| Across Westchester and Putnam Counties, United Way’s Community Impact Grants are helping local nonprofits deliver life-changing support to individuals and families when they need it most. From mental health care to food access and youth development, the stories below reflect the breadth of what this funding makes possible. |
| Restoring Stability for a Family in Crisis When a single mother of three was hospitalized with a respiratory illness connected to the cleaning products used at her house cleaning job, her family’s challenges didn’t stop at her hospital bed. While she was receiving care, her family’s electricity was shut off due to unpaid utility bills. Thanks to in part to Community Impact Grant funding, WestCOP/Putnam CAP was able to step in, covering the arrears, and restoring electricity. With power restored, the family regained access to heat, hot water, and the ability to cook safely at home. |
| Nourishing a Community In Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, Horseman’s Harvest Neighborhood Pantry serves more than 470 households, reaching over 1,600 individuals, including hundreds of children and seniors. With support from the Community Impact Grant, the organization distributed nearly 150,000 pounds of food in 2025 alone, equating to approximately 120,000 meals, with thousands more distributed in the early months of 2026. The pantry serves a largely Hispanic and Latino community, many of whom are newly arrived immigrants, and operates entirely through volunteers, including many clients themselves. As one client shared, “My experience coming to the pantry has been wonderful, the volunteers are polite, friendly and respectful.” |
| Building Bridges for Refugees Hearts & Homes for Refugees used funding from the Community Impact Grant to launch meaningful connections between newly arrived Afghan teenage girls and students from Bronxville High School. Through shared meals, baking, games, and cultural exchanges, the program helped young women build friendships and confidence as they adjusted to life in the United States. Grant funding also supported English language learning for refugee adults like “Ayesha,” an Afghan mother of five who arrived in New York in 2024 with no English and limited literacy due to educational restrictions for women in Afghanistan. Through a virtual program that allowed her to attend classes from home in the evenings, Ayesha made meaningful strides in both language skills and confidence navigating daily life. |
| Helping Students Reach Their Full Potential With the support of the Community Impact Grant, Project Morry continued to make a measurable difference for students in Elmsford and Port Chester. During the most recent program cycle, 98% of students advanced to the next grade, and 100% of Elmsford seniors graduated on time with clear postsecondary plans spanning college, trade school, and military service. Nearly all graduating seniors reported gaining leadership skills and developing tools essential for college and career success. For students like Lori, the College and Career Readiness program provided hands-on guidance through the college application and FAFSA process, reducing stress and building the confidence to take the next step. |
| Finding Family in the Face of Cancer At Cancer Support Community Greater NY & CT Inc., Community Impact Grant funding helped the organization provide free emotional support, counseling, wellness programming, and family-centered services for those impacted by cancer. Since July 2025, the organization has welcomed 88 new members and facilitated more than 2,600 program visits. For many members, the impact goes far beyond programming. “On the very first day I walked through these doors, I felt at ease. I had thought I was alone in what I was going through, but thanks to this space, I am the happiest woman, because it has helped me overcome so many obstacles,” shared one member. |
These stories are among many from the 35 nonprofits that received Community Impact Grant funding from United Way of Westchester and Putnam in 2025, each addressing a different but equally pressing need across our counties.