Scarsdale Gives Back

Members of the Scarsdale Golf Club braved blustery winds and 40 degree temperatures to play in the ninth annual Turkey Shootout tournament to raise funds to feed Westchester's hungry during the upcoming holiday season. The tournament raised a record of $7600 which was split between Lifting Up Westchester to support its soup kitchen, Grace's Kitchen, and the Food Bank for Westchester. The Turkey Shootout was the brainchild of member Ralph Watts, of White Plains who has served as tournament chair since the event's inception. Timed just prior to Thanksgiving, it was designed to be a hardship tournament -- one year golfers played in the snow. Funds donated will help Lifting Up Westchester and the Food Bank for Westchester provide more than 7,000 holiday meals to individuals and families in need over the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's period. 22 golfers competed in the tournament and the club received numerous donations from members and club staff. Taeko Hattori of Pound Ridge was the first women to compete in the tournament which also saw its youngest players ever-- Alex Mayer, 13 and Zach Hoexter, 14, both from Scarsdale. Over its nine-year history, the Turkey Shootout tournament has raised $51,450 to feed the hungry.

The Children's Hope Chest hosted it 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Event at Carver Center on 11/22 in Port Chester. Almost 550 Food Pantry clients at Carver attended the afternoon event. They were served a delicious dinner of pork, rice and beans, plantains, and vegetables. After the meal, the kids enjoyed arts and crafts, cupcake decorating, and getting manicures and tattoos. Over 60 middle school aged CHC volunteers from Scarsdale, Purchase, Harrison, and Rye Brook attended and helped greet/seat clients, serve dinner, and man the activity stations. Each Carver child received a new, warm winter coat, hat/gloves and candy. The 300 coats were collected specifically for each child (requested color and size) by Children's Hope Chest donors and clusters. It was truly an amazing day for all involved. To get involved, visit childrenshopechest.com.

Scarsdale seventh-grader Sam Singer hosted a "puppy shower" for America's Vet Dogs to put the mitzvah (good deed) into his 2016 Bar Mitzvah. Sam Singer chose the cause to recognize the two great grandfathers for whom he is named, in honor of their service to the United States in WWII. Sam, a dog lover, helped raise awareness for VetDogs while collecting needed funds and materials required for raising dogs provided to veteran's with physical and emotional needs, free of charge. Sam is a Scarsdale resident and seventh grader at Horace Mann in Riverdale, Bronx.

Girl Scouts Troop 1940 joined the event in order to present donations and learn more about Sam's project. The children enjoyed dog-related crafts and dog-shaped cookies courtesy of Eleni's of NYC. To learn more about Sam's project or to make a donation, visit Samsmitzvah.vetdogs.org.