is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is is local non-profit organization in the business of mobilizing our community to address experience challenges. We envision a community that is vibrant, resilient, and equitable, and see volunteerism and civic engagement as really important strategies to achieving that vision. We're helping people volunteer and serve at our communities every day. And one of the ways that we do that is by organizing an annual 9-11 community-wide action day. And that is what each of you are participating in today. For those of you who don't know for the last 14 years, volunteer New York has organized this day, and it's in that part of an national day of service and remembrance. And so today you were joining millions of other individuals today and next week on the actual day of 11 in honoring and remembering those lost on 9-11 more than 23 years ago. And for those of us that were around and experienced it ourselves and maybe some of you have learned about it in classrooms, there was an enormous spirit of unity and service that arose in the days and months after that day, after that tragedy. And what we try to do each year is to pause and remember and honor that experience. So again, on behalf of the entire volunteer and board team, I want to thank and welcome you to this really amazing morning. This event is not possible without partnerships and relationships that volunteer and board who we believe relationships matter and so I very briefly want to introduce a few folks that we've partnered with to help ensure that today's event is a huge success. First of all I want to thank the Grove University for welcoming us into their home and I also want to acknowledge the County of Westchester and welcome the Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. This has been a partnership for many years and I'm going to ask you to say a few words. All right good morning everyone. I like trying to get you boy in my brother University. Come on! First I bring you meetings on behalf of County Executive George Laddler is privileged to be with all of you as you are participating in the volunteer New York Day of Service. So let's give it up for yourselves again. Come on. And as Genec is just talking, we are so very proud of all the work that everyone in West Chester County continues to do to recognize and support the activities and how we all came together in 2001, 23 years ago, some of you already did board yet, but 23 years ago in this day of service and activities of services services a weekend of service and the things that happened The county 1 9 11 will continue to have and it has two different ceremonies this year One is 1 September 10 which is an interfaith service at Mexico damn Plaza That's going to start at 5 pm at Mexico Dam Plaza in Mount Alam, at the side of the rising, which is the 9-11 Memorial for Westchester County that has not only the folks that passed away, 1-9-11, it also has a memorial for those first responders and folks that have passed away from 9-11 related illnesses. And unfortunately, that continues to grow. So we have both of those things. So not only to take care and work in the services today with our French quality of New York, but in addition to making sure to recognize wherever you are, Michelle has the ceremony. But in the county at 9 o'clock on 9 o'clock 117 they certainly streamed as well if you can't make it but again we thank you all for the hard work that you've participated in and volunteering and making sure that nothing will be feeding Westchester we're volunteering to make sure the spirit and all the sacrifices that have been made because of that I don't live in do not go away so thanks a lot my morning mercy thank you so much and I also just want to give a huge shout out to some dignitaries that you have in the room folks who understand community they understand volunteerism and they're working on our behalf every day to build and create the kinds of communities that we can be really proud of, including Senator Shelley Mayer, our state senator, Natalia Hermantman. I simply meant Steve Hopeness. I got a chance there. Our councilperson from New York, Michelle Mads, here I remember. And I represented it from from New York, Michelle, that's here. I remember. And I represented it from the New York Shell Friday department. You see it? Oh, the commissioner, sorry. That was in here. You know, thank you. And everyone who, again, is here to volunteer alongside us is for other accomplishing of the art goal of packing 50,000 meals. And so the last thing that I've went to do before I turn the floor over to Lawson to help us tell us how rushed and to make it happen is my pleasure to introduce the CEO of Fainting West Shester. Fainting West Shester is our local food bank, and it takes a village, as I said, to make sure that these meals are getting to where they're most needed and to talk a little bit about why it is so important is high pleasure to introduce Karen Aron. Good morning, everyone. It is so great to see so many of you making a commitment to fight hunger right here in our community. So let's start, give yourselves a big round of applause. I'm the half of all of us at Feeding Westchester. We are really proud to be a part of the tradition to serve and remember September 11th, which is organized by volunteer New York and dear French and Ed. Feeding Westchester always appreciates collaboration with our valued and valuable partners at the county, at the state, here in New Rochelle, and here at Monroe University. So thank you very much. At Feeding Wester's Hour Mission is to nourish our neighbors and the fight against hunger. Some of you may be surprised to hear this, but one in three households in Wester's County does not have consistent access to food. And that includes many right here in our local community. There is no hunger season on the calendar. Unfortunately the need to provide food is year round but we are particularly aware of circumstances right now. With prices going up and wages not keeping pace many Many are working families and are working students struggle to pay rent, put food on the table for their children or themselves and don't forget about medical bills. Kids can't focus and learn properly if they are hungry so providing nutrition food is critical for students to learn, grow, and grow. We count on the generous support from volunteers and donors to make sure that all our neighbors have been on their table. Seeing all of you here today, including so many students, but I see all generations represented, gives me hope that we will meet our goals in the future. But our goal today is to pack 15,000 meals. So I want you to say something with me, please. We're gonna say together, we are feeding Westchester. Are y'all ready to start packing? Okay one two three It's my pleasure to introduce Lawson who is going to get us started. How's everybody doing? As they're alright. Let's show hands happening to you for the last year. Can we get a few? I'm going to give these folks a round of applause for coming back. And then for those of you who are new this year, raise your hands. Give yourselves a round of applause for coming out for the first time. So my name is Lawson, I'm here with my teammates, Samuel. Everybody say hey, Samuel. And we are with a company called the Packshack. And if you're interested, this is what we do. So our mission is to supply provisions and opportunities for local neighbors and people all across the United States of America. All right, and so this week, we have to be in New York, another week we may not be in Las Vegas or California or United States. So we do this all over the United States. We are super excited to be here with you. As previously mentioned, one in three households in Westchester County are dealing with food insecurity, and so that's our main goal is to help fight food insecurity in the areas that we go. All right, so you guys may be wondering how are we gonna do this? We got about a three and a half minute instructional video. Before we start that video, I'm gonna ask each one of you to open up those bins, open up the bin lids, and then I want you to fold the plastic bin liners over the corners like you would a trash can. So take that bag and fold those over the corners. That's gonna make it really easy for our sustainers over here to help you guys keep you guys stocked up. So once you have your bin open and your bin line are folded over the edges of the bin, we have a video up here and it's on this little white screen but it's going to be loud. So I want you guys to pay attention through the whole video, don't start packing meals until the end of the video and then then I'm gonna have them sell, when this video ends, we're gonna count them sell down and he's gonna smash the going to get it started. All right, so turn your attention to the video screen and we'll get this thing picked up here just a minute. 50,000 meals today. All right, so then sell is gonna start us off. We're gonna count him down from 5. You can get this thing going. Alright? You guys know me, I don't know what would be the only one. I was counting down from 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Thank you. Thank you.