NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - Friends of Karen, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the families of children with life-threatening illnesses, was the recent beneficiary of a gift card drive organized by the North Salem Republican Town Committee.
Chaired by Nzingha Milanes, the NSRTC held the collection in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and as part of its commitment to a “Year of Service.”
Friends of Karen accepts donations of gift cards all year round for its “Feed a Family” program, which helps folks put food on the table during “an incredibly challenging time,” according to its executive director, Judith Factor, and Gabriella DiSisto, senior manager of planning and giving.
“For families caring for a child with a serious illness, this kind of support can ease one everyday worry and provide real relief,” they said.
Food insecurity is a “significant problem” for many of the 300 families the organization serves in the tri-state area.
Gift cards to ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Key Food, Target, Walmart, Visa, and Mastercard are especially helpful. A gift of $50 will help feed a family of four.
They are tailored to each family’s specific needs, DiSisto said.
“As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, we appreciate the committee’s commitment to service through America Gives and their pledge to a Year of Service. Their belief that service is something we practice is reflected in this thoughtful act of care for local families,” Friends of Karen said in a statement thanking the NSTRC for “supporting our families and for honoring MLK Day through service that truly meets an everyday need.”
America Gives is a major national initiative by America250 that aims to make 2026 the largest year of volunteerism in U.S. history. It challenges individuals and organizations to log service hours, support communities, and promote a “lasting culture of giving back throughout the year.”
America250 is a nonpartisan, multi-year initiative culminating this July 4 that commemorates the Semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The NSRTC launched its “Year of Service” on Jan. 19, MLK Day, because, it said, “love of country is something we practice, not just something we say.”
It set up shop on that day at the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps headquarters where it also collected donations for the support of local first responders.
GOOD TO KNOW
For more information about Friends of Karen visit https://www.friendsofkaren.org/.
For more information about the NSRTC, write to northsalemrepublicans@gmail.com.
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