Who We Are
Charitable Giving
Since our launch in June 2019, Willow Roots, Inc. has been working hard to promote causes that are dear to our hearts. As we know, there is always more that can be done; however, we believe we are making a difference in our corner of the world - Pine Plains, NY.
What began as a small helping hand to one man has now become so much more than we could have imagined. The support and love that we have seen in our community has enabled Willow Roots to become an integral part of the community.
With so much food available and sadly being thrown out, we have partnered with various churches, restaurants, farms, and individuals who have been the backbone and inspiration for our birth and our continued growth.
This website is no longer maintained. Visit us at:
www.WillowRoots.org
Willow Roots, Inc.
Our History
Willow Roots's history actually begins in Pennsylvania where our President, Lisa Zayas first began feeding people and using networking skills to build a community. She organized a group of women called Angels in Our Midst and began volunteer projects including buying Christmas gifts for children for the local Outreach Program. The group also baked cookies for the Bushkill Fire and Ambulance Company in appreciation for their dedication and collected over one hundred stuffed animals that were kept on the fire trucks and in the ambulances for children.
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Now living in New York her mission is to bring what she has learned and share that vision with her husband and her community. It is our Treasurer and Co-founder, Nelson Zayas, that has laid the foundation for this mission to become a reality. His skills and knowledge helped bring a mission into a corporation.
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What began two years ago with a simple meal has now evolved into a movement. With over two thousand meals prepared it became necessary to take this vision to the next step. To incorporate and bring others into the fold seemed possible and necessary.
We believe that Willow Roots was a necessary extension of what was needed in our community. It was a wonderful organic growth of a company that has many volunteers and donors.
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It is our hope that we continue to see the needs of our community and begin networking and weaving people together so that we are grounded, rooted, and strong. We are One.
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Our Team
Our Board is made up of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and friends. It is a group that is unique and yet reflects the people, the community as One – Pine Plains Strong.
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Our President and Co-founder, Lisa Zayas began this movement in Pennsylvania, but is was not until she met her husband, Nelson Zayas, Co-founder and Treasurer that the journey truly began.
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With the community behind them they brought on board their Vice President, Brett McCormack who is the co-owner of Gallery and Goods in Pine Plains. Brett was eager to bring his artistic talent to the table and is the creator of our Willow Roots, Inc. logo.
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Then came Cris Smith-Hedges, who loved what we were doing and despite all her other responsibilities including manager of The Pine Plains Platter, joined our group with great enthusiasm.
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Our last but very important member was Diana Moore who brought her networking skills that far surpassed our expectations.
In November 2020, Willow Roots was blessed to have Anibal Garcia join us as a new board member, stepping into the role of Secretary (replacing Cris Smith-Hedges). Anibal comes to us with years of civic experience.
Our Volunteers
Breaking Barriers, Opening Doors
Updated December 26, 2020
Aminah Ahamad
Jane Aire
Alyssa & Paula from Sky High Farm
Jose Anglada
Juliana Baluk
Laila Baluk
Tom Baluk
Victoria Baluk
Holly Bart
Alyssia Beliveau
Maliah Beliveau
Grace Benziger
Doreen Brown
Catchia
Cesaltine & Charlotte
Ray Christiansen
Lena Clanahan
Nicole Clanahan
Darrah Cloud
Emery Cloud
Barbara Denerstein
Jordan Ettari
Karen Ettari
Miranda Ettari
Brandon Falco
Jonathan Falco
Deborah Flanagan
Helen Fuss
Anibal Garcia
Debbie Gardner
Patrick Gieseler
Sean Gieseler
Henry Gold
Liza Gold
Matthew Gold
Sarah Gold
Barbara Gulan
Debbie Hagan
Dustin Hale
Chelsie Hurley
Jen (from Ireland)
Richie "Santa" Jewett
Kaylee
Layla
Lisa Michetti
Matthew Michetti
Meredith Michetti
Aleena Milinski
Anna, Fred, Talia & Chiara Moine
Diana Moore
Rosie Morrisen
Steve Neil
Sadie Norman
Davis Ouelette
Suzanne Ouelette
Dave Owens
Tina Pierce
Jeanie Prager
Greta Preston
Tobey Preston
Annette Prezzano
Tracy Rakin
Maggie Reilly
Sue Reilly
Sarah Rigano
Danielle St. Pierre Prezzano
Tracy Rakin
Valerie Reilly
Pastor Ryan
Carolyn Scarponi
Ava Schneeberger
Sarah Stachura
Gian Stagnaro
William Stanley
Bodhi Stempke
Tara Sullivan
Susan & Karma
Aaminah Syed
Theresa Tompkins
Todd VanBuskirk
Cody Wendover
John Wyant
Willow Roots, Inc. works tirelessly to provide quality, long-term solutions for a number of pressing issues affecting our community. Our most significant causes are those that are often brushed aside by most. Our battle is against indifference, and we would love for you to become part of that change today.
Thank you to all our volunteers. We couldn't do it without you.
Our Supporters
FOOD DONORS (Updated December 26, 2020):
Jaycee Kesh Akinsanya
Aldi's (Kingston)
Nicolas Arauz
Victoria Baluk
Irene Banning
Sonia Baringer
Kathy Bartles
Amy Benack-Baden
Anna Bloxson
David Boyles
Sandy Boyles
Christina Brody (Cookies by Mabel)
Campbell Family
Maureen Carney
Lillian Cedeno
"Chaplain" Larry & Kim
Jordan Chase
Sam Chase (Presbyterian Church of Pine Plains)
Sara Chase
Chirinos family
Darrah Cloud
Bob Cordella
Linda Cordella
Brenda Couse
Faith Cousens
Darren Culver
Mary Dalton
Simon de Beaupre
Anita DeMarinis
di Sarno Pizza (and Pam Miller)
Brittany Dumas
Jim Evans
First United Presbyterian Church: Pine Plains
Bill Fitzpatrick
Cathy Fitzpatrick
Jennifer Funk
Girl Scout Troop 10504
Giving Box
Barbara Gulan
Erin Haab
Dora Hage
Pete Hage
Carol Hart
Emily Hay
Henderson family
Laura Holmes
Dennis Johnson
Katherine Johnson
Art Jones
Joanne Keeler
Clara Kemmerer
Jessica Killmer
MacKenzie Killmer
Kim
Bill Leight
Maryanne Lennon
Lia's Mountain View Restaurant
Jack Lindsey
Vickie LoBrutto
Kyle Lougheed
Kathleen Lounsbury
Constanza Low
John Henry Low
Lyceum Theater (Al Bulay & Matt Heuer)
Angela McCarthy
Julie McGanney
Anne McKenna
Beth McLiverty
Lisa Michetti
Millerhurst Farm
Kelli Millius
Anna Moine
Frederick Moine
Angie Moore
Diana Moore
Morgan Moore
Joan Moriarty
Rosie Morrisen
Bernadette Murray
Cathy Osofsky
Ron Osofsky
Suzanne Ouelette
Dave Owens
William Parsons
Pine Plains Central School District
Pine Plains Community Food Locker
Danielle St. Pierre Prezzano
Reilly Family
Meghan Rizzo
Julie Roberts
Maria Robison
Michelle Robison
Marisa Rose
Amy Rothstein
Peter Salerno
Shekomeco Farm (Julianna & Curtis)
Silamar Farm
Jeanine Sisco
Vikki Soracco
Jean Sterling
Parker Stevens
Stissing Mountain HS Honor Society
Joan Taylor
Bart Tenore
The Giving Box
Patrick Trettenero
Trotwood Farm
Courtney Tuck
Meg Van Leuven
Vivian Walsch
Karen Wern
Kirsten Westphal
Penelope Wheeler
Eileen Yujure
Jorge Yugure
Julie Zengen
Jean Zimmerman
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DONOR LIST (Updated December 26, 2020):
Animal Farm Foundation (Christa Ploschke)
Nicolas Arauz
Lisa Badore
Renee Bailey
Irene Banning
Holly Bart
Maliah Beliveau
Laurann Beliveau
Carol Lee Bell
Dale Boyles
Lillian Cedeno
Renee Dahlman
Kate DiCarlo
Ethan DiMaria
Karen Bates Dubray
Duehl's (Joan Taylor)
Karen Ettari
Brittany Fillhart
Matt Findley
Alana Garnica
GE Construction
Charles Godfrey
Cris Smith-Hedges
Donna Hill
Chelsie Hurley
Audrey Irwin
Dean Irwin
Jusis family
Laura Kalanges
Shayna Kapple
Joanne Keeler
Ken Meccariello
Brett McCormack
Beth McLiverty
Emily Miller (Millerhurst farm)
Anna Moine
Tamara Elem-Moody
Angie Moore
Diana Moore
Moose on the Loose
Curtis Mraz
Heather Lynn Mullen
Josh Nathanson
Dani Nicholson
Denise Stampf Osofsky
Gregg Pulver
Sarah Rigano
Julie Roberts
Amie Ryan
Kate Ryn
Ann Simmons
Courtney Tuck
Collette Alonge-Watz
Kirsten Westphal
Lynda Westphal
Jim Wilber
Jessica Wisniewski
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FINANCIAL DONORS (Updated December 26, 2020):
Maria Cecilia Acerbo
Christi Acker
Brian J. Alberg
Carey Osofsky Alberg
David Allan
Karen Allan
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley: Dutchess Responds Fund
Janine Babcock
Janine Babcock-on behalf of PPCSD PPS Department
Lisa Baker
Luanne Ballantine
Baluk family
Irene W Banning
Jack P Banning
David Bartholf
Kelly Bartholf
Kathy Bartles
Christine Bascetta
Donna Beckingham
Amy Benack-Baden
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Salvador Bolivar
Jim Boyles
Sandy Boyles
Margo Brandt
Kim Briggs
Doreen Brown
Kim Brown
Patricia Byron
Peter Caldwell
Gina Campana
Dee Ann Campbell
Noele Carusso
Thom Christopher
Church of the Regeneration: Pine Plains
Jeanine Cisco
Darrah Cloud
Cloud Formation LLC
Kathleen Erickson-Coad
Cindy Cobble
Bridget Colman
Mark Colman
Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley
Brian Coons
Lisa Costa
Brenda Couse
Fred A Couse
Fred Couse, Jr.
Nicole L Couse
Gretchen Crary
Thom Cristopher
Susan Crossley
Attila Csaky
Thomas Day
Peggy DeBuono
Josephine Delgado-Freaney
Cindy Dembrock
Cooperative Foster Care Network
Laura Dennis
Barbara Denerstein
Jean Anne Dropp
Betty Durnin
Katharine Edgar
Sandy Kaplan-Eisenmann
Erin Essery
Terry Felper
First United Presbyterian Church of Pine Plains
Deborah Flanagan
Josie Delgado-Freaney
Dawn Freedman
Lawrence Freedman
John Fundus
Helen Fuss
Vincent Gallerani
Megan E Genthner
Michael R Genthner
John Giordano
Tomas Baibramael Gonzalez
Rachel Greenfield
Genesis A Gutierrez
Daphna Gutman
Dora Hage
Pete Hage
Burt J. Hanback
Priscilla Herdman
Katherine DeNardis Hernandez
Martha Holmes
Cheryl Ann Hotte
Gerald W Hotte
Bonnie Lee Hughes
Jaime Imperato-Wilber
International Order of Odd Fellows 903
Patricia Keeler Jean
Lowell Johnston
Art Jones
Sarah T Jones
Jusi family
Brian Keeler
Kathleen Kjetsaa
Victoria LoBrutto
Carol Lombardi
Kyle Lougheed
Constanza Low
John Henry Low
Jennifer Patterson Macri
Piper Malerchuk
Katherine Mautia Bijiriti Mango
Maxine Marone
Gavin Marr
Mindy Marr
Vianel Martinez (Mercedes)
Nancy Mazzei
Brett McCormack
Joseph McEvoy
Sara McGhee Simons
David McGill
Beth McLiverty
Gerald Charles McNamara Jr.
Maria McPherson
Nicholas McPherson
Helene McQuade
Lisa Michetti
Diane Moore
Nan Morrison
Burnadette E Murray
Daria Myers-Schrage
Kat Naslas
Joshua Nathanson
Sue E Near
Dani Nicholson
Brittany Nugent
Frances R. Olivieri
Mirocles Guatu Iri Ortiz
Suzanne Ouelette
Dave Owens
Daniel Palmer
PayPal Giving Fund
Richard Peck
Renee Katherine Petrofes
PHF Foundation
Pine Plains Garden Club
Pine Plains Pharmacy
Julie Plavchan
Katherine Gray Pollock
Gregg Pulver
Donna Quinn
Tracy Rakin
Millie Lopez-Ramirez
Joan S Redmond
Sue Broersma Reilly
Angela Reynar
Michel Richard
Sarah Rigano
Chantel Garcia Rivera
Eric Roberts
William A Rodriguez
Phyllis Ross
Ann Ruark
Ruby Rainbow Boas
Miguel Sague
Peter Salerno
Theresa Makutonaru Tlalotzin Santana
Jennifer Schwartz
Patricia Schwartz
Iris Silva
Bruce Silvernale
Ann Freney Simmons
Chris Sloan
Nadine Smiley
Courtney Smith
Lesley A. Spencer
St. Anthony's Church: Pine Plains
Stanford Fire Company
Peter Stein
Stewart's Shops
Renee Stoorvogel
Sophie Susman
Joyce Tambini
Helen Teck
Emgee Thomas
Patrick Trettenero
Vanguard Charitable
Patricia Vincent
Vivian Walsh
Jane Allen Waters
Colette Alonge-Watz
Debbi Chapman Weaver
Doug Weaver
Penelope Wheeler
Esther Williams
Louise Benkert Williams
Lynda Wisdo
Tom Wise
Woman's Association: Presbyterian Church: Pine Plains
Diana Woolis
Eileen Yajure
Jorge Yajure
Danny Zayas
Jean Hoehn Zimmerman
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