an inspiring non profit: SPRING, Dobbs Ferry
SHARING INFO ABOUT ONE OF THE REGIONS MOST AMAZING NON PROFITS- SPRING DOBBS FERRY
A Dobbs Ferry non profit that does an enormous amount of good work--with no paid staff. SPRING is an inspiration --a role model for every community --a group of neighbors who volunteer year round to help all children, regardless of means so they can bloom, grow and reach their full potential.
SPRING helps children and families in Dobbs Ferry with food support, child care; SAT prep, music rentals, grocery card gift cards and much more. The organization was formed in 2007 when four kindergarten students without snacks and warm winter clothing inspired a few parents and teachers to spring into action. They organized a holiday drive for coats and gifts. Soon, a small network of parents became snack fairies for young students without healthy snacks. They work with Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry and Hastings on Hudson Family to Family on food support.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Ellen Crane who co c hairs the committee with Robin Larkins on my WVOX program (see link below). During the start of the holiday season I thought I'd share the amazing story about some caring people with our community.
INTERVIEW with Ellen Crane
Please find the YouTube link here - https://youtu.be/d3_EWRfhoFc
SPRING promotes full and active participation for all Dobbs Ferry children, regardless of means. SPRING creates and strengthens community-wide links and provides guidance and assistance to support Dobbs Ferry children’s educational, recreational and social activities.
SPRING is working nonstop adapting to the enormous challenges in our community during the Coronavirus pandemic. Dramatically increasing needs for food support, 1/2 day care and supervision for hybrid school day scheduling, and programming to address widening achievement gaps, have resulted in growing expenses -- on track to be $55,500 more than a typical year. In addition, we are losing over $9,000 in revenue we would have generated at our annual Family Square Dance fundraising event which we had to cancel for the first time in 13 years.
SPRING partnered with the Children's Center at Springhurst Elementary School to provide wraparound care (supervision before or after half days in school) for 10 children. This brand new budget item costs about $3,500 per month!
SPRING continues our relationship with the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry, local restaurants, markets and other donors to make sure our neighbors have enough to eat. With the holidays approaching, we will be purchasing grocery store gift cards so families can choose what they need.
We were thrilled to launch our very own enrichment program this summer, offered free of charge to qualifying students.
We want to create more programming and fill the urgent need for academic support.
Since the summer SPRING has provided the following to Dobbs Ferry children in need:
- 175 sets of school supplies
- Extra monthly assistance to 45 families, partnering with Family-to-Family
- 8 scholarships for nursery school
- 10 Free PSAT / SAT test prep classes
- PTSA memberships for 28 families
- 16 senior yearbooks
- Tuition for 12 students to participate in Dobbs Ferry Rec Department after school classes
- Rental instruments for 20 music students
- On-call HELP-A-CHILD sponsor assistance with family requests
- Co-sponsorship of the new Social Justice Book Club
- Guidance to families with language, literacy, resource and technology challenges
- Current KidsCan! holiday food and donation drive
Please consider a donation today! SPRING Community Partners
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor