The Lunch Bunch Makes a Difference at the Pleasantville Cottage Campus

Amy Kessler, Jessica Levinson, Arielle Diskin, Emily Shteinhauz, Andrea Burinescu and Sara GubenkoA group of local women is making a difference through a shared commitment to volunteerism.

Emily Shteinhauz, a Scarsdale resident and mother of three, has brought together a group of six women who visit the JCCA residential foster care campus in Pleasantville each month as part of the organization’s “Lunch Bunch” program. The group includes Shteinhauz, Jessica Levinson, Amy Kessler, Arielle Diskin, Andrea Burinescu, and Sara Gubenko.

Together, they spend time at a boys’ cottage on campus—bringing the young men meals, organizing activities, and offering consistent engagement the teens can count on. Their most recent visit took place on April 29 and included lunch and some outdoor games, including cornhole.

“I started this as a simple way to give back, but it’s become so much more, both for the kids and for me and my girlfriends,” said Shteinhauz. “It’s about showing up, building relationships, and making sure these young people know they’re seen and supported.”

The group formed last fall and rotates responsibilities each month, with one member taking the lead on coordinating food and activities. While the women came from different social circles, Shteinhauz reached out to them individually, and the shared experience has since strengthened their connections.

She was first introduced to the Lunch Bunch program through her involvement with UJA-Federation of New York, where she volunteered with a group visiting a girls’ cottage on campus. Inspired by that experience, she later partnered with JCCA to create this second group with friends from her own network.

At the Pleasantville campus, youth in foster care receive housing, education, and therapeutic support, with volunteers helping to provide additional connection and consistency.

The experience has also become a family value. Shteinhauz’s 13-year-old son now volunteers on campus, and her younger children plan to participate in the future.

Beyond their monthly visits, the group contributes to holiday drives and special initiatives. In one case, they helped organize a bake sale to fund a summer trip to Six Flags.

Shteinhauz noted that her group is part of a broader effort within the community. “There are so many volunteers from Scarsdale who support JCCA—men, women, teens,” she said. “It’s really special to see such strong representation from the community coming together to help.”

JCCA relies on hundreds of volunteers from across Westchester and beyond and continues to welcome those interested in getting involved. For more information or to register as a volunteer, you can visit the Get Involved section of the organization’s website.