Mayor Mike Spano recently announced his selection of Yonkers volunteers for the seventh annual nationwide Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, spotlighting the impact of national service and thanking those who serve in their communities.
Spano honored four volunteers from the Yonkers community, specifically those who donate their time to a variety of charitable organizations, sponsored by Volunteer New York! All of the honorees contribute to Yonkers’ non-profit organizations, assisting those in the local community.
“Each year, I look forward to recognizing those individuals who volunteer and selflessly give of themselves to our community,” he said. “Our volunteers play a vital role in our community and ensure Yonkers continues to remain as the most vibrant place to live, work and play.”
Spano recognized the following volunteers for their years of service in Yonkers:
* Pamela Twyne advocates for grandparent and relative caregivers as a GrandPower Advocate. Since her retirement two years ago, she has been an advocate with the GrandPower Project of the Family Service Society of Yonkers, educating the public and elected officials about the needs of kinship caregivers, and advocating for greater services and changes in laws to help caregivers keep the children within their families and out of the foster care system.
Twyne knows kinship care issues well, as she has raised two grandsons since 2005: Nayquon is a 20-year-old college student, and Hassan is an 18-year-old graduating senior at Yonkers Montessori Academy, heading to college in the fall.
Twyne has demonstrated a zeal to serve and a willingness to share her time for the good of others.
* Nick Wolff has been a RideConnect volunteer driver since December 2015. As a volunteer he has provided 605 rides, driven 8,029 miles and given 160 hours of his time to the program. He has ensured that the older adult neighbors stay connected and involved by providing volunteer transportation to those in need in areas that are under-served.
Wolff has been known to provide rides when contacted on short notice, and the program continues to remain in awe due to his dedication to the program.
* Sara Kaminker has dedicated 20 years as a volunteer docent at the Hudson River Museum. Throughout the years, she has been committed to serving in schools, adult groups, and visiting exhibitions and galleries.
Kaminker has brought her extensive experience as a classroom teacher to the Hudson River Museum. As a docent, her preparation for tours is thorough and extensive, in both content and pedagogy, and she’s never afraid to try new things. She is a model teacher, learner, and mentor to other Docents in the community and to the thousands of children who are fortunate enough to explore art, history and science with her at the museum.
* Stanley Rossman has volunteered in many programs with JCY-Westchester Community Partners. He volunteered with the Reading Buddies After School Program, where he has worked for the past three years, for two hours per week with children to help them with their homework.
In addition to the SMART and Reading Buddies After School program, Rossman is also a regular volunteer at the Summer Reading Buddies program, where he volunteers for two hours per day, two days per week, over the summer months.
Rossman has many strengths as a volunteer, but the characteristic he sees as most important is that he can help children address their own problems and work hard on their skills through their relationship with him.
“Volunteer New York! is so proud that Yonkers so publicly values and celebrates the powerful impact of Senior Corps national service members right here in the city and throughout America,” said Executive Director Alisa Kesten. “Members of our RSVP of Westchester program, all caring adults 55 years and older, are making a powerful difference in the areas of education, healthy future, economic and veterans. Equally important is how their volunteerism helps them stay connected, healthy, and positive about their continued place in the community.”
The Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, joining mayors across the country to shine a spotlight on the positive impact of national service and thank those who serve in their communities. The four honorees were selected through their partnership with RSVP of Westchester through Volunteer New York!
RSVP is America’s largest volunteer network for people age 55 and older who give of their time and share their expertise to help solve local community concerns.
