COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
ITHACA NOTES
Denise Gelberg: Gadabout gets us where we need to go! T
Alternative Giving
By M a rjor i e Z . O l d s
hirty-eight years ago, Denise Gel- was 99-and-a-half and my youngest was a berg was on maternity leave from her college student at Cornell who got around teaching job at Northeast Elementary campus in a motorized wheelchair. The School. She had been hearing engaging ads other drivers and the office staff were all on the radio recruiting volterrific. I became a Gadunteer drivers to transport about fan for life. I underpeople who could not reach stood another volunteer essential appointments due driver’s sentiments entirely to disability or plenty of when he said, ‘This is the other obstacles. A friend aplowest paying and most proached her to see if she rewarding job I’ve ever could commit a few hours had.’” every other Monday… “Sometimes I would take “My eight-month-old Ithacare (now Longview) loved staying each Monday residents out on bus afternoon with one of her explorations,” Denise said. two beloved grandmoth“I asked Lenny, where ers. For four hours a week I should I drive? He advised: Denise Gelberg could go wherever some‘Anywhere. The riders enjoy one who had contacted every destination. Best of Gadabout needed a ride. all, they enjoy when you get Founder and director, Judy Willis, had lost...And then you can radio in and get lined up three buses and every Monday, help finding your way back.’” along with Lenny Nissenson, then direcDenise added: “Growing up in NYC, tor of Cornell’s Gannett Clinic, I would my father only learned to drive when he drive. On every route I met interesting continued on page 7 people,” Denise said. “My oldest rider
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Ithac a Times
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By St e ph e n Bu r k e
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he comic philosopher Linus Van Pelt famously said “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand,” and it’s easy to have a similarly conflicted feeling about holiday gifts. Everyone loves giving and (let’s be honest) getting, but the commercialization and sometimes overwhelming materialism of the season can block out the joy and true meaning. A remedy is the idea of alternative giving, where you make a donation in someone’s name to a charity or community organization that fits their values. An Ithaca Alternative Gift Fair was held both live and online in November. As December arrives, the organizations involved are still available for alternative giving at their individual sites online. A roster of the groups that participated in the fair can be found at ithacaalternativegiftfair.wordpress.com., under “Virtual Portal.” The organizations can loosely be listed as working within categories of the arts and sciences, the environment, food, health, housing, and social services. Here are examples of each. The arts: The Community Arts Partnership supports the arts in Tompkins County with programs such as the Greater Ithaca Art Trail, the Ithaca Artist Market, and the Spring Writes Literary Festival. CAP makes grants to arts events, individual artists, and art programs in schools. Science: Free Science, Inc. serves “historically marginalized and underserved low-income youth” with science workshops, field trips, and a one-of-a-kind Physics Bus. Environment: Discover Cayuga Lake has programs and in-season boat cruises “to engage students, community members and visitors in learning about the ecology and history of Cayuga Lake and its watershed, and to inspire people to maintain these healthy environments for future generations.” Food: The Friendship Donations Network was started in 1988 by Ithaca resident Sara Pines as a solo project. It has grown into a nexus of food redistribution from supermarkets, stores, eateries, and farms to food pantries and programs serving scores of partner sites and organizations. One such partner, No Mas Lagrimas, was started recently by Ana Ortiz in an open air space and structure on W. Buffalo and Fulton Streets. The organization supplies free food, health items, baby
supplies, and cleaning supplies. This year it made a big leap forward, moving to the Henry St. John Building on S. Geneva and W. Clinton Streets. Donations will help the group continue its work in its new home in the downtown/Southside community. Health: The Cancer Resource Center provides support for people living with and affected by cancer. From its homelike headquarters on W. State Street it coordinates wellness classes, support groups, individual support, and access to information and resources. Its services are free of charge. The Ithaca Health Alliance/Ithaca Free Clinic provides primary medical and holistic care in a facility on W. Seneca Street, free of charge. Housing: Love Living at Home aids older adults who want to remain in their homes. The group helps with access to home maintenance, transportation, food, and personal well-being. Social services: Family and Children’s Services provides counseling for children, teens, adults, older adults and caregivers. An outreach program works throughout the city, focusing on public places, for individuals showing signs of distress. Ithaca Welcomes Immigrants was founded in 2015 in response to global refugee crises “to continue the development of Ithaca as a welcoming host community” to refugees and immigrants. It provides basic needs support, emergency aid, community orientation, and other services. Catholic Charities has programs to “support all people in need” and “advocate for justice and human dignity.” It provides emergency financial assistance, transitional housing, and immigrant services. Its Samaritan Center on W. Buffalo Street has free clothing and personal care items. Laurie Konwinski of Catholic Charities, a past spokesperson for the alternative gift effort, succinctly describes the effort’s focus and offerings for the holiday season as “less stuff, more love.” She provides examples: “Say you have a neighbor who helps you. Or a kid’s teacher who is just a hero.” Physical gifts might be awkward. Similarly, for family members, they might be superfluous. (Don’t Mom and Dad always say “We don’t need anything”?) But being the inspiration for help for others is a real gift, meaningful for anyone. Alternative giving makes it real.
