Helping, Sharing, Giving

Recently my wife, Ruth, and I attended a fundraiser for the Community Boatworks of the Hudson Valley. It was great to see so many people turning out to support Jim Taylor, Valerie Swan, Joe Schuder, the Peekskill Yacht Club, and all the other people who have made this youth program a great success. The program, now expanding to include middle school as well as high school students (and now girls have begun to sign up!) teaches local maritime history and heritage, and respect for others and for the environment.  It’s a good program getting better every year, building boats while helping kids build confidence and character through craftsmanship.*

Last Sunday we attended the Peekskill Education Foundation fundraiser at Studio Nine in The Hat Factory. Steven and Maribel Zwick, owners of Dylan’s Wine Cellar, provided a tasting of prosecco, a selection of white and red table wines and a very nice port. There was a good crowd so I’m guessing it was a successful event for PEF, which raises money to expand and enrich programs throughout the Peekskill School District. If you couldn’t get to the fundraiser, please show your support for the wonderful work Jeff Stern, Janice Molloy, and so many others are doing at PEF: this week through Sunday, PEF will receive part of the profits on all wine sold at Dylan’s.

The week before, we attended another winetasting, also provided by Dylan’s (this time at Taormina Restaurant) for Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill, Inc. (CHOP). In addition to the Jan Peek House shelter, CHOP runs the Sunny Donut free breakfast program (at the Salvation Army building on Nelson Ave) and Fred’s Pantry, a “choice” food pantry providing a broad range of foods to the hungry of our community. ** Fred’s is a joint project of CHOP and St Peter’s Episcopal Church. As the holidays approach, and winter sets in, the number of people who are hungry or need shelter grows, so I’m certain that staff, volunteers and clients all appreciate Steven’s generosity. Please show your support for his new business, which is already giving back to our community, by stopping by his beautiful shop on the ground floor of the Standard House at Hudson and Railroad Avenues. ***

There’s so much that’s so good in our city, but the best part is that so many Peekskillians make an effort to help.

* For more on CBHV: http://www.cityofpeekskill.com/youthbureau/youth-bureau-boat-building

** For more on CHOP, Inc.’s programs http://www.janpeekhouse.org/

*** For more on Dylan’s Wine Cellar: http://www.dylanswinecellar.com