As temperatures dropped this winter, NCS’s community partners went above and beyond to help ensure our clients had the essentials they needed to stay warm, healthy, and supported. From welcome kits that help new residents settle into their homes to coats, blankets, and hygiene supplies, these in-kind donations brought comfort and care to neighbors across our programs.

One of our founding partners, Temple Emanu-El, has long been a steadfast supporter of NCS. Beyond grant funding, they consistently provide in-kind donations that help meet immediate needs and support clients as they begin new chapters. Recently, Temple Emanu-El donated thoughtfully assembled welcome kits for new residents moving into Louis Nine House. Each kit included essential move-in items such as toiletries, shower curtains, blankets, cooking utensils, a first aid kit, and cleaning supplies, helping residents walk into their new homes with the basics already in place. The congregation also donated 96 hygiene kits for clients in our Chance for Change and Chance to Connect programs, providing items like hand sanitizer, shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, socks, and more. By meeting these foundational needs, Temple Emanu-El helps ensure that clients can focus on what comes next as they work toward stability.

Community partners also helped ensure our clients were prepared for the coldest days of the season. This winter, The Surrey Hotel hosted a generous coat drive, donating warm winter coats for our Upper East Side neighbors at the NCS Residence and members of our Chance for Change program. Initiatives like this provide practical support while highlighting the many ways community partners step in to help. We are grateful to The Surrey team for making it possible for us to take this extra step to help our clients stay warm and supported.

Acts of care even came from the youngest members of our community. Students at the NYC District 2 3K/Pre-K Center participated in the Blankets of Hope Project, attending a kindness workshop where they decorated blankets with drawings and heartfelt messages. These blankets were later paired with warm socks donated by longtime partner Bombas and included in the Warming Kits assembled by NCS staff and volunteers this winter. Distributed to neighbors experiencing homelessness, these kits provided immediate protection from freezing temperatures while also carrying a powerful message of care and compassion.

Together, these contributions helped bring warmth, comfort, and encouragement to our neighbors during the winter months. We are deeply grateful to all our partners whose generosity helps ensure that no one in our community faces the season alone.

NCS Partners Help Keep Neighbors Warm