Valentine’s Day at HFH Family Residences was filled with sweet treats, thoughtful crafts, and plenty of picture-perfect moments as families and staff came together to celebrate.

At Williamsbridge, the Recreation space transformed into a festive photo op, complete with a Valentine’s Day backdrop where families snapped photos with their loved ones. Between cupcakes and cocoa, there was time for conversation and crafting handmade valentines for friends and family.

Clinton also brought families together for a festive photoshoot, capturing special moments between parents and kids. A highlight of the day was decorating teddy bears’ t-shirts with fabric markers, and the kids were thrilled to name their new companions!

Allie’s Place Valentine’s Bash was a sweet success. Families and staff gathered to enjoy delicious baked treats courtesy of Allie’s Place Center for Culinary Education & Employment’s Lead Chef Instructor Jayda. Sugar cookies became edible canvases as parents and kids decorated their own creations, and the themed backdrop set the scene for festive photos to remember the celebration.

In Prospect Afterschool, the Panthers wrapped up the school day with a treat made with love. They got hands-on chopping and blending their own strawberry milkshakes, perfectly pink and topped with heart-shaped sprinkles.

As winter temperatures continue, we are incredibly thankful for the donors and community partners who have helped ensure families are prepared for the season. Thanks to this generosity, parents and children across our family residences have received warm coats, jackets, and winter essentials to stay comfortable through the cold months.

Allie’s Place Family Residence recently hosted a winter clothing giveaway where families were invited to browse warm winter gear, including jackets and cold-weather accessories. This event was made possible through generous donations from Marken, helping families stock up on essentials and stay warm throughout the season.

Families at Clinton Family Residence also benefited from a recent coat drive hosted by our neighbors at OneCo HK. Their support created a welcoming coat closet experience for parents and kids, filled with winter coats of all sizes that families could browse, try on, and choose from—making sure everyone found something that fit just right. OneCo HK has supported families at Clinton since before the site opened and continues to show up in ways that help families feel welcomed in the community.

We were also honored to be included in a Three Kings Day celebration hosted by Agüeybaná Lodge No. 1198 at White Plains Lodge 473. Partnerships Manager Tierra Gunther and Deputy Executive Director Gretchen Hernandez attended the event, which included cultural festivities, a delicious home-cooked meal, and community members raising funds and collecting coat donations for families at HFH. We are grateful to have been included in this celebration and thankful for the generosity and support of the Agüeybaná Lodge community.

This holiday season, HFH Family Residences marked the holidays with gatherings that brought families together across our programs. From festive parties to cozy traditions, these celebrations would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our donors and partners.  

Thanks to our amazing partners, every child in our shelters received a holiday gift this season—from toys and board games to coats, baby essentials, hygiene kits, spa bags, hot cocoa kits, gift cards, and more. We are very grateful to ADP NYC, Alston & Bird, Area 53, Citibank, Community District 8, Ferox Ninja Park, Girl Scouts Staten Island, Good+ Foundation, Grace Church School, Hollis Lions Club, JFK Terminal 7, Knock Knock Give A Sock, K&L Gates, Lufthansa's help alliance Americas, Merl Grove High School Past Students' Association, MLB Store NYC, Nasya Batian/Cambria School of Excellence, New York Cares, Off Broadway Theater, Old Navy, Projects with Care, Rap4Bronx, Rockaplay Social Club, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Stifel Financial, Stogie on the Rocks, The New York Times, Trade Coffee Co., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Phi Zeta Zeta Chapter for helping ensure families had what they needed while kids experienced the joy of opening a gift. 

Allie's Place was filled with holiday cheer thanks to a toy drive and festive celebration hosted by Community District 8, complete with sweet treats and family photos by the tree. Rap4Bronx returned with their annual holiday party—featuring snowman figurine decorating, a catered lunch, Polaroid keepsakes, and surprise gifts—while Chef Jayda and the Culinary Team rounded out the celebrations with a hands-on holiday cookie decorating event and Afterschool hosted a festive dinner and New Year photoshoot for the kids. 

The MLB NYC Flagship Store's holiday squad—reindeer, elves, and Santa included—stopped by Clinton to deliver gifts, take family photos, and spread cheer, knocking the holidays out of the park. 

Prospect welcomed a mischievous Grinch for a holiday photo celebration with Santa and his elf, complete with cocoa, cookies, and printed keepsakes for families. Afterschool programming carried the fun through the season with Grinch bingo, ornament decorating, and a cozy movie night. 

Saratoga Afterschool transformed into a charming German Christmas Market thanks to Lufthansa's Help Alliance Americas, where kids enjoyed fresh waffles, cookie decorating, games, and Polaroid photos before Santa closed out the celebration with gifts. 

Saratoga Early Ed became a winter wonderland as families gathered for an afternoon of holiday art-making, hot cocoa, and gooey s'mores alongside their little ones. 

Williamsbridge families kicked off Christmas Eve with a cozy PJs & Pancakes celebration, followed by photos with Santa, December birthday recognition, and a holiday movie marathon hosted by the Rec Team. 

HFH Family Residences marked the Halloween season with costumes, crafts, and community.

Allie’s Place kept the holiday energy going all month long. In Afterschool, students painted pumpkins—thanks to a donation from Old Navy—and decorated them with silly and spooky designs. They also ventured to the NY Botanical Garden with NYPD Community Affairs for The Nightmare Before Christmas light show, soaking in a dazzling spin on a seasonal classic.

The building hosted Halloween movie nights for the whole family, featuring Hocus Pocus, Coco, and The Addams Family, all crowd favorites. The fun continued with an Afterschool Halloween party full of dancing and musical chairs, with costumes on full display. Festivities wrapped with a final Costume Party where staff and families arrived decked out in Halloween flair—complete with music, treats, and creativity galore.

Prospect Afterschool transformed Halloween into a delicious science experiment. Students created their own Jack-o’-lantern soda floats, starting by tracing faces on clear cups, frosting the rims, dipping them in Halloween sprinkles, and pouring in orange soda. A scoop of vanilla ice cream set off a fizzy reaction as carbon dioxide escaped the soda, forming bubbles and foam. The activity delivered a hands-on lesson in chemistry—and a tasty experiment worthy of a treat.

Saratoga Early Ed took part in a lively pumpkin exploration—offering a sensory learning experience where little ones observed pumpkins up close. Through feeling the textures and examining the seeds, they practiced fine motor skills and scientific curiosity. Kiddos also trick-or-treated throughout the building, stopping by Family Services, Safety, Admin, and Afterschool departments to show off their costumes and collect candy.

Williamsbridge brought together multiple celebrations in one fun-filled afternoon—they hosted a combined Halloween party, October birthdays celebration, and magic show. Families arrived in costume and enjoyed hands-on activities like pumpkin painting, shared cake, and gathered for a thrilling magic performance.

Clinton Family Residence hosted a Halloween hangout where families donned their best costumes, kids received ghoulish goodie bags, and families had a chance to connect over music and treats.

Hear directly from the HFH Family Services team which includes Case Managers, Client Care Coordinators, and Housing Specialists. They work together to create individualized plans, connect families to resources, and support their transition to permanent housing, helping them thrive long after leaving our shelters.

Excited for the new school year, families at HFH residences came together for back-to-school celebrations filled with backpacks, games, sweet treats, and more. While the festivities set the tone for a fresh start, the rising cost of school supplies continues to burden families everywhere. This year, we are especially grateful to our generous donors and volunteers, whose support ensured HFH kids had what they needed to head back to school with confidence.

At Clinton, families picked up bookbags and supplies to get ready for the new year. One father made a point to stop during the festivities to say, “Thank you so much for giving these supplies to my son.” A third grader-to-be shared her own excitement: “I love school. I have my friends. I like math.”

Saratoga families gathered at the outdoor space for a day of celebration. Kids ran around the basketball court, hula-hooped, and played sports while enjoying face and body painting. A snow cone truck let them mix and match their own flavors, and balloons and brand-new backpacks proved to be the highlight of the day.

At Allie’s Place, families filled the Afterschool & Recreation space for a back-to-school celebration. The Afterschool, Administration, and Family Services teams hosted tables with information on programs while giving out backpacks, books, supplies, and Metrocards. Sargeant Damico and the NYPD Community Affairs team stopped by with toys and games, while the Culinary team provided snacks of cupcakes, churros, and fruit medleys.

Williamsbridge Recreation hosted its annual celebration with plenty of activities to kick off the year. Families enjoyed a magician, face painting, and cotton candy while kids picked up backpacks and supplies. The Rec team decorated the space for the occasion, and families snapped Polaroid photos to mark the milestone.

These celebrations wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our partners and donors. A special thank you goes to the Brooke Jackman Foundation, Old Navy, the Hollis Lions Club, the Rosedale Lions Club, and JFK Millennium Partners for helping ensure that every kid at HFH walked into the school year prepared and confident.

At HFH Family Residences, Mother’s Day was marked with shared meals, thoughtful gifts, and opportunities for connection. Each site celebrated in its own way, bringing together staff, families, and community partners to recognize and appreciate all of the wonderful mothers.

Clinton hosted a lively afternoon with a catered lunch and interactive games like musical chairs and the balloon stomp challenge. Organized by the Family Services team, the event created a fun, festive atmosphere where staff and residents could connect in a relaxed setting. Toiletries and beauty care items were also distributed to mothers as thoughtful gifts.

Allie’s Place held a Mother’s Day Luncheon with the Culinary Team preparing a delicious meal enjoyed by over 120 residents and staff, with support from the Afterschool, Admin, and Programs teams. Each mother received a self-care-themed gift bag assembled by the Afterschool team, along with “spa jars” donated by Old Navy. NYPD Community Affairs officers and Old Navy volunteers joined in to mingle and help make the day extra special.

Williamsbridge Family Residence welcomed back Trinity Baptist Church for their second annual Mother’s Day visit. The church provided a soul food meal—fried chicken, collard greens, string beans, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese—catered by Bed-Stuy Fish Fry, and donated beauty and hygiene items that staff packaged into gift totes for the moms. Residents had the chance to relax, enjoy their meals, and spend time catching up with one another while the women of the church offered kind words and support. Throughout the event, clients shared how happy and special the church and HFH staff made them feel. “No matter where you are in life, in situations or circumstance, know that people love you,” said Phyllis Wallace of Trinity Baptist Church—a message that resonated and left many feeling seen and celebrated.

This Thanksgiving, families across HFH Family Residences came together to share meals, create festive crafts, and celebrate their cultures and traditions. Here’s a look at how they celebrated!

The Culinary Team at Allie’s Place Center for Culinary Education & Employment made a carefully crafted Thanksgiving feast for the families at Allie’s Place. Residents picked up to-go bags brimming with herb-roasted turkey, buttery garlic green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, freshly baked dinner rolls, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and mini pumpkin pies.

Students in Allie’s Place Afterschool kicked off their Thanksgiving celebration posing for photos with their inflatable turkey. They then shared a festive dinner with friends, taking time to reflect on what they were most thankful for this year.

Families at Clinton gathered for a Thanksgiving celebration, enjoying a delicious turkey meal together. The day was filled with games, good food, and time to connect with the Clinton community.

Thanksgiving at Saratoga Early Ed brought together creativity and cultural traditions. The kids worked together to create a vibrant turkey centerpiece out of fruit kebabs and gave paper turkeys unique hairstyles at a “Thanksgiving barbershop.” Later, families joined in to decorate wreaths, share music from their cultures, and celebrate diverse Thanksgiving traditions.

At Allie’s Place Early Ed, the kids worked together to create a colorful turkey snack using graham crackers, cheese, and fruit—practicing their “cooking” skills along the way by learning how to safely cut fruit with kid-friendly knives. Parents also joined for a Thanksgiving lunch and family photos.

Families joined the Prospect Afterschool kids for a Thanksgiving event that brought everyone together. They decorated their own placemats and, after enjoying the delicious food, wrapped up the celebration with a lively dance party.