Neighbors helping neighbors

According to Devon O’Connor – president of the Welcome to Whitestone Commercial and Residential Civic Association – the former Whitestone Farmers Market has been a neighborhood eye sore for years.
“It’s been abandoned for years,” said O’Connor, mentioning broken windows and overgrown weeds. “It’s amazing what a little paint can do.”
Councilmember Dan Halloran and concerned constituents met with members of Welcome to Whitestone recently at the building on 154th Street in an effort to make the property more appealing. For hours, more than 40 residents painted over graffiti tags, pulled weeds and cleaned up the general area.
“Today’s repainting is a new beginning for this community,” Halloran said. “Members of the neighborhood came together to fix this eyesore . . . This wouldn’t have been possible without Welcome to Whitestone and its team of dedicated community activists. I am proud to work with them to make Whitestone a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
O’Connor grew up and still lives on the same street as the once dilapidated building. He credits the members of Welcome to Whitestone and their strong Facebook following for the high level of participation.
“We are just trying to let people know that we are in the neighborhood,” said O’Connor. “We are here for the people. The overall idea is neighbors helping neighbors.”
The civic group shows no signs of slowing down with a Halloween event benefiting the Ronald McDonald House, a Christmas event benefiting St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital as well as an upcoming blood drive sponsored by the New York Blood Center. For more information about Welcome to Whitestone, visit www.welcometowhitestone.com.