The Community Service Society and the New York Times Neediest Cases
For more than 100 years, The New York Times has sponsored the annual Neediest Cases Fund to raise money for low-income children, families, adults, and individuals with disabilities at seven major New York City nonprofits. The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) is fortunate to be one of the recipient agencies. Support from the Fund enables CSS to provide financial assistance to New Yorkers seeking to get themselves and their families back on their feet, and improve their quality of life. From November to January, The New York Times Neediest Cases shares the stories of these individuals and families, providing a message of hope for recipients and for others seeking to better their lives. Learn more about the history of the Neediest Cases Fund.
The Fund helps to stop the cycle of poverty that has plagued many families for generations. This help would not exist without the thousands of donors who have given so generously since the inception of the Neediest Cases. To make a donation via our website, click here. To donate by check please mail to: Community Service Society, 633 Third Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Attn: Aidan Wildes. Please make your check payable to “Community Service Society of New York” On behalf of the individuals and families we serve, thank you so much for your support.
Below are the stories of individuals helped by the Community Service Society from the campaign.
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For New York’s Food Insecure, a Lifeline When It Matters Most, By Remy Tumin, New York Times Neediest, October 6, 2022 |
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Parenting Alone, and Bearing ‘the Weight of Everything’, By Callie Holtermann, New York Times Neediest, October 27, 2022 |
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On the Steep Slope of College Affordability, a Toehold, By Callie Holtermann, New York Times Neediest, November 10, 2022 |
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Lean on Them: Some Give Money. Others Donate Something More Valuable, By Callie Holtermann, New York Times Neediest, December 1, 2022 |
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Smoothing the Relaunch, With Coats and Kitchen Tools, By Callie Holtermann, New York Times Neediest, December 15, 2022 |
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Finding Stability in ‘the Home That I Cried For’, By Jennifer Camille Martin, New York Times Neediest, December 20, 2022 |
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Support that Lasts, By Callie Holtermann, New York Times Neediest, December 29, 2022 |
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After Hurricane Ida, Recovering From Tumult, By Remy Tumin, New York Times Neediest, October 10, 2021 |
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For In-Person School, Fulfilling Students’ Wish Lists, By Emma Grillo, New York Times Neediest, October 14, 2021 |
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A ‘Little Push’ for Artists in Challenging Times, By Emma Grillo, New York Times Neediest, November 11, 2021 |
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Striving to Fulfill the College Dream, By Kristen Bayrakdarian, New York Times Neediest, November 18, 2021 |
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Scrambling to Keep Up With the Rent, By Kristen Bayrakdarian, New York Times Neediest, November 28, 2021 |
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Finding Purpose by Giving Back, By Emma Grillo, New York Times Neediest, December 1, 2021 |
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For Parents, a Lifeline in Unemployment, By Emma Grillo, New York Times Neediest, December 2, 2021 |
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For Aging New Yorkers, Help With Health Care, By Emma Grillo, New York Times Neediest, December 14, 2021 |
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The Pandemic Hampered Their Stride. They’re Rising Back Up, By Jennifer Camille Martin, New York Times Neediest Cases, December 16, 2021 |
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Pivoting to New Horizons With Career Help, New York Times Neediest Cases, By Kristen Bayrakdarian, December 21, 2021 |
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In a Year Like No Other, a ‘Historic Crisis’ of Need, By Sara Aridi and Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, September 10, 2020 |
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When the Economy Stalled, They Needed Laptops to Move Ahead, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, September 17, 2020 |
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Where Covid Left Holes, Volunteers Stepped In, By Jennifer Harlan, New York Times Neediest, October 29, 2020 |
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In Year of Dashed Expectations, Buoying Artists and Educators, By Sara Aridi, New York Times Neediest, November 13, 2020 |
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‘It’s What Makes Life Worth Living’, By The Editorial Board, New York Times Neediest, October 23, 2020 |
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10 Stories of Support in a Year of Obstacles, By Elisha Brown, Sara Aridi, Masha Goncharova and Remy Tumin, New York Times Neediest, December 31, 2020 |
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She Jumped a Turnstile. The Fine Pushed Her to the Breaking Point, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, October 21, 2019 |
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Pursuing a Brighter Future In the Shadow of a Disease, By Sara Aridi, New York Times Neediest, October 27, 2019 |
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Finding a Niche in the U.S. Was Hard. Then She Found a Career Path, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, October 30, 2019 |
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‘Like a Golden Ticket’: A MetroCard Helped Him Get Back on Track, By Sara Aridi, New York Times Neediest, October 31, 2019 |
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Armed With a New Laptop, He Is on a Path to a Degree, By Sara Aridi, New York Times Neediest, November 4, 2019 |
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A Dreamer Finds Her Voice, By Sara Aridi, New York Times Neediest, November 6, 2019 |
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A Lawyer in Venezuela, She Started From Scratch in the U.S., By Devi Lockwood, New York Times Neediest, November 13, 2019 |
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Alcohol Was an Escape. Now He Is Living on His Own Terms, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, November 14, 2019 |
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Living a Life Interrupted by Bipolar Disorder, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, November 25, 2019 |
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A Smile Restored, and a Life Reclaimed, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, December 11, 2019 |
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After Sputtering in ‘Dead-End Jobs,’ Pursuing a Tech Career, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, December 19, 2019 |
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Decades Later, His Student Debt Came Back to Haunt Him, By Sara Aridi, New York Times Neediest, December 22, 2019 |
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In Retirement, They Help Immigrants Find Their Way in New York, By Elisha Brown, New York Times Neediest, January 7, 2020 |
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He Overcame Setbacks to Thrive in Information Technology, By John L. Dorman, New York Times Neediest, January 12, 2020 |
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She Hustled to Create Her Art. Then Unemployment Hit, By Lauren Messman, New York Times Neediest, January 13, 2020 |
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Financial Coaching Gives Him a Path Out of Student Loan Debt, By Adriana Balsamo, New York Times Neediest, January 17, 2019 |
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In Retirement, They Find Rewards in Volunteering, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, January 16, 2019 |
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Eliminating Dental Woes Without Worrisome Debt, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, January 16, 2019 |
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Mother Goes Back to School to ‘Lead by Example’ for Her Children, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 19, 2018 |
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When His Wife Died, His Mother Helped Him Parent. Now She Needs Him, Too,, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 17, 2018 |
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Language Was an Obstacle, but Not a Barrier, By Remy Tumin, New York Times Neediest, December 12, 2018 |
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Behind Google’s Salad Bar, a Single Mother Who Found the Right Kitchen, By Remy Tumin , New York Times Neediest, December 4, 2018 |
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After Years Spent Working for a Diploma, He’s Eager for a New Role, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 3, 2018 |
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After Homelessness, ‘I Just Wanted Security’, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 28, 2018 |
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Reunion With Someone Who Helped Him, and Plans for Paying It Forward, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 20, 2018 |
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He Lost His Mother and His Neighborhood. A New Career Path Could Lead Him Back, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 14, 2018 |
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‘How Can I Help?’ Meet 5 People Who Serve the Community, By John Otis and Remy Tumin, New York Times Neediest, November 10, 2018 |
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One Source of Help for Many Sources of Need, By The Editorial Board, New York Times Neediest, December 29, 2017 |
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After Helping 2 Ailing Relatives, ‘It Was Time to Do Something for Me’ By Sandra E. Garcia, New York Times Neediest, December 18, 2017 |
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Carrying a Load of Debt and Pain, and Determined to Get Stronger, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 13, 2017 |
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A Single Mother Had Nowhere to Go. Now She Has ‘A Place of My Own,’ By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, December 7, 2017 |
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An Aspiring Performer Steps Back From the Edge, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, November 26, 2017 |
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From Afar, He Confessed His Love. Via an App, He Attended His Wedding, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, November 24, 2017 |
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After Homelessness, He Longs for a ‘Space to Call My Own’, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 20, 2017 |
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A Young Poet Loses His Rhythm and Finds His Voice, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, November 16, 2017 |
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Alcohol Derailed His Life. Now He Drives Barflies Home, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 12, 2017 |
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Once Pregnant and Homeless, a Young Mother Brims With Ambition, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 8, 2017 |
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Her Peers Made School Look Easy. Now, With Hard Work, She’s Catching Up, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, October 30, 2017 |
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Decades After a Stroke, Seeking Independence and Normalcy, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, October 24, 2017 |
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Rebuilding a Life to Provide a Happier Childhood for Her Son, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, February 2, 2017 |
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After Retirement, Finding a ‘Second Career’ as a Volunteer, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, January 17, 2017
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Twin Strands of Music and Compassion Run Through a Life, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, January 12, 2017
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An Immigrant’s Instinct to Aid Others Collides With Financial Need, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, January 2, 2017 |
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Exiting a Bad Road Onto a Hopeful Path, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 30, 2016 |
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A Role Model and Mentor While Dad Serves Time, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, December 21, 2016 |
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Inquisitive Child Inspires Her Tutor to Start a New Path, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 15, 2016 |
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In Debt, but Undaunted, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 9, 2016 |
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As She Fights Cancer, a Woman Strives for Normalcy, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 28, 2016 |
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After Setbacks, Aiming to Go to College and Help Others in Need, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 15, 2016 |
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A Long Way From Guyana, Near a Family He Rarely Gets to See, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, January 15, 2016 |
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Finding Her Footing Once More After Slipping Off the Career Ladder, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 30, 2015 |
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A Janitor, Once an Addict, Cleans Up His Life, By Matt A.V. Chaban, New York Times Neediest, December 27, 2015 |
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Sidetracked by Schizophrenia, a Former Film Student Plots a New Path, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 20, 2015 |
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Walking Past Obstacles to Create a Steady Career Solving Computer Issues, By Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times Neediest, December 14, 2015 |
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After Homelessness and Jail, a Harlem Woman Finds Stability Working Construction, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 3, 2015 |
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A Harlem Man’s First Steps Toward Self-Reliance, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, December 1, 2015 |
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Refusing to Let Her Father’s Abuse Knock Her Off Course, By Alan Feuer, New York Times Neediest, November 20, 2015 |
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With Eviction Looming, an Injured Worker Accelerates His Job Search, By Emily Palmer, New York Times Neediest, November 19, 2015 |
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Out of a Shelter, a Single Mother Studies to Be a Paramedic, By Rochelle Oliver, New York Times Neediest, November 18, 2015
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An Aspiring Actor Refuses to Be Defined by His Past, By Kenneth Rosen, New York Times Neediest, November 14, 2015 |
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Mother of 3 Regains Her Footing After Being Shot, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 13, 2015 |
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A Selfless Caretaker, First as a Daughter, Now as a Mother, By Alexandra S. Levine, New York Times Neediest, November 9, 2015
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Getting Clean for His Son, From a Drug He Couldn’t Shake, By John Otis, New York Times Neediest, November 6, 2015 |
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A Chance to Improve the Community, and Himself, By John Grippe, New York Times Neediest, November 4, 2015 |
Neighbors Step Up to Help New Yorkers Through Tough Times, By John Otis, New York Times, February 22, 2015
A Business Collapse Froze His Income, and Then the Pharmacy Bills Came, By David W. Dunlap, New York Times, January 15, 2015
From Caretaker to Computer Analyst Via a Nonprofit Technology School, By John Otis, New York Times, January 8, 2015
Amid Student Debt, Overcoming a Roadblock to His Career Dreams, By Dan Glaun, New York Times, December 29,2014
Inspired by Her Twins, a Mother Moves From a Shuffle to a Stride, By Ashley Southall, New York Times, December 22, 2014
A Childhood in Foster Care Didn’t Diminish Her Dreams, By Nate Schweber, New York Times, December 18, 2014
After Working in Film, a Queens Man Hopes for a Life in Technology, By Eleanor Stanford, New York Times, December 16, 2014
Helping a Queens Woman With Professional Development, By Dan Glaun, New York Times, December 13, 2014
In a Zigzag, He Finds a Path to Success, By John Corrales, New York Times, December 10, 2014
Savoring Sweet Sobriety, a Grandmother Rebuilds, By John Otis, New York Times, December 4, 2014
A Father Strives to Rebuild Ties Strained by Divorce and Alcoholism, By Alex Vadukul, New York Times, December 1, 2014
In Her Third Chance At Life, She Discovers An Appetite for Living, By John Otis, New York Times, November 24, 2014
Following Her Mother’s Example, in Addiction and Then in Sobriety, By John Otis, New York Times, November 19, 2014
After Seeking Help, a Student Finds a Path to a Job, By John Otis, New York Times, November 17, 2014
Wanting to Help Others, but in Need of Some Himself, By Eric V Copage, New York Times, November 13, 2014
Back to School, With Helping Others as Her Goal, By Steven Rocker, New York Times, November 10, 2014
The 2nd Act in His Unlikely Pursuit: A College Degree, By Kenneth Rosen, New York Times, November 6, 2014
After the Death of Her Father, She Fights Her Way Back to College, By Sandra E. Garcia, New York Times, November 3, 2014
Help With Medical Bills, By The Editorial Board, New York Times, January 18, 2014
Emerging From Dark Past, and Forgiving, By John Otis, New York Times, January 17, 2014
Staying Drug-Free, and Providing for His Son the ‘Right Way’, By John Otis, New York Times, January 12, 2014
She Once Worked on a Roller Coaster, and Now Her Life Resembles One, By C.J. Hughes, New York Times, January 3, 2014
Handling Life’s Surprises With His Father’s Spirit, By John Otis, New York Times, December 25, 2013
Fear of Dying Alone Drove a Panhandler to Seek Drug Rehabilitation, By John Otis, New York Times, December 16, 2013
A Grandchild’s Love Quells the Demons of Addiction, By John Otis, New York Times, December 5, 2013
Patience Along the Path to Employment, By John Otis, New York Times, November 30, 2013
Caring for Others Was the Right Move to Defeat the Blues, By John Otis, New York Times, November 26, 2013
A Mother’s Pain Fed That of Her Daughter, By E.C. Gogolak, New York Times, November 20, 2013
An Artist Uses Humor as a Salve for an Illness, By John Otis, New York Times, November 16, 2013
A Word That Turned Her Life Around: ‘Mom’ , New York Times, By Ann Farmer, November 11, 2013
A College Degree Within Reach, Then Came the Medical Bills, By John Otis, New York Times, November 7, 2013
A Teenager’s Course, Altered by Motherhood, By John Otis, New York Times, November 2, 2013
Medical Bills Crush Brooklyn Man’s Hope of Retiring, John Otis, New York Times, January 18, 2013
For a Homeless Deaf Man, an iPad Makes Life Easier, By Sarah Wheaton, New York Times, January 11, 2013
Mother Gathers the Will to Set Examples for Her Children, By John Otis, New York Times, December 21, 2012
After 3 Strokes, Keeping a Clear Focus, By Eric V. Copage, New York Times, December 19, 2012
Protective Brooklyn Mother and a Disabled Son Face Life’s Challenges Together, By John Otis, New York Times, December 15, 2012
From Street Hustler to Family Man Eager to Cook, By Jennifer Mascia, New York Times, December 9, 2012
Finding Sobriety After Grief and Crime, By John Otis, New York Times, December 7, 2012
A Man of Fashion With Pockets Gone Old and Empty, By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, New York Times, November 17, 2012
Don’t Give Up, Editorial, New York Times, November 12, 2012
Volunteering Time and Clicks to Bridge Generations, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, February 6, 2012
A Mother Grateful to Have a Key to Her Own Place, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, February 5, 2012
Back to Classroom for Skills Not Taught in High School, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, January 28, 2012
Joining His Father, but Carving Out His Own Path, By Ann Farmer, New York Times, January 23, 2012
Donors Offer Money, Time and Encouragement, By Eba Hamid, New York Times, January 22, 2012
From Violence in Iraq to Hardships in Brooklyn, By Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, January 16, 2012
Working Twice as Hard, Editorial, New York Times, January 14, 2012
A Credit Nightmare, but Coming Out Better in the End, By Rebecca White, New York Times, January 12, 2012
For Father Working Three Jobs, a Startling Diagnosis, By Jed Lipinski, New York Times, January 7, 2012
Retired, but Overcoming Her Pain to Help Disabled Children Ride, and Walk, Tall, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, January 5, 2012
Getting a Helping Hand After Giving Back to the City, By N.R. Kleinfield, New York Times, December 24, 2011
Helping a Son Cope With Diabetes, While Juggling Her Own Challenges, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, December 19, 2011
Soul in Rhythm, Even When Life Isn’t, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, December 9, 2011
After Opening a Door, Watching Anxiety Fade, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, December 2, 2011
Single Spark Sets Off a Long Year of Debt, By Mathew R. Warren, New York Times, November 29, 2011
After Easing Burden on Body and Mind, a Young Man Begins to Follow His Dream, By Daniel E. Slotnick, New York Times, November 25, 2011
With Sleepaway Camp, Trying to Keep Stability, By Thomas Gaffney, New York Times, November 12, 2011
A Season of Giving Motivates Donors in Greater Numbers, By Kari Haskell, New York Times, February 20, 2011
A Longtime Volunteer Helps Others Cut Red Tape, By Jennifer Mascia, New York Times, January 30, 2011
After What Seemed Like One Miracle, She Is Praying for Another, By Channing Joseph, New York Times, January 26, 2011
Charting a Winding Job Path, With a Smile, By Clyde Haberman, New York Times, January 21, 2011
Putting Sobriety and Work Above Drugs and Crime, By Jennifer Mascia, New York Times, December 31, 2010
Out of Prison, and Suited Up for a Future, By Jennifer Mascia, New York Times, December 8, 2010
MetroCard Blazes Mother’s Path to a Job, By Channing Joseph, New York Times, December 6, 2010
After Daughter's Death, Helping Others Cope With Dying, By Jennifer Mascia, New York Times, December 3, 2010
After Trial and Error, an Aspiring Chef Seeks a Break, By C. J. Hughes, New York Times, November 18, 2010
With Training and Faith, Getting Closer to a Dream, By Channing Joseph, New York Times, November 12, 2010