Fall Family Picnic 2025
Hearts & Homes for Refugees celebrated Welcoming Week at our sixth annual Fall Family Picnic earlier this month! The rainy afternoon brought together over 250 new neighbors, volunteers, elected officials and supporters to celebrate the theme of Stories We Share. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, brought food to share and welcomed our new families!
It was heartwarming to see the continued support of the welcoming movement within our growing community. Refugees from all over the world – including Afghanistan, the Gambia, Ukraine and Venezuela – connected with volunteers and fellow new arrivals over a potluck lunch and games and activities.
Special thanks to our partners:
• Peace Play for handing out toys, backpacks, books and more
• La Casa Bronxville for donating food to the picnic
• The Kind Ice for giving out shaved iced cups
• Kate Bodian for distributing feminine hygiene kits
• Impact100 Westchester for their support of our dental table
• Upper Westchester Muslim Society for their food pantry donation
• Student volunteers from Bronxville High School, Hackley School, Pelham Memorial High School and Sarah Lawrence College
We are also grateful to Congressman George Latimer, his District Director Ellen Hendrickx and NYS Senator Shelley Mayer for joining us to show their support of refugee resettlement in Westchester. We hope to see everyone again next year!