Local nonprofit provides Christmas meals for over 50 families

Westchester Christmas Dinner couldn’t host its massive holiday dinner due to the pandemic, so volunteers packed to-go meals for over 50 families instead.

News 12 Staff

Dec 28, 2020, 6:21 PM

Updated 1,378 days ago

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Westchester Christmas Dinner couldn’t host its massive holiday dinner due to the pandemic, so volunteers packed to-go meals for over 50 families instead.
The nonprofit usually provides meals, music and Santa for families in need, but this year was different.
Lizette Garvin is a hard worker; she cares for two daughters and her elderly parents. She tells News 12 that her community didn’t want her to worry or muster up strength this holiday, so they insisted she rest.
“I’ve been worried period. Not just the holidays, just every day,” says Garvin.
Garvin is one of the 50 plus families who received a meal from the nonprofit Westchester Christmas Dinner. Her family also received personally shopped toys and gifts.
Lauren Torre, vice president of Westchester Christmas Dinner board, says “Everybody understands that we’re all hurting in some way, but there are people who are needing help throughout the year who are hurting way more than we are. It’s a very humbling experience, but it’s also very inspirational.”
Local volunteers like Michelle Hodge and her teenage kids made very special deliveries to families, including the Garvin's.
“We do this before we even have a chance to open our gifts so we can be truly grateful,” says Hodge. “We have done this for like six or seven years…this is our family tradition!”