One woman’s name is probably as synonymous with the many causes she supports as it is with her jewelry.
Sondra Stephens, owner of Sondra’s Fine Jewelry located on Union Street in Schenectady, has run a successful business for nearly 15 years, but the most important thing to her is remembering the community that helped her succeed. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, said Stephens, meant she had to work even harder to start a successful jewelry store. Starting with an inventory on her dining room table, she was able to open a store at her current location four years later.
Once she hade “made it” she decided to dedicate herself to charity and fundraising efforts supporting women and children, because she wanted to be remembered for more than just jewelry.
“There should be some kind of legacy that you leave behind,” Stephens said. “We run a business 6 days a week here and we have a very successful business and you could turn your back and do nothing, but we try to do what we can.”
She said giving back to the community is important to her and it is nice for people to know that somebody cares during their time of need.
Charity efforts started with people coming into her store and asking if she could help them out with a fundraiser by donating a piece of jewelry or contributing financially. Eventually, her efforts moved on to larger programs, such as Toy for Tots and raising money for Bellevue Woman’s Center for breast cancer awareness.
After the flooding from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee devastated the Capital District, Stephens and her son, Anthony Kaczmarek, decided to start a “grassroots” coat drive.
The first coat delivery went to flood victims in Montgomery and Schoharie counties and totaled over 300 coats. After having a successful coat drive, she decided she wanted to reach 600 coats, but now the number is topping off around 1,000 as the drive comes to an end.
Businesses helping her with the effort include Ellis Medicine, First Niagara Bank on Union Street, Freihofer’s and Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 7 of Latham. Also, Hartz Cleaners in Schenectady dry cleaned over 150 used coats free of charge. She worked with Assemblyman George Amedore’s office to figure out where the coats would be dropped off and how many were needed.
She said the generosity of her customers, friends and local businesses went beyond her expectations.
“We didn’t start this out as a big production. We were able to get all these coats and it is amazing,” she said. “It is just overwhelming to know that people that lost everything didn’t have a winter coat.”
She said she doesn’t do anything but have an idea, and it is other people who support the idea and cause that make it truly happen.
“I have wonderful friends and clients that help me, I do nothing,” she said. “I owe it all to all the wonderful people in the community and my friends and clients that always show up.”
There is one teen from Niskayuna she said has been donating toys he receives as birthday gifts for years now. He started out as a small kid, but now she said he is 6 feet tall and still donating his gifts every year.
“That kid started several years ago when he was little … he will make a wonderful example for other people as he goes to college,” she said. “If we can empower young people to be compassionate and if I can empower young women … it gives me something to leave behind.”
Her upcoming charity event is the “Stuff the Truck” on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of LT’s Grill in the new ShopRite Square off Balltown Road in Niskayuna. The fire truck getting “stuffed” will be from the Niskayuna Fire Department District 1. If you bring an unwrapped toy to help out the effort, you’ll also be entered to win a 14K Diamond Star Pendant.
Stephens said when her time comes she doesn’t want to be remembered only for her jewelry.
“You don’t want to die and just say, ‘Well, she was a great jeweler,’” she said.
