Helping People, Changing Lives
2019-2020 Annual Report
Our Mission
Combating Poverty & Its Adverse Effects
Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit, multi-purpose social service company, proudly operating community programs combating poverty and its adverse effects in the Hudson Valley for over 55 years.
Our Mission is to mobilize and efficiently manage resources through partnerships and collaborations to help the low-income and at-risk populations achieve greater self-sufficiency.
WestCOP provides services to:
- Children
- Seniors
- Veterans
- Youth
- Homeless Population
- Immigrant Population
- Underemployed
- Unemployed
- Victims of Crimes
Through our diverse programs:- Adult Education
- Benefit Enrollment Centers
- Community Action Programs (10 sites)
- Employment & Training
- Feeding Programs
- Foster Grandparents
- Head Start, Early Head Start, Universal Pre-Kindergarten, Babies Step Forward
- Shelter Services
- Support for Veterans and Families
- Victims Assistance
- VITA - Volunteer Tax Assistance Programs
- Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Families
- Youth Employment Programs
Our Vision
To be an agency that empowers individuals
to live and maintain a better quality of life.
During this challenging time, our goal for the immediate future is to continue providing HOPE and RESILIENCY to our community members, specifically our at-risk population -- and not leave one single individual behind.
Hope to get us through this unprecedented, uncertain, and precarious time; Hope to make our present situation more bearable; Hope for an outcome that makes everyone's life better in some way; Hope that our children have enough grit and resilience to come out better at the end of this pandemic; Hope that we will be a better, more united, and stronger community.
Donnnovan Beckford
CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As I reflect on my third year as CEO/Executive Director of WestCOP, I can say without a doubt that our agency has faced unprecedented and monumental challenges. It is a testament to the commitment and compassion of our staff, funders, partners, board, and volunteers that we continue to address the issues our communities confront daily. With a massive increase in the number of people struggling with food insecurity, unemployment, income loss, school closures, homelessness, and more, we have had to rethink our approach to providing relief and security to our at-risk population.This year, some of our accomplishments include a new overnight emergency homeless shelter for women, a refuge for COVID positive homeless individuals, and a vastly expanded food distribution program. Our dedicated Head Start staff have had to reevaluate their entire approach to educating our youngest members of society. The WestCOP staff, partners, and volunteers have been on the frontlines every day, expanding their outreach to also include victims of violence, displaced veterans, and foster grandparents who struggle with isolation. It's been a daunting and exhausting task. But the reward of seeing the smile on a child's face reconnecting with their teacher or a mother's relief picking up bags of groceries to feed her children is worth every moment we spend in the trenches.We are incredibly thankful and fortunate to work with our extended family of generous supporters, both within WestCOP and in the community. Our success in helping people and changing lives could not be done without any of them.
Roland L. Grant, Sr.
BOARD CHAIRMAN
All of us are living in challenging and uncertain times, and although it is impossible to predict the continuing impact of COVID-19, WestCOP, and the Board of Directors, are deeply committed to keeping our community healthy, safe, and thriving. We are all here to effectively deploy critical resources to those in greatest need and support our efforts and those of other nonprofits on the frontlines.
You may not be fully aware that residents in Westchester County living with food insecurities have doubled since the onset of the Coronavirus, and the number of hungry children has increased by more than 40%. Homelessness and domestic violence have also significantly increased. Right now, more than ever, it is time for all of us to come together. The Board remains firm in its commitment and strongly motivated to raising and sourcing the necessary funds to support all of our efforts.
As the Board Chair, I promise that each member of the Board of Directors is working diligently with WestCOP staff, partners, and volunteers to ensure that our communities remain united, strong, and resilient.
We are working harder than ever by Helping People, Changing Lives,
Rinku Bhattacharya
CFO
In an unprecedented year, WestCOP rose to the challenge of supporting the increased needs of our community. We juggled managing our existing complex portfolio of grants and secured other sources of support to assist with the significantly increased needs in our service areas. We are grateful to have been able to assist our community through our network of locations and services. In the six months, at the height of the pandemic, we were able to bring in over $4M of direct support and several dollars’ worth of in-kind support to provide emergency food and essentials.
We added emergency support programs, opening the county’s only COVID shelter. We executed and managed additional food distributions, emergency housing assistance for Veteran’s and continued 24-7 counseling assistance for victims of domestic violence. In addition, we have secured technology tools and support for families to ensure that they can continue their learning in a safe online and supported environment. We have ramped up our financial capacity to handle the funding from the CARES act to ensure that we are able to effectively support the community through the pandemic.
A Most Challenging Time
Helping our Communities During the Pandemic
In March 2020 our world inexorably changed with the outbreak of COVID-19. The staff at WestCOP immediately rose to the challenge by addressing the heightened issues of school closures, food insecurities, rising unemployment, homelessness, and more. WestCOP's mission has always been to help the at-risk population and now, more than ever, that population needs our help.
One of the first issues WestCOP focused on was food insecurity. With the closures of schools came the end of free breakfasts and lunches for children of low-income families. That combined with the loss of income and escalating unemployment, families in our communities were no longer able to meet their basic food needs. In collaboration with Feeding Westchester, the National Guard, and other caring partners, our CAP programs and Head Start centers began a massive food distribution, which includes:
- pre-packed groceries
- bagged lunches for all children
- hot meals to anyone in need
Local communities being served by WestCOP were also facing compounded problems, such as:
- unprecedented issues of homelessness
- increases in domestic violence
- technical challenges of virtual education
- loss of Head Start/Early Head Start programs for at-risk children
- Foster grandparents' loss of vital stipends
Working around the clock, our IT department set up remote workstations for the staff so that we have new/creative ways of reaching our clients. WestCOP is continually coming up with new solutions every day to help our client base and added the following to our list of 2020 Accomplishments:
- Expanded our feeding programs in Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. We initiated emergency food pantries, distribution centers, free hot meals, and bagged groceries including meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and pantry staples. We also deliver to disabled and senior residents.
- Virtual learning for all of our Head Start/Early Head classrooms through Zoom lessons, private Facebook groups, and a new YouTube channel.
- Extended outreach throughout the community with the message "We're Here to Help" for victims of domestic violence and abuse, advocacy for victims of crime, and continued support through our Helpline, online counseling, resources, and referrals.
- The veterans' program continues their rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention program (housing is a basic need to be addressed first); but with the COVID crisis, they are now coordinating with their VA Homeless Manager to see clients within 48 hours of EHA placement.
- A new Women's Overnight Emergency Shelter was opened in February 2020
- A new Shelter was opened for homeless individuals who tested positive for the Coronavirus in April 2020
- A new Community Action Program (CAP) opened in Ossining, NY
- Staff and volunteers went out into the field to help people register for Census2020
- Distribution of PPEs including masks, gloves, and shields
- Distribution of diapers and baby supplies to families in need
- Education support for elementary and middle school children
Our staff continues to work selflessly and with a dedication to serving anyone and everyone in need for any reason.
- FINANCIALS
WestCOP Family & Friends
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PHONE
(914) 592-5600
EMAIL
DBeckford@
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