Hope for New York

For over 20 years, His Toy Store has been a joyful Christmas outreach that provided new toys to kids. This year, to better serve families in need across our city, our annual outreach has changed to His Toy Store Reimagined.

On Thursday, October 22, we hosted our annual Fall Benefit as a virtual experience! Here are the four big highlights of our evening.

Throughout the COVID-19 era, we have seen the power of the HFNY network. Our affiliates stayed connected to Hope for New York—and each other—through weekly prayer meetings and biweekly Virtual Affiliate Convenings.

Our volunteers continue to connect with virtual opportunities like sending notes of love and encouragement to residents of Isaiah 58. Since June, more volunteers have continued showcasing their creativity by sending handmade letters and art to the immunocompromised residents.

In June, Redeemer Downtown asked congregants to watch the movie, Just Mercy, which is based on Bryan Stevenson's memoir, and then join a group discussion. To encourage their community to take further action toward biblical justice, Downtown and HFNY then invited three HFNY affiliates to talk more about criminal and racial injustice issues in NYC.

Hope for New York volunteers are used to getting proximate in person with our affiliates, and the communities they serve. But when everything changed during COVID-19, our volunteers found new ways to serve! 

Our 2020 fiscal year ended on June 30, and despite the changes and challenges of a COVID-19 year, there are many milestones we want to celebrate!

While New York City was "on pause," some of our volunteers have made connections by reaching out to isolated and immunocompromised residents at two HFNY affiliates. Volunteers of all ages got creative when writing letters and making art to send to Upper East Side Rehabilitation Nursing Center and Isaiah 58.

Our melting pot country is founded on immigrants from England who emigrated to a new world in pursuit of a life of freedom. Through the years, as more immigrants from various countries have come to America, they have helped shape and form our cities and states, and become an essential part of our economy.

At our Virtual Spring Benefit, we shared our commitment in being a constant, sustainable support for our 60+ affiliates who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Because of this commitment, our goal was to raise $100K, which included a generous donor offering to match all donations up to $50K.