liquidators.
We are happy to help Danielle with her mission, said Scott Rosen, the CEO of the store chain, who also has been involved with mentoring children in the facility. The holiday season is about giving and I am thrilled to see Danielles compassion for these boys and be a part of making their Christmas memorable.
The store allowed Schoen three shopping carts of free materials after the senior contacted Rosen. Schoen believes that the acts of kindness will go far in giving the children a holiday worth remembering.
"These boys have been through unimaginably difficult times, so having the opportunity to give them gifts and make this Christmas a special one is so wonderful," said Schoen. "I am so grateful to National Wholesale Liquidators for donating all these gifts. Now I am sure they will have the Christmas that they deserve."
A good holiday and a memorable gift will be sure to stick with the children for a long time, but the feeling Schoen receives from volunteering at the Village is enough of a gift for her.
Being a school based mentor at The Children's Village has been one of the best experiences that I've had in high school. Spending time with the boys every Tuesday brightens my week, she said. Seeing kids who have so little, but are so full of joy, really puts things in perspective for me. I love being able to bring some happiness to their lives."
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