Children’s Enrichment Committee

• Holiday Season Update!December 20, 2024

  The 2024 scholarships have all been presented to deserving students and we wish them success in their future endeavours.  Applications for 2025 scholarships will be available this spring. Please contact CEC at cec@drcservices.org for further information.

  We are thrilled to share the news that CEC provided holiday gifts for 122 children this year! Receiving information from DSS and NAFI, children received multiple gifts from their wish lists as well as handknit hats, scarves, mittens, and blankets plus handmade quilts. A sincere thanks goes to the Yarntastics, Slate Hill Quilters, and the Newburgh Methodist Church for their generous donations. In addition, hundreds of new toys and stuffed animals were donated for this holiday program to supplement the requested wishlist items that CEC purchased. 

  CEC held another successful gift wrapping fundraiser at the Galleria Mall in Middletown in December. Thank you to all who volunteered to help and to those who supported the event. 

  Our annual donation drive is now in full swing. CEC operates solely on the generosity of the community and appreciates every gift that is given. All funds are used to directly help our mission of aiding foster children and children in need. Please consider contributing by sending a donation to: Children’s Enrichment Committee C/O Dispute Resolution, 210 East Main St, Middletown, NY 10940

  CEC has begun a new program of providing toiletries to children in need.  The Yarntastics generously donated attractive handmade cloth bags for CEC to fill with many necessary products such as shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant etc.  Perhaps a child is being transitioned to foster care, or is simply in need, these bags will be given for their personal use. 

  

  

  

• Thank you!October 23, 2024

  CEC thanks the Slate Hill Quilting Group for donating these handmade quilts to CEC to give to foster children.

  

• September 2024 News Update:September 2, 2024

  CEC is pleased to report that we have served more children this past summer than ever and we thank our tireless volunteers and donors for making this possible. The autumn months will begin even a busier season! Mark your calendars noting that the monthly meetings of CEC will resume 2PM, September 9 at Thrall Library in Middletown and watch for our upcoming fundraisers and holiday gift program.

  In addition, CEC is excited to have started collaboration for requests with CASA and NAFI. Working with these agencies, along with continuing collaboration with DSS, expands our services to more children who are in need. We hope that our assistance will make their lives a bit brighter.

• Fall 2024 Volunteer SpotlightSeptember 2, 2024

  As our year of volunteer spotlights draws to a close, we realize that the spotlight has not even begun to shine on everyone who has helped CEC. Our thanks go to every individual, organization and business who has given time, funds and outreach opportunities to help our organization continue its mission.
  

  As the writer of these spotlights, I believe that I have saved one of the most outstanding volunteers for last……perhaps I should call her the Volunteer of the Year. A big shout-out goes to Liz Hrabowsky, who, as president, has dedicated countless hours to promoting and serving CEC. She has initiated fundraisers and worked ceaselessly on fulfilling requests from DSS, NAFI and CASA in addition to managing meetings and the “business end” of CEC.

  Always with a smile, Liz has enthusiasm that is contagious and we applaud all she, and her board of directors, have been doing for the benefit of children.

• Volunteer Spotlight – August 2024August 12, 2024

  Need a helping hand? When CEC puts out a request for someone to help with a project, Eileen Hogan is one to quickly volunteer. She took on the responsibility of chairperson for our fundraiser at the Museum Village Playhouse this year, always contributes to the holiday gift program and don’t even talk about the work she puts in at the fundraising yard sales!! There, Eileen lugs, packs, sorts, organizes and sells all to the benefit of CEC’s treasury.

  With vibrant volunteers such as Eileen, CEC is able to successfully continue its mission to help children of Orange County.

Read more about our 2021 and beyond activity here on our blog