Giving Rye: Meet Port Chester Carver Center
Giving Rye is a new occasional feature highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Anne Bradner of Port Chester Carver Center.
Your Name: Anne Bradner
Organization: Port Chester Carver Center
Your role: Chief Executive Officer
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
Bradner: Port Chester Carver Center helps our community thrive through programs that nourish, educate, and empower.
How long have you operated in Rye?
Bradner: Carver Center just celebrated its 80th anniversary. We were founded in 1943 by African American community leaders, at least one of whom – Robert S. Brown – was a Rye resident.
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
Bradner:
- Carver Center’s food and nutrition programs offset the effects of poverty. We offer free groceries (including fresh proteins and produce) to 1,750 families who can visit our food pantry, the Carver Market, on a weekly basis. We cook and deliver hot meals to area preschools, including Head Start; after school programs in Port Chester; and for our Saturday, free, community meal: Dinner at Noon.
- Youth Development is central to our mission. Carver Center operates after school programs in all four Port Chester elementary schools; hosts a robust Teen Center that now includes a scholarship program for youth pursuing post-secondary education; and offers a full-day summer camp in July and August.
- Adult learning opportunities include English as a second language classes; and a comprehensive program to help people become U.S. Citizens.
Looking forward to 2024, what will be your top initiatives?
Bradner:
- Continue to grow our Core Human Services Programs, especially Case Management. We want people to know they can turn to the Carver Center for information, referrals, and support that increase health and wellness while expanding opportunity.
- With food and nutrition top of mind, Carver will work to expand its ever-popular Carver Market with more hours and food. We are expanding our retail recovery efforts and welcome new volunteers to help us.
- Carver Center has the only public pool in Port Chester. We will ensure that all children and adults have the opportunity to learn life-saving waters skills by expanding our aquatics programs.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Bradner: Carver Center’s community reflects that of the Village of Port Chester: a working-class immigrant community with a per capita income of $36,351 and poverty rates greater than the county and nation. Our families struggle with unemployment, underemployment, and food insecurity.
Readers are welcome to call about volunteer opportunities; host a food drive; join us for our gala on April 13; come for a tour; and/or visit our website for further information.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Bradner: Yes.
Looking back across 2023, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Bradner:
- Introduced a new Case Management Program that helps residents access wrap-around supports to address their unique challenges (housing instability, domestic violence, and more).
- Completed a strategic plan that will guide Carver Center’s continued growth and expansion.
- Doubled the square footage of and refrigeration in the Carver Market, our food pantry, so that we can continue to offer self-choice shopping in a dignified environment for more people.
How can local residents support your organization?
Bradner:
- Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter at www.carvercenter.org
- Come to our Gala on Saturday, April 13th at Westchester Country Club
- Come and volunteer to help in the Carver Market or at our Saturday community meal, Dinner at Noon. Call 914-305-6009.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Bradner: June & Ho Park recently left a bequest that increases the number of financial scholarships we are able to give to young people attending college or vocational school.
Maureen Gomez and Thomas F. Murphy are the most recent recipients of our Sister Rosemary Sheehan Award for Volunteer Service.
Rye Country Day School continues to be a tremendous partner through its Community Engagement Fellowship Program. Last summer, one student, Francisco Luz, taught free digital literacy classes for adults in our tech lab.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Bradner: Five years.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Bradner: Full-time. Fun coincidence: I volunteered at Carver Center through the Dinner at Noon Program years before I started working here.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Bradner: Optimistic
Pick one:
Bradner:
| MyRye.com
Select from: |
Your Pick: |
| Coke or Pepsi? | Pepsi |
| Regular or diet? | Diet |
| Action movie or rom com? | Rom com |
| Cook, order in or eat out? | Cook |
| Dog, cat or no pet? | No pet (but I am a dog lover) |
| Balsamic vinaigrette or ranch? | Ranch |
| Ruffles Original, Lay’s Barbeque or Funyuns? | Ruffles Original |
| Still, sparkling or tap? | Sparkling |
What is the kindest thing someone has ever done for you?
Bradner: I have a long and treasured list of kind moments given to me by friends and neighbors … which may explain why I feel lucky in life.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why, and who would you take with you?
Bradner: Montana is on my bucket list … a National Geographic article got under my skin when I was in my twenties, but I still haven’t made it there. I’d go anywhere with my two young adult sons for company.
What is your favorite streaming / TV series?
Bradner: All Creatures Great and Small.
What is your favorite movie?
Bradner: West Side Story (1961 version)
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Bradner: I’ve lived in Harrison for 26 years. Fun Fact: I served as Executive Director of The Rye Arts Center from 1990-1998!
Thanks, Anne!
