Since August 2022, AHRC Day Habilitation Services team members partnered with Tender Loving Cats (TLC), an all-volunteer animal welfare nonprofit (cat rescue) serving Nassau and Suffolk County. So far, men and women supported through day services have raised close to $7,500 for the organization, averaging around $450 a month in donations through bottle recycling.

The money collected has been vital in covering medical emergencies, surgeries, and medications and supplies for healing cats.

“About 15 people a day participate in this. We had a visit with the cats right before the holidays and they enjoyed it so much,” said Susan Limiti, Day Services Activities Coordinator who schedules recycling pickups and drop-offs with day services sites.

Day Service volunteers have pick-ups from three main drop-off sites in West Babylon, Dix Hills and East Islip as well as individual homes and businesses. From there, they redeem the NYS deposit bottles and cans and submit the funds to TLC. The volunteers enjoy recycling for its multiple benefits. They are reducing the accumulation of waste in the environment, generating funds to support a worthy cause and being active and relied upon in their community.

Marge Goldin, TLC Coordinator, Board Member, and retired social worker Marge, started to partner with AHRC Nassau after discussing the program with AHRC Community Relations Liaison Lynne Brewer.

This activity has developed into a treasured routine for people part of the seven- day services sites with pickup schedules three to four times a week.

“The steady income from this partnership helps keep our finances stable. That way we can assist more cats in the community,” shared Marge, also stating that the number of animals they have been able to help since their partnership with AHRC has grown significantly.

Recently the men and women active in this effort, along with supporting staff members, took a tour of the renovated recovery garage where cats are held while recovering from operations. It was here that they could see some of the results of all their hard work.