› Open House › Volunteering › Donations

For those who wish to do something for our women and children, but can’t make it here during the day, the creativity of many has generated unique ideas for helping.

The following are some of the ideas that have been generated, but we always are open to suggestions:

Undertake a Wish List Drive
Everyday Wish List – collect some of the specified everyday items needed to run our programs which enable us to direct our limited resources to our women and children

Non-December Holidays – Collect specified items for a period other than the December Holidays when the need is great and the interest is low e.g. Christmas in July, Back to School, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Arbor Day…

Special Wish List – contact us about our current S.O.S. list or particular items our women or children need, e.g. we’ll give you the numbers and sizes of a clothing item they may need

Host an Event
Sponsor/Chaperone a Field Trip or Donate Tickets/Box Seats to Events – Exposing our women and children to cultural events expands their horizons far beyond measure, but we are unable to afford the ticket prices for most events. With the help of others we’d love to go to Museums, Theatre, Concerts, Movies, Amusement Parks, Zoos, Parks, Circus, Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, Broadway, IZOD Center, Prudential Center, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, etc.

Host Us At Your Home – Our children can come to your home for lunch, a craft project, or a play date with your children, sport team, or scout troup, to name a few.

Host Us At Your Vacation Home – Our children and their teachers can visit you for an overnight trip at your Shore, Ski or Lake House – or you can donate the space for a 2-3 day stay for a family-size group of children and their teachers.

Invent a Special Fundraising Event – host a party or gathering in our name to educate others about our work and/or raise funds. Some of the fun and creative events are listed below:

-- A Night of Caring and Sharing – a local family rents out a restaurant and invites friends to join them; a portion of the cover charge goes directly to the York Street Project

-- Clown Around for A Good Cause – a donor hosted a circus-themed event, securing sponsorships, raffle prizes, in-kind donations, and invited more than 200 friends to purchase a ticket or make a donation to The Project

-- Shower for the Poor – a Bergen County parish hosted a shower, inviting guests to bring new items from our Wish List

-- Soup and Salad -- a donor invites a small group of friends to dinner twice a year, asking them to bring a household item from our wish list one time and pajamas for the mothers living in St. Joseph’s Home another time.

-- Photography Exhibit – a donor who does photography as a hobby hosted an exhibit to showcase his work and donated all sales to The Project

-- Tupperware/Scrapbooks/Pampered Chef/Jewelry Parties-- host party at the office or one’s home and donate the proceeds/product/host money to the York Street Project

-- Wine Tasting – a friend who recently opened a wine shop invited vendors to donate wine for an evening reception, encouraging friends to purchase a ticket or make a donation

Organize a Workplace Activity – can’t get away from the office? Organize a special way to raise funds, as some below have done:

-- Spring Event Challenge – a donor at one company challenged her boss to match what the employees collectively could raise for our Spring Event. She raised $10,000 which her boss matched with a personal check. The challenge has evolved over the years, but organizing this type of activity generates significant funding from individuals for our most important annual fundraising event.

-- Casual Day -- employees pay for the opportunity to wear jeans, team jerseys, college sweatshirts, etc. to work on a particular day. Proceeds are donated to the York Street Project.

-- Diversity Day -- collection of cash or wish list items taken up during special training day

-- Holiday Breakfast -- donations to York Street Project in lieu of holiday gifts for colleagues; group celebration at a company-sponsored breakfast

-- Vendor Proceeds -- vendors give the managing group a percentage of the revenue generated at their lobby booth (books, jewelry, perfume, accessories) and donate the proceeds to York Street

-- Coin/Bill Drive – collect loose change or cash for the benefit of our families

Introduce The Project to Others – let others know about your involvement with our women and children

-- Utilize our Gift of Giving Program (memorial or honorary donations made in lieu of flowers, birthday gifts, or wedding favors, to name a few)

-- Introduce YSP to other businesses in building or community groups with which you are personally involved

-- Invite us to speak at your next committee or organization meeting

-- Encourage gifts to our annual fund via email, a letter we can help you craft, or through a holiday card

-- Conduct your next meeting here or invite a group of friends to our Open House Breakfast Tour, scheduled on a date of your convenience

Individuals have been very creative in helping our women and children. Don’t see an idea mentioned? Let us know how you want to help.