Spreading Colorful Cheer to Hospitalized Children

February 26, 2023

SPREADING COLORFUL CHEER TO HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN

The Women’s Club of Farmingdale (WCF) Craft Club met recently to learn how to sew colorful pillowcases, surgical caps and carrier bags for children’s coloring books and crayons. Under the tutelage of Chair Nancy Carman, the members were walked through the instructional steps amid lots of chatter and laughter. These hand-crafted items will be donated to the pediatric wards of local hospitals. The awesome turnout included Lynne Cahill, Angelina Dunlop, Gayle Garwaithe, Barbara Hoerner, Ann Lomonte, Elaine Ryan, and Loda Romanelli and thank you to all the members who made monetary donations toward the purchase of the bright and cheerful materials.

At the club’s January 5, 2023 General Meeting, 2nd VP Lynda Leone scheduled a wonderful program by Canine Companions. Thank you to Linda Herskowitz, Craig Barbieri and Ann Johnson and their beautiful "canine companions" that brought so much joy to today's meeting. They shared so much valuable information including the fact that besides helping adults with physical disabilities or deafness, children with disabilities, veterans with physical disabilities, hearing loss and PTSD, they also work in health care, criminal justice and educational settings. They foster a nationwide community of dedicated volunteers, donors, advocates and clients who believe in their mission. For more information, please visit info@canine.org.

A very festive and colorful Christmas presentation at the Farmingdale Adult Day Care Center was held on Friday 12/16/22. "Making Spirits Bright" were St. Kilian’s Deacon Bill Weiss, St. Kilian's Choir, Jack Contrell on Keyboard Piano, and members of the WCF singing many traditional Christmas songs and carols. Many of the seniors, inspired by the familiar songs, added their voices to the group. When the last note faded away, refreshments were enjoyed by all.

Women's Club of Farmingdale Welfare Committee (Rosemary Emigholz and Judy Vilas) visited Epic House in Farmingdale for Christmas with gifts of coloring books, squeeze toys and home baked cookies and brownies much to the delight of the residents.

Through the efforts of Cheryl Parisi, members and family/friends, the club collected over 450 plastic pill bottles to recycle in third world countries.

In addition, the committee donated $50 to St. Thomas Episcopal Church Fellowship Cafe which meets the last Saturday of every month for a free hot lunch. They also hold birthday and holiday celebrations, raffles, prizes and distribute like-new clothing and shoes.

At the club’s February 2, 2023, 2nd VP Lynda Leone scheduled a speaker from the TOB Office of the Physically Challenged. Matthew Dwyer, Director of the Office for the Physically Challenged for Nassau Count, gave a very informative briefing on the eligibility for obtaining handicapped parking permits and how they monitor the system for the illegal use of these permits, as well as other programs available for the physically challenged. The Nassau County Office for the Physically Challenged serves as the Disability Rights Advocacy agency for this County’s population of over 250,000 adults and children with disabilities. In doing so, it plays a leadership role in the provision of programs and services to enhance the independence and productivity of citizens with disabilities, developing and advocating for legislation on the local, State, and Federal levels of government, and working with the business community, health systems agencies, educational institutions of higher learning and school districts, transportation providers, cultural and arts centers, local municipalities, and private and non-profit disability and rehabilitation organizations to remove attitudinal and architectural barriers to consumerism, employment, education, and independent living.

submitted by Maria Ortolani