Projects
2023 Projects
Norman Walk Program: Support the Norwalk programs at Jennie’s House. WISH LIST: Baby items, diapers, baby wipes, formula, and toys for participating parents to give to their children.
Rising Ground: For 190 years, Rising Ground (founded as the Leake and Watts Orphan House) has been helping people rise above adversity. Over the decades, it has expanded its services to address emerging needs and help the most vulnerable among us. In the process, it has become an integral part of communities throughout New York City and Westchester County.
Urban Upbound: Urban Upbound provides low-income New Yorkers the tools and resources needed to achieve economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
N.Y. Hospitals: The 9 H.U.G.S elves partner up with The Blue Child Project elves and, in cheerful costumes, deliver toys to hospitals in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens area.
Tree Reforestation Project – Lyreio Orphanage, Greece: Completion
Library #19 & #20 were Completed: In collaboration with PS 193 & P 79, 2000 books were gathered and shipped to Ghana with the African Library Project. In collaboration with Mrs. Cavallacci & PS 79 – VOTU Primary Uganda Library – African Library Project
Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway: Corona St. Leo Church, Queens & Harlem Foster Care in Collaboration with – Blend Group, Jessica Ramos and Novatae
Toy Drive: 10th Annual Grand Astoria Raising over 1500 toys to support organizations in collaboration with PS 193, Speech with Stacia, NYPD & Global Sponsors
2023 Upcoming Projects
Water Project – Bringing Water to the Children at Forikolo DEC Primary School, Africa
PART A: KATOVYA, KENYA – MISSION COMPLETED
In 2019, 9hugs.org expanded its outreach by joining the water effort in Kenya, Africa. Throughout the country, families are forced to walk for hours daily to reach a natural water source, which they then gather and carry back to their homes. Upon reaching the water source, they confront the unforgiving dangers of disease, crocodiles, and currents that have too often claimed lives.
Women and children are the primary bearers of this responsibility. This chore is generally done alone, making them prime targets for wild animals, thieves, and abduction. To make matters worse, due to the travel time to and from the water source, children are unable to pursue education, ensuring that poverty becomes an inescapable cycle.
By developing direct relationships with local Kenyan leaders and holding meetings with U.S.-based organizations such as The Water Project, we were able to build a sand dam and water well that now serve nearly 2,000 people in the Katovya community. As with any structure, the well requires ongoing maintenance.
African Library Project – Completion of Children’s Libraries, Kenya, Africa
IN COLLABORATING WITH THE AFRICAN LIBRARY PROJECT
We currently nourished our 18th Library. Each library requires a collection of 1000-1200 books which are provided by local donors and community involvement, offering literacy education to primary children in third-world countries. We are preparing to supply another two primary school libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa in collaboration with the African Library Project in 2024.
Olive Tree Project, Recovering from the Wildfires of Greece, Rafina / Evia, Greece
PART A: MATI & RAFINA /LYREIO ORPHANAGE RECONSTRUCTION (2018-2019)
Forest wildfires are an annual occurrence in the Mediterranean, but climate change has caused stronger heatwaves and longer, more intense annual fire seasons. The 9 H.U.G.S Wildfire Mission began in 2018 after 101 people lost their lives in the devastating fire of Mati-Rafina. Jumping into immediate action, the 9 H.U.G.S team and volunteers collected and transported first aid emergency supplies and raised funds for the destroyed Lyreio Orphanage’s reconstruction.
ATHENS- Delivered 10 suitcases filled with relief supplies. Board members visited fire grounds and volunteered to organize storage and distribute goods to fire victims.
MATI- Collected and shipped a container filled with baby diapers, clothes, and supplies to family victims of the fire.
RAFINA- Lyreio Orphanage: raised $5,000 for construction to bring the orphanage back to livable conditions.
PART B: LYREIO ORPHANAGE OLIVE TREE PLANTING PROJECT (2022-2023)
Due to the annual wildfires, 9 H.U.G.S decided to dig deeper into this issue and create the Reforestation Mission in collaboration with renowned journalist Dimitri Phillipidis and philanthropists and Ovelia owners Peter and Chris Giannakas. We hosted an event to launch a monetary fund aimed at helping restore what was lost. We are currently reviving acres of land by planting olive trees at Lyreio Orphanage, dedicating each tree to a sponsor’s name upon request. This is an ongoing process, and we hope you will continue to join us in our efforts.
PART C: EVIA OLIVE TREE PLANTING PROJECT (2024)
Clean drinking water to the 2,000 inhabitants of the Katovya Community in Kenya Africa.
In this particular region, women and children walked for hours to obtain clean drinking water, only to face
Thanksgiving Turkey Mission, Corona, Queens, NY
The Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway continues our extensive two-year Covid Relief Mission. As part of this mission, we delivered warm meals, groceries, and toys to children and families severely affected by COVID-19 in Corona, Queens. 2023 marks our third year distributing turkeys to families at Saint Leo’s Church in Corona, Queens, and to foster care families at Rising Ground in the Bronx, NY. Our goal is to bring the warmest Thanksgiving to hundreds of families in need. To join our efforts in this great project, kindly donate by clicking the donate button on our homepage. 100% of the donations go towards this mission.
Less Fortunate Family Holiday Wish List Project, Long Island & Queens, NY
10th Annual Holiday Toy Drive, CT & NY
DISTRIBUTING HOLIDAY TOYS TO FOSTER CHILDREN, HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN & CHILDREN OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
Having partnered with the foundations listed below, 9 H.U.G.S. is distributing toy collection boxes throughout New York calling on all patrons to graciously donate a toy. In December, during the holiday season, we, along with our Santa Claus, will be personally visiting hospitals and families, distributing gifts and love to children.
Throughout the years and our missions, we have come across and built relationships with families that have suffered unpredictable and devastating circumstances. Oftentimes, these circumstances lead to economic struggles, forcing families to forgo traditional pleasures that we often take for granted. 9 H.U.G.S. uses the funds of our gracious donors to help purchase and provide holiday dinners for these families.
Rising Ground: For 190 years, Rising Ground (founded as the Leake and Watts Orphan House) has been helping people rise above adversity. Over the decades, they have expanded their services to address emerging needs and help the most vulnerable among us, and in the process, have become an integral part of communities throughout New York City and Westchester County.
Urban Upbound: Urban Upbound provides low-income New Yorkers with the tools and resources needed to achieve economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
N.Y. Hospitals: Delivery of toys to hospitals in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens area.
Variety Boys & Girls of Queens: A nonprofit organization established in 1955 that inspires children to discover their passions and cultivate their futures through a diverse array of youth development programs.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE MATTERS
