The Team of the Dalton Funeral Home decided to donate to one of our local charities for the holidays, the Mary Brennan INN. By reaching out, we found the items that they were in most desperate need of this season.
Our donation of all new items included: 72 blankets and throws, 60 sets of hats, gloves and scarves, 120 pairs of men’s socks, 120 pairs of ladies’ socks, and 40 personal care sets that included deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, etc., as well as children’s games and coloring books. Hardbound story books about Santa that included music CDs were donated to us to give to The INN by our local crematory, All Souls Crematory.
Victor LoGiudice, James Lewis and Kathleen Mendolia brought the donations to THE INN on Thursday, Dec. 12 and were treated to a tour of the facility led by Chief Development Officer for Corporate & Community Relations Cynthia Sucich.
We were floored by the reception we received and the grateful thanks that were extended to us by Cynthia and the entire staff. The facility is immaculately clean and very welcoming for the guests that they serve.
The “INN,” as it is known, provides a broad variety of essential services to assist those challenged by hunger, homelessness and profound poverty. They partner with those in need in a dignified and respectful manner to help them achieve self-sufficiency.
The INN was founded in 1983 as a single soup kitchen run by a small group of concerned volunteers. Working at a church in Hempstead, the volunteers discovered that not only were there large numbers of hungry people on Long Island, but that individuals working together could make a difference in their lives.
From this simple start and through the vision and determination of a small group of dedicated volunteers, the INN has grown to become the largest private social service agency of its kind on Long Island. The Hempstead soup kitchen has grown into a multifaceted effort that remains grounded on a single principle – that everyone would be treated with dignity and respect. Anyone who comes to the INN’s soup kitchen receives a hot, nutritious meal, a warm welcome and access to whatever additional support services are available. The volunteers soon found that dealing with hunger was only one of the problems facing the soup kitchen guests. Many of the children and adults who visited the INN were also homeless. The INN responded to this problem by opening its first emergency shelter in 1984.
Submitted by the Dalton Funeral Home
