GLEN COVE, NEW YORK — To celebrate Women's History Month this March, Assemblymember Lavine launched a Paper Goods Drive to assist nonprofit organization Living Water for Women. Living Water for Women is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping disenfranchised and formerly incarcerated women. Lisa Cohen, Executive Director of Living Water for Women, founded the organization in 2010 after she realized the need for such a facility.

The drive consisted of donated paper towels, toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, tissues, and ground coffee; items essential to the day to day operations of the boarding house. Without these items, these women would not be able to continue their rehabilitation programs.

The drive could not come at a better time when these sorely needed products become more vital than ever during shortages amidst the current Coronavirus pandemic.

Assemblymember Lavine has worked with Living Water for Women when they first decided to create their boarding houses in 2012 and needed assistance with their tax exemption status. Cohen was facing many hurdles getting refunded for the taxes she paid on the boarding houses and Assemblymember Lavine was able to help her get back the city and county taxes. Since then, Assemblymember Lavine has had a long-standing relationship with this organization.

“Living Water for Women is a great organization and we must continue to support them,” said Lavine. “I am grateful that our community was able to help all the women that continue to benefit from the programs and resources that Living Water for Women has to offer!”

During this time of concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, it was crucial that Living Water for Women receive these very necessary but hard to find items. “This is greatly appreciated at this time as it has been so difficult finding paper goods during this pandemic, this drive has given us at least six months’ worth of supplies!” said Cohen.