Since 2001, a Putnam-based community partnership known as the Children’s Coordinated Services Initiative (CCSI) has brought youth and their families together for a night filled with holiday fun, food, crafts, and gifts. The partnership continued the tradition in 2020, although in a different way. On December 5th, CCSI volunteers from CoveCare Center, the Putnam County Department of Health, and the Putnam County Youth Bureau worked together to ensure a festive, fun, and safe “drive-thru” event for all that included a take-home lunch, crafts, and gifts. Dawn Mullins, CCSI Coordinator, commented, "We hope our drive through event provided some holiday cheer during this very stressful period we're living in.”
As always, the holiday event was a true community effort. CCSI sends thanks to the Carmel Rotary, the Brewster Rotary, and CoveCare Center for generously providing the lunches from Jen & Jerry’s Deli & Catering. Thank you also goes to MHA in Putnam for contributing the arts and crafts projects. In cooperation with the Toys for Tots Foundation, a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and with contributions from MHA in Putnam and Joe DeMarzo, gifts and gift cards were distributed to all children, brightening their holiday season and putting smiles on their faces. Special thanks as well to community members Jose DeJesus and Lillian Moynihan for contributing to the event. Mullins added, “Without the help of our amazing partners, this event would not have been possible.”
About CoveCare Center: CoveCare Center is the only private non-profit agency providing recovery-based mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services in Putnam County, NY. CoveCare Center offers hope and healing to people of all ages through a comprehensive range of services including individual and group counseling, care coordination, family advocacy, parenting education, community outreach, and medication management. CoveCare Center is a member of Coordinated Behavioral Health Services (CBHS), a non-profit 501(3) membership organization of forward-thinking, community behavioral health and disability service providers in the Hudson Valley Region whose shared goal is to promote recovery-oriented and outcome-based services designed to ensure high quality and low costs. Visit www.covecarecenter.org or call 845.225.2700 for more information.