Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ Angel Project brought holiday gifts this past week to 180 grandparents who are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. The gifts were purchased and donated by 140 generous “Angels” (a record number) who fulfilled the grandparents’ wishlists, which were given at a holiday luncheon at Yonkers’ Castle Royale.
Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins created the annual Angel Project seven years ago to bring holiday cheer to grandparents who care for their grandchildren. While there are a number of organizations focused on making sure children have toys for the holidays, she found there were none focused on the caregivers, who often receive nothing. Many grandparents take on the role of caregiver to keep the children out of foster care. Most are on fixed incomes and think of the children before they think of themselves.
The Senator herself, also served as an “Angel” this year for a grandparent who is raising a grandchild with special needs. –
Partnering with the Senator are Family Service Society of Yonkers, Family Ties of Westchester, New Rochelle Advocates, Westchester County Department of Social Services, and the YWCA of Yonkers. These agencies identified the grandparents they work with and distributed the gifts to them for the holidays.
Because of the pandemic, this is the first time since 2019 that Senator Stewart-Cousins has hosted a holiday luncheon at Castle Royale for grandparents and their “Angels.”
