WHITE PLAINS, NY (April 22, 2025) — The Westchester County Veterans Service Agency has partnered with the American Legion Auxiliary Eastchester Unit to launch the first-ever Westchester County Military Family Collection Drive during the Month of the Military Child in April. The drive collects new, unused items for children of veterans and military service members across New York State.
Items such as diapers, formula, hygiene products, clothes, toys, gift cards, and handmade blankets will be distributed by the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services to military-connected families. Donations can be dropped off at Eastchester Public Library and Eastchester Town Hall through April 25, with a final collection at American Legion Leroy Gregory Post in Scarsdale on April 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Other drop-off points include American Legion Post 347 in Larchmont on Fridays in April from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and American Legion Post 1195 in Hastings-on-Hudson on April 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
An Amazon wishlist is also available for contributions. Eastchester Middle School and High School are running student collections through April 25.
“Children with parents in the military may not wear a uniform, but in many ways they serve, just like their parents do,” said County Executive Ken Jenkins. “Certainly their sacrifice — including time away from their parents and often uncertainty surrounding deployments — is very real.”
Veterans Service Agency Director Josh Gaccione said, “I want to thank Tiana Sloan, president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 979, for launching this inaugural drive to support military children and their families in Westchester.”
“Military children face unique challenges, from frequent moves to having parents deployed for long periods and missing milestone moments in their lives,” said Tiana Sloan, president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 979. “It’s our turn to show them we see them, support them, and appreciate them.”
For more information, contact the Eastchester Unit at auxiliary979@gmail.com or a local American Legion Auxiliary Post.