Homes for the Homeless (HFH) – Saratoga Family Residence
Since opening its doors in 1987, the HFH organization has provided an average of 610 families, experiencing homelessness on any given day, safe and clean housing in one of its shelters throughout New York City. However, the support HFH offers families goes way beyond just providing them with a place to sleep. The organization focuses on the needs of both the parents and their children through education, employment, and social services.
The help alliance Americas organization together with Lufthansa Group employee volunteers have supported the organization since 2019 primarily as an educational resource to the children that participate in the organization’s recreation and afterschool program at the Saratoga Residence in Jamaica, NY. Volunteers put together programs that encourage children to reach beyond their imaginations and present to them a myriad of world topics.
In the second half of 2024, the Take Off Trainees GEN 2 hosted a successful end of summer event. Together with volunteers from Lufthansa Cargo, Technik and Passage, the kids added their handprints to the mural painted by the trainees several months before, making it even more unique and colorful.
For an end-of-year activity, the Interns GEN 4 organized a “Holidays Around the World” event, introducing the children to different holiday traditions. As part of the Wishing Tree initiative, wish letters were collected from the children in advance. Colleagues purchased the gifts and hosted a wrapping party at the office to prepare them, which were then distributed by the volunteers at the end of the event.
Some other exciting past events included introducing the kids to the culture of countries around the world
Showing them what it is like fly on an international flight,
To provide an insight into the Olympics and the concept of team spirit, volunteers put together a program of fun and educationally engaging activities.
