“Angels” Bring Holiday Cheer To Grandparents Who Are Caregivers

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A record number of generous folks bought and donated gifts for grandparent caregivers in the annual Angel Project.

This year 140 generous "angels" — a record number — fulfilled the wish lists of 180 grandparents, distributing presents at a holiday luncheon at Yonkers’ Castle Royale (for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.)

For the past seven years, the program started by New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has remembered grandparents who care for their grandchildren in southern Westchester. While there are a number of organizations focused on making sure children have toys for the holidays, Stewart-Cousins noticed 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, she said. Most are on fixed incomes and think of the children before they think of themselves.

The Senator served as an “Angel” this year for a grandparent who is raising a grandchild with special needs.

Partners in the Angel Project include the 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.

SEE ALSO: Angel Project Gives Presents To 200 Grandparent Caregivers