Pat Cagin Knits for Charity

When I saw that SWFS was starting a group that was knitting for charity, I thought it would be a fun way to give back my 100 minutes and get out of the house while my husband was away. Norm is a physician and donating time as the only cardiologist in the public sector in all of Botswana (the only other cardiologist in the country is in the private fee-for-service sector). He is seeing patients who have heart problems at Princess Marina Hospital in Gabarone, the capital of Botswana. The hospital is the major referral hospital for the entire nation. He is also giving lectures and teaching interns from Botswana as well as medical students from the University of Pennsylvania. While he is volunteering his time abroad, I have been able to give back in my own way by knitting squares for blankets that will be given to adolescents living in a residential treatment center in Westchester.
The knitting group at SWFS was also a good opportunity to learn how to knit. I often needlepoint or crochet but had not knitted in a long time. Making these squares has given me a chance to practice my knitting skills and the confidence to try new patterns. It has also been a great way to meet other SWFS member and see some of the people in the building. Seeing Vicky, Rutie, Lorie, and the children walk through the library while we were knitting brings back memories of when my daughter Julia was in the ECC 12 years ago. She met one of her best friends when they were both in 503. Not only have I met some SWFS members I may not have otherwise had a chance to speak with, but I also learned about a nut free bakery from of the knitters whose daughter also has a nut allergy.
Knitting is an easy and relaxing way to make a difference in someone else?s life while talking to others or sitting at home. In addition to knitting with the group at the synagogue, I have been making squares at home while watching TV. I am grateful for Heather?s patience with all of us as we work though our knitting errors. I hope to continue making squares over the summer and maybe try some other projects for those in need.
Pat Cagin
SWFS Member
You can knit for charity, too! So far, SWFS has made 4 stuffed toys for children at St. Luke's Hospital and 26 blanket squares for adolescents living in a residential treatment center in Westchester! St. Luke?s is always looking for more stuffed toys for their children and it takes 49 squares to make a blanket, so anything you can make would be appreciated.

The Riffkin/Turner Family Helps People in Need

Alan and I joined Stephen Wise Free Synagogue when we started our family and wanted to become a part of a Jewish community. As we have gone on to have three daughters, Kelsey, Hallie, and Carson, Stephen Wise has become an important community for each of us. We also want to include our children in social service projects to help them develop an awareness of needs in the greater community and share a sense of responsibility to give back to the community. Our family has had the opportunity to participate in community service programs both within and outside of Stephen Wise. We have been assisting SWFS? Emergency Food Program (EFP) in handing out food on Saturday mornings since the girls were old enough to say ?Thank you for coming.? The kids enjoy preparing bags, greeting people, and handing out food. The people who come to the program to receive food always comment on how nice it is to see the kids. Behind the scenes, I am responsible for ordering fresh food for the EFP each week and managing its inventory, coordinating tuna and coat drives, etc.
Our family also has a tradition to assist a soup kitchen in serving a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless each year. Alan takes the kids while I'm usually cooking. They have done various jobs from setting the table, greeting people, and serving food. It's always a little hard to pull them away from the parade, but they enjoy it when once they get involved, and feel proud afterwards. We also assist DOROT in delivering holiday baskets to Jewish homebound elderly. The seniors love to have kids in their home and share stories with us about when their children were growing up and how they celebrated the holidays. Our kids remember the various seniors that we have met by name, and enjoy reminding us of their visit when we pass by an individual?s building at a later time. We look forward to exploring more areas for volunteering as the children get older.
Anne Turner SWFS Member

Lauren Grossman and Carl Steeg Deliver Purim Cheer with the Caring Community

I joined Stephen Wise about a year and a half ago for several reasons. One of the principal reasons was to be part of a community, and I felt that Stephen Wise offered me that opportunity. I wanted some means of giving something of myself to people in need - any kind of need, whether it be material or simply moral support. My first activity was delivering Purim packages - Shalach Manot - right before Purim last year. My distinguished fellow Stephen Wise member, Carl Steeg, M.D., who has been a member of SWFS for 10 years, and has given of his time in many volunteer activities, graciously offered to drive me around. For years, he has driven members to synagogue on Shabbat who would not otherwise be able to attend and assists in the delivery of holiday packages.
It was a very gratifying experience; most of the recipients were elderly, and they seemed very pleased to receive the packages. One said "You’ve made my day. Now I have the energy to get up and get going!" It also was an opportunity to get to know Carl, who is a very interesting and compassionate person. I became friendly with another recipient who lived near me, and I became her "caring partner." She had just gone through an illness, and I made it a point to call her frequently. My husband and I took her to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park one Sunday, and she was delighted to sit in the sunshine and view all the beautiful flowers. She moved to Florida in the fall, but we still keep in touch by phone. Last summer, I became the caring partner for another congregant who was just recovering from an illness. She has completely recovered now, and we have become good friends. We've discovered many common interests, and we get together frequently to attend theater, go to a museum, etc.
This year, Carl and I helped to deliver Purim packages again, on Sunday, March 16th. This time was a little different, because the recipients included three families with young children, and they seemed absolutely delighted to receive the packages! I hope to keep the delivering Shalach Manot as an annual activity, since it has been fun and rewarding. In addition, I may try out some of the many other opportunities for community service sponsored by Stephen Wise.

To find out how you can help the Caring Community, to tell us about how you are making a difference, or to find out about other Community Service opportunities at SWFS, please contact Rebecca Kaplan at or 212-877-4050 x244. Also contact Rebeccawith any suggestions for potential service projects or programs.