At 17, Blind Brook senior Danny Ullman embodies the holiday spirit more so than many people his age.
Ullman has already established his own charity,Hearth for All, dedicated to combating homelessness in the New York area.
The organization has already held one major event this year called Sleep for Solutions to raise awareness and money for its cause. However, Ullman is just getting started. Hearth for All also has organized its second annual Scarves for Shelters program, which will provide hundreds of scarves to shelters and disadvantaged residents in Westchester County.
Ullman started Scarves for Shelter last December with the help of Blind Brook teacher Jane Romm and a large donation from Rye Brook resident Sally Sedler, whose family ran a garment company called Day of the Unicorn.
Romm, who runs the community service program at the high school, said she received hundreds of bolts of cloth from Sedler's company that could be made into scarves. The donation came about after Sedler's son, Jordan, contacted Romm and said the family had plenty of unused cloth sitting in a warehouse.
Romm went to the family's warehouse in Mount Vernon and brought back enough cloth to make 5,000 scarves. She distributed the cloth to several organizations in Blind Brook, including three synagogues and churches, as well as to troops overseas. She also gave the cloth to Ullman's Scarves for Shelter program, which began because of the donation.
With the help of volunteers, Ullman said he took five huge bolts of cloth, cut them to make a few hundred scarves, which he then distributed to homeless shelters throughout the county, including Port Chester's Don Bosco Community Center.
Ullman said several friends and family members will volunteer to help him cut and make the scarves this year. The scarves will be distributed this week, he said.
"We might end up doing a batch around Christmas and then again later on in January."
Ullman also will donate scarves to his school's Midnight Run program, which delivers meals and clothing to homeless people in New York City. He said the next Midnight Run event is scheduled for Jan. 14.
Romm said Ullman believes in giving, not only during the holiday season, but whenever possible.
"Danny has a heart of gold. He completely understands the incredible rush we get for doing things for others," she said. "He's one of those kids that does community service because it makes him feel good to give back. He doesn't do it to be acknowledged. There's no ulterior motive. He doesn't do it because he wants to get into college. It's just who he is."
Ullman said while donations are always a great holiday gift to local charities, it's also important that people give their time to those in need.
"Giving does not only involve money," he said. "There are several ways you can give—you can give old clothes you have or toiletries. Then there's also giving time, where you can donate your time to a local homeless shelter and help them serve food one night in a soup kitchen."
"In a period of time when so many are so fortunate to experience so much, it's necessary to give back to help others who might be less fortunate," Ullman said. "It's the spirit of the season."
For more information on the Scarves for Shelter program and Hearth for All, visithttp://hearthforall.org/
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