By Robert Charles Jowaiszas
— As winter approaches, Rockland County is mobilizing to make sure residents stay warm, fed and safe. From the county-run warming center in Pomona to local clothing drives and donation bins across townships, the community is pulling together for the 2025‑26 cold season.
Warming Center Opens Nov. 1
The county’s main resource for single adults facing homelessness or housing instability is the Rockland County Department of Social Services‑run Warming Center, located at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center (50 Sanatorium Rd., Pomona). It opens nightly beginning Friday, November 1, 2025 at 5 p.m., and will also open during daytime hours whenever the temperature plus wind‑chill drops below 32 °F.
The facility can accommodate up to 75 single adults per night, offering a hot meal, showers, laundry, and on‑site staff who help with benefits applications, job placement and housing referrals.
Transportation is provided nightly from pick‑up points around the county: Nyack, Haverstraw, Spring Valley and Pomona campus.
County Executive Ed Day praised the initiative:
“This Warming Center remains a critical resource in protecting our most vulnerable residents from the harsh conditions of winter. I am incredibly proud of the collective efforts that make this possible, and I commend our dedicated team for their unwavering commitment to the well‑being of those in need.”
Clothing Drives & Donation Bins
In tandem with the Warming Center, several drives and donation‑bin networks are being used to collect coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots and other winter gear.
State Senator Bill Weber underlined the importance:
“Even something as simple as a warm pair of gloves can make a huge difference. This is about coming together as a community to make sure no one is left out in the cold.”
In the Town of Clarkstown, the annual “Clarkstown Cares” coat drive is underway, collecting adult and children’s coats through local dry‑cleaners and distributing them via agencies such as Martin Luther King Center, People to People of Rockland and Advocates for Change.
County Legislator Aney Paul added:
“Many of our neighbors face difficult struggles and could use our support during their challenging times. A warm coat to wear during the cold winter months is one way we can help. It not only protects a person from the elements, but it’s a tangible expression of our love for our neighbors.”
Other Community Supports
Local nonprofits address food and broader shelter needs. Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland (Garnerville) provides hot and cold meals, clothing, hygiene supplies and housing referrals. Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland offers food-pantry access, housing assistance, and eviction-prevention support.
Why This Matters
Winter in Rockland isn’t just a matter of low temperatures. With higher-than-average rents, housing shortages, and families on the margin, many residents are at risk when the cold weather hits. The Warming Center, clothing drives and donation bins form a safety net that helps reduce those risks.
“Even a warm pair of gloves can make a huge difference,” said one volunteer coordinating the clothing drive. “This is about coming together as a community to make sure no one is left out in the cold.”
How You Can Help / What You Should Know
Shelter: 50 Sanatorium Rd., Pomona (Building L, Yeager Health Center campus). After 5 p.m. call (845) 364‑2332. Daytime DSS inquiries: (845) 608‑6670.
Clothing/gear: Use any of the donation-bin locations listed below, participate in local drives like Clarkstown Cares, or schedule a free pick-up via Pick Up Please.
Volunteer: Nonprofits like Helping Hands welcome help with meals, clothing distribution, outreach and transportation.
Spread the word: Share this information with neighbors, especially those living alone, working low‑wage jobs, new to the area, or facing housing transitions.
Locations for Clothing Donations and Support Resources
| Town / Area | Donation Bin Location (Clothing & Winter Gear) | Other Support Resources Location |
| Blauvelt | Station One Deli, 549 Western Hwy. | — |
| Congers | Alert Hook Ladder & Engine Co. No. 1, 70 N Route 9W | — |
| Garnerville | Foremost Shopping Center, 120 W Ramapo Rd.; ShopRite lot, 56 W Ramapo Rd.; Schultz’s Pharmacy, 150 W Railroad Ave.; David B Roche Firehouse, 120 Hammond Rd. | Helping Hands for the Homeless — 36 Dye St., Garnerville |
| Nanuet | Nanuet Fire District, 29 Old Middletown Rd.; Park & Ride Spring Valley West Lot, Rt. 59 & Forman Dr; East Spring Valley Fire District, 60 Overlook Blvd. | — |
| New City | New City Bowl & Batting Cages, 90 N Main St. | — |
| Orangeburg | Town Plaza II Shopping Mall, 500 NY‑303 | — |
| Pomona | American Legion, 20 Station Rd.; Hillcrest Firehouse, 16 Thiells Mt Ivy Rd.; Rockland County Health Dept., 50 Sanatorium Rd. | Warming Center at Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center, 50 Sanatorium Rd., Pomona |
| Spring Valley | South Spring Valley Fire District, 26 Red Schoolhouse Rd.; Hillcrest Firehouse Co. No. 1, 372 N Main St.; Park & Ride/Herb Reisman Sports Complex, 920 NY‑45 | Catholic Charities Community Services — food‑pantry and housing assistance (various locations) |
| County‑wide | Schedule free home pickup via Pick Up Plea |