Ready & Abled

I mentioned in my earlier post that I would be blogging about the Halloween party at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Westchester County. The party was hosted Wednesday by the Greenwich Jaycees, of which I am a member. I dressed as a witch, and brought dirt cupcakes for the kids, which were a hit. The recipe is easy: Buy chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Get a box of Oreos and smash them up to make “dirt,” and let the kids top the cupcakes with gummy worms and sour patch worms. I also found a big bag of candy body parts at CVS for $3.99, which included ears, fingers, teeth and other gory parts but according to the kids, “tasted rubbery.”

Blythedale is a hospital that serves kids with trauma and serious medical conditions, including cancer, brain injuries and organ defects. Our party was hosted for about two dozen of the 92 kids who spend their days and nights in the hospital. Some came to the party in wheelchairs, and one boy came in his bed. We had face-painting, candy, rub-on tattoos and arts and crafts.

I met a lovely little girl who brightened the room with her smile. Unable to speak — or even eat any candy — she was thrilled when one of the volunteers, Aisha Patel, painted flowers on both of the little girl’s hands. Aisha got a big thumbs-up from her customer for the handiwork.

There was a sense of serenity in the room that you normally wouldn’t get when passing out free candy to kids 12 and under. These kids have been through a lot, and they enjoyed the company more than anything else. They probably won’t be heading out tonight for trick or treat, but it was great that we were able to bring Halloween to them.

Here’s an idea for corporate companies in Fairfield County and surrounding areas. Plan a Corporate Day of Caring at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. This hospital, located in Westchester County, cares for kids with serious medical conditions from traumatic brain injury and heart defects, to skin burns and neurologic disorders.

Companies can work with Blythedale to plan a customized volunteer event, with activities that are uniquely suited to meet the company’s interests and resources. For example, employees at Disney Publishing, located in White Plains, visit the hospital once a month. They read to the children, and donate books on each trip. Other corporate volunteer groups have included JP Morgan Chase, Pepsi Bottling Group, Goldman Sachs, XL Capital, Dannon, Kohl’s, IBM and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

Blythedale doesn’t limit volunteers to big companies, either. Last Mother’s Day, for example, Joe Pugni of Grayrock Florist and Memorials in Valhalla donated supplies so that patients could pot flowers for their mothers or caretakers as gifts.

Use your imagination when planning a Corporate Day of Caring. Previous events have taken the form of a medieval feast, a circus and a winter carnival. As it happens that Halloween is on our heels, I will be blogging about the annual Blythedale Halloween party to be hosted Wednesday evening by the Greenwich Jaycees.

To learn more about Corporate Day of Caring programs, contact Lena Cavanna, Blythedale’s community relations director at (914) 592-7138 or lenac@blythedale.org.

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Abilis’ Open House Set for Nov. 8

I just received an update on Abilis‘ Open House. As you may recall, the disability-services organization’s largest fundraiser, Walk in the Park for Abilis, got rained out on Oct. 18. Instead, Abilis (pronounced ABLE-ISS) is hosting an open house on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at its headquarters on 50 Glenville Street in Greenwich.

The open house will feature music, live entertainment and fun activities. Abilis will also debut its notecard collection, featuring 12 different paintings, drawings and prints by adults served by Abilis. (A set of 12 high-quality cards sells for $15.) The 2009 Abilis holiday notecard collection, featuring a reindeer image, also will be available for $15 for 12 cards. In addition, Abilis will sell bracelets, necklaces and earrings that are designed and hand-beaded by adults served by the agency.

Families, supporters and members of the public are invited to stop by and learn about the agencies’ services. There will be face-painting, crafts and games for children, as well as refreshments for all. Registered walkers can pick up their walk t-shirts, and teams will be photographed. It’s also an opportunity to donate to Abilis.

Greetings Southern Connecticut readers,

Well, my first anticipated blog posting was a wash — quite literally. The third annual Walk in the Park for Abilis was cancelled due to the severe rainstorm. This planned, one-mile stroll through Greenwich Point Park (Tod’s Point) is the organization’s largest fundraiser each year, which goes to benefit children and adults in the Greenwich-Stamford area with developmental disabilities.

I was having my morning coffee when I got the e-mail notice that the Sunday walk had been cancelled. I wasn’t that surprised. The night before, Abilis’ executive director Lolli Ross had e-mailed all registered walkers to let them know the walk had been altered to a “intimate gathering under the shelter of the clambake area.” The traditional route along Greenwich Point was too flooded and muddy for walking. There would still be snacks and crafts, but no kids’ activities tent, which was to include New York Rangers shot clinics and other hockey-themed activities.

I could sense the sadness in Lolli’s note. Abilis had hoped to raise $100,000 to provide services to the community. “We’d hate to cancel for a few reasons … the sight of everyone together — from our adorable toddlers to our army of high-school volunteers, our devoted families and the many adults served by Abilis every single day is powerful and inspires us throughout the year.”

Of course, Sunday’s weather proved worse than expected. There was no rain date in place. But there is a silver lining — Abilis will hold an open house at its headquarters on Sunday, November 8. They are inviting everyone in the area to stop by and “participate in fun children’s activities, see the beautiful and unusual gifts and products made by the wonderful people we serve and, of course, pick up this year’s Walk T-shirt!” The time is still to be determined, but you can check back at Abilis’ website.