‘Sweet Dreams’ fundraiser to benefit Schenectady YWCA’s bed needs
Unwanted or broken jewelry in your drawer could help someone receive something of a different value getting a good night’s sleep.
Soroptimist of Schenectady and Sondra’s Fine Jewelry are holding a Sweet Dreams` fundraiser on Thursday, March 3, to benefit the Schenectady YWCA, which houses 55 woman in the main campus and 20 beds in the domestic violence center for woman needing a place to stay. The event will be trying to raise funds through donations of unwanted jewelry, which include old and broken gold, silver or platinum jewelry, silver flatware and coins. All donations will be appraised on site at Sondra’s, located at 1624 Union Street, Schenectady, from 3 to 7 p.m., which will be turned into cash and used to purchase new mattresses for woman staying at the local YWCA.
`Just imagine turning a broken gold ring that’s been gathering dust in a drawer into a comfortable mattress for a woman who is working towards recovering from an abusive relationship,` said Sondra Stephens, owner of Sondra’s Fine Jewelry.
While donating money to an organization might be difficult during tough economic times, Carolyn Morrill said donating unwanted jewelry is a way people can give without dipping into their bank account or savings.
`It is kind of a win-win for everyone,` said Morrill. `We asking the public to donate their unwanted jewelry and they will get a tax receipt and help out the ‘Y’ with their need and they don’t have to reach into their checkbooks.`
Everyone attending the event can also enjoy some ‘sleepy-time treats’ from Villa Italia and a cup of freshly brewed tea from Divinitea. Any donations valued at $20 or more will allow you to be entered to win one of the three prizes offered, which include a weekend stay at The Killington Grand Resort Hotel, `New Year ` New You` complete makeover from Hair Razors Salon and a `Sweet Dreams` gift basket including a reflection bead starter bracelet from Sondra’s.
Going with Stephens of Sondra’s seemed to be the obvious choice too, said Morrill.
`She does a lot in the community for different organizations, so naturally we went with her,` she said. `She has done [similar fundraisers] in the past with great success, so we thought we would try it.`
This event is just one way the Soroptimist of Schenectady is reaching out to help women in the community.
`Our mission is to help women and girls and we help people throughout the community all the time,` said Morrill. `We do a lot of different things this is a new one we are doing this year after we discovered there was a need at the YWCA.`
Replacing the mattresses is an ongoing need for the YWCA, said JoAnne Rafalik, development communications director for the Schenectady YWCA, because of the about 90 beds they have about a third of them need to be replaced in a year. In addition to the on site housing the YWCA also rents 16 apartments in the community to house women. When purchasing a new bed the cost ranges from $300 to $400 for a new mattress.
The need for housing has been so strong in the community that the YWCA even has a waiting list just to receive housing.
`Our occupancy has been just about 100 percent for about the last three years now,` said Rafalik.
If you don’t have any unwanted jewelry, donations of new pillows and blankets are also being accepted at the event, which Rafalik said is another ongoing expense. She estimated that the YWCA goes through 100 to 150 pillows and about 200 blankets in a year.
`Everybody likes a new pillow to sleep on,` said Rafalik. `That is something that we go through a tremendous supply, because we house so many people here. When a lot of the women leave to go to their own apartments, a lot of times they take their linens with them.`
Many of the women that come to the YWCA are looking for a way to get on their feet again.
`A lot of the women are trying to start over again so these supplies are a big help for them,` said Rafalik. `They are on very limited incomes, some of the women are on disability or on minimum wage jobs.`
Most people in the housing program stay on for about six months to a year, but there are some people that stay much longer if needed. The domestic abuse shelter allows women to stay for up to 90 days, which is a separate program from the housing.
Another strong aspect of the YWCA is raising community awareness about what services are offered and what is happening in the surround area. Rafalik said there are many reasons that person can become homeless that take on many different pictures and scenarios.
`We never know who’s hand that information is going to land in it is important to get the information out to the public that we are here and these are the services we offer,` said Rafalik. `This is a wonderful fundraiser so we are very grateful and very appreciative.“
