Mount Pleasant Realtors Collect Coats, Food For Needy Neighbors

MOUNT PLEASANT, N.Y. -- Kathy Courtney found reason for the holiday season in her coat closet. The ERA Insite Realty Services Realtor is now inviting the community to share in her joy and help others throughout the region.

ERA Insite Realty is conducting a food and coat drive at its office in Mount Pleasant. Coats can be dropped off until Jan. 5. Food can be donated through Dec. 11.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Tom Renner

Content Partner: ERA Insite Realty Services

Kathy and ERA Insite Realty are conducting a coat and food drive to help Mount Pleasant and Westchester County residents who are fighting hard times. The food drive runs through Friday, Dec. 11. The coat drive runs through Tuesday, Jan. 5.

People can donate gently used coats at the Mount Pleasant office at 635 Commerce St. in Thornwood. Food can also be dropped off at the Thornwood location as well as at ERA Insite’s offices at 600 North Broadway in White Plains and at 120 Kraft Ave. in Bronxville.

Lou and Debra Budetti, the owners of ERA Insite Realty, have organized the food drive for several years, with donations going to the Food Bank of Westchester. Non-perishable items, such as coffee, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, boxed potatoes and rice can be donated. Click here for a complete list on the ERA Insite website of acceptable non-perishable foods.

Kathy Courtney has been collecting coats for several years. This is the first year she is enlisting wide community support. “What better place to do it,’’ Kathy said. “I live here, we have the office here now and we have a team that works well together. The response has been terrific. Once people find out, they go and get their old coats and bring them back to us.” Kathy said she hopes to deliver some coats to organizations in time for Christmas.

While Kathy has collected coats, other Realtors with ERA Insite have also captured the spirit of giving, both at the holidays and throughout the year, by taking children shopping for back-to-school clothes, donating money to help purchase holiday gifts for less fortunate families, and participating in fundraising for causes such as the American Cancer Society and The Bridge Fund of Westchester, whose mission is preventing homelessness for working poor families in short-term crisis.

For Kathy, sharing the joy is what the holiday season is all about. “I feel like a million bucks when I see the smiles on some of these faces,’’ she said. “The best thing about being part of this community is we work together. Putting a smile on someone’s face, that’s what makes my day.”