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.

Across HFH family residences, families and staff came together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with activities honoring the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. With Spanish as the preferred spoken language of nearly a quarter of families in HFH shelters, these celebrations are an important way to recognize and celebrate the diverse backgrounds of the families we serve.

At Williamsbridge Family Residence, families celebrated throughout the month with a range of activities—from decorating paper calaveras (decorative, often edible skulls used to represent departed loved ones during Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead) to cooking traditional foods like arepas, tacos, and empanadas during culinary classes with the National Enrichment Group. During Zumba classes with Sweet Water Dance & Yoga, families even learned tango and bachata dances.

“Many of the families [who attend Williamsbridge Recreation] come from various Hispanic backgrounds,” said Yasmeen Joyner, Recreation Supervisor at Williamsbridge Family Residence. “These celebrations provided an opportunity for them to share their culture while also learning about others. I’ve seen families share stories about their countries, try their traditional foods, and even learn new words together. I take great joy in creating opportunities that foster stronger connections among the families and provide a space for them to connect with one another.”

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.

Williamsbridge Family Residence transformed into a wicked wonderland this Halloween, thanks to longtime partner Knock Knock Give A Sock, who collaborated with Lev Capital. Families arrived at the Halloween Carnival in costume, eager to dive into an evening filled with spooky stations run by the spirited staff and volunteers.

The carnival offered a thrilling lineup, from cape and mask decorating to mini canvas painting, bracelet crafting, and face painting. Kids delighted in slime-making and pumpkin decorating, and Halloween tunes playing in the background created a perfectly haunted vibe as everyone enjoyed classic games like bag and ring toss. The festivities were fueled by delicious snacks—including hot pizza and fresh popcorn—and kids played together while their parents mingled and enjoyed the holiday spirit alongside them.

“It’s amazing. I love the fact that they did this for the kids. She’s having a blast. I can’t afford to do stuff like this, so it’s nice that we get to share this [experience]—and with other kids, too,” one mother who attended the event with her daughter said.

Stay tuned for more Halloween happenings at HFH Family Residences!

Families, and staff, at Williamsbridge Family Residence were recently treated to a visit from the Allerton Branch of the New York Public Library. Staff from the local branch set up an information table and signed children and adults up for library cards, along with sharing all the things that you can now access through the library. One girl was ecstatic to hear about access to museums, and who knew you could learn to knit at the library?

“The New York Public Library’s mission statement is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities,” said Matt Balik, Adult Librarian at Allerton Library. “There are so many things you can do when you sign up for your free library card! Not only can you peruse our diverse collection of materials (books, DVDs, and magazines to name a few), but you can get tickets to many of NYC’s various museums and cultural institutions, participate in ESOL classes, work with a career coach, receive at home rapid COVID testing kits, plus many more services and resources all for free with your library card!”

Williamsbridge staff also set up an outreach table in the lobby and greeted families as kids came home from school with snacks and free age-appropriate books. It was the perfect opportunity for families to get to know Recreation Supervisor Yasmeen Joyner, who is starting up the Afterschool & Recreation program soon.