Nyack Indians Fight Homelessness

Another opportunity to help, another helping hand by athletes—this time by members of the Indians’ football team.

Litany Burns of Nyack—a writer and co-founder of the 10-year-old, non-profit Nyack Homeless Project—confirmed Thursday that new Nyack High varsity football coach Mike Ramponi is “already on the page” to lend support at the organization’s booth on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nyack Street Fair, the third in an annual series that will also feature street fairs in September and October, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and The Antiques and Art Dealers Association.

“The whole team will be there in shifts throughout the day,” said Ramponi, already looking forward with great enthusiasm to his first year as head coach after a 10-year stint as an assistant. “Every member of the team will be there for an hour each.”         

Also behind the project, once again, is Nyack High athletic director Joe Sigillo, who has been a big supporter of the Nyack Homeless Project, whose encouragement and caring has attracted athletes from various sports to the cause.

Nyack High’s efforts for the 2010-11 school year resulted in a Community Service Award as an athletic department from Section 1.

In a congratulatory letter to Sigillo from Jennifer Simmons, executive director for Section 1, Nyack’s collaboration with the Nyack Homeless Project was noted “as highest on the rubric scales set forth by the NYSPHSAA (New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association) committee.

“To win this inaugural award,” wrote Simmons, “is an accomplishment that you and your student-athletes can be very proud of. More importantly, the work that your student-athletes are doing on this project is something your entire school community can be proud of.”

Sigillo, indeed, is especially fond of the athletes.

“I was very proud of the kids. Even in-season, when time is precious, they would give up their one day off. It speaks volumes for them,” he noted.

Burns, who co-founded the project with Nyack High graduate Joe Hazucha, a psychotherapist, and also sits on the board with Suffern hotelier Jane Tong, said she was not even aware that Nyack High was in the running for any award, but said it is “well-deserved.”

“I was really happy to hear about it,” Burns said. “I was happy to see that the school and the athletes got recognition for helping us, and Joe, too. It’s very important to be well-rounded, and they deserve to get an award. I think it’s great, and hope it continues. Joe has been tireless in his support, and he single-handedly organized the athletic teams, both boys and girls. They help us collect food at local supermarkets, work at our donation tables at the mall… at the street fairs, and physically help us move all our winter donations between buildings for sorting, and deliveries from October through December.”

The Homeless Project, supported by volunteers from elementary, middle school, and high school students, gives community service hours to students, some of which are necessary for graduation.

At Sunday’s street fair, volunteers will be accepting donations at a booth on Main Street, across from Starbucks.

“They’ll also be selling water, and doing face painting,” Burns added. “Getting kids involved in this project is great, and really helps us feed and cloth people throughout the county, and the city, during our winter drive. It helps teach kids to give back to the community.”

The Homeless Project will inaugurate a benefit fund-raiser on the Hudson, the Hook Mountain Challenge, on Sept. 18, for experienced paddleboat racers in conjunction with the American Red Cross.

Last year, the Nyack Homeless Project fed and clothed more than 6,500 homeless or needy men, women, children and families throughout the county.

The project started 10 years ago when Burns and Hazucha decided rather than gift each other at the holiday, they would donate gifts to a shelter in the city.

“It just mushroomed from that simple idea,” Burns said, almost in amazement. “We give to all food pantries, after-school programs, Head Start, soup kitchens, unwed mothers, HIV patients. The program is open for all schools, and we give to all towns… we went from giving a few gifts, feeding a few people in the park, to feeding thousands in the county, and the city.”

In addition to Sigillo, and every Nyack athlete who has volunteered over the years, Burns cited the efforts of youth coordinators Kristen Soder, a junior, and freshman Veronica Bruno; as well as Suffern students Thomas (freshman) and Matthew Suffern (an eighth-grader).

Burns said volunteer crews of four or five people, including adults, usually work in shifts at the street fairs.

“But we can always use more; we’ll put them to work,” she promised. “We love working with kids, we love having them. They really get excited, and want to do something. A lot of the high schools help out.”

Nyack College also helps out each year on Dec. 24 by providing space where collections can be sorted; Chestnut Ridge Transportation provides a bus to the city on Dec. 25, and realtor Michael Galgano of New City has provided a van for deliveries on Dec. 25.

“The street fairs are just one way in which we grow,” said Burns. “But it’s an ongoing effort. The Chamber and Antiques and Arts Dealers have been very good to us. The fairs help give us more exposure and revenue. People are surprised how efficient we are with so few people.”

Due to the lack of storage space, donations of winter clothing (and toiletries) will not be accepted until Nov. 15, but financial donations are accepted from individuals and corporations throughout the year. For further information or to contribute, access the organization’s website at www.nyackhp.org, or by contact Burns at (845) 358-7122.