A Chance In Life and New York Cares bring warmth to Staten Island families

On Tuesday, December 17, A Chance In Life partnered with New York Cares to bring warmth and hope to Staten Island families during our weekly program The Village Free Market (food pantry). That day, nearly 200 winter coats were distributed to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, ensuring that families stay warm during this cold winter season.

These coats were generously donated through New York Cares’ annual Coat Drive campaign, as it was announced by local media outlets such as the statenislander. The collection included both new and gently used coats, with sizes for people of all ages. Thanks to the kindness of individual donors, these coats will provide comfort and protection to many throughout the winter months.

The Village is A Chance In Life’s youth and community center, located in the North Shore of Staten Island, one of New York City’s five boroughs. The North Shore of Staten Island is a vibrant, culturally diverse community of about 180,000 residents, with significant populations of Hispanic or Latino (37%), White (26%), and Black or African American (24%) individuals, along with a growing number of Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants, according to latest report from Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Keeping Track of New York City’s Children: 2024.

Despite its rich cultural fabric, this area faces pressing challenges, including a high child poverty rate (20.5%), youth disconnection (15.3% of 16-24-year-olds are neither in school nor employed), low high school graduation rates (77.6%), and housing instability, with 28.8% of families struggling with excessive rent costs. Many residents, particularly those with limited English proficiency, also face barriers to accessing education, healthcare, and employment, all of which contribute to economic hardship. These challenges are further compounded by health disparities, high rates of juvenile detention, and domestic violence.

Since 2020, A Chance In Life has been proud to serve this community through The Village, where a variety of programs and initiatives are offered, designed to empower youth and strengthen the local community. From a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach, the efforts focus on offering programs from three key areas: Youth Development, Community Resources, and PYD Forums.

At The Village, there are ongoing programs and various activities that take place almost every day, events like the Winter Coat Distribution was possible thanks to the collaboration with local organizations, our dedicated staff, and volunteers from different organizations like The Grace Foundation.

Author
Elser Llanos

A Chance In Life and New York Cares bring warmth to Staten Island families

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