From left to right: Rosalie Gordon, Thelma Reid and Dominga Marquez of the "Hand in Hand Committee." (
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With the winter holidays in in full swing, residents of The New Jewish Home’s Manhattan campus, a nondenominational nursing home on the Upper West Side, launched their seasonal drive to help others.
Members of the "Hand in Hand Committee” dedicate their time and talent creating handmade crafts and baked goods to benefit others in need. From December 16 - 18, they sold their wares, including ceramic figures, holiday ornaments, crocheted blankets and knitted hats, as well as treats, to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and raised nearly $900.
The Hand in Hand Committee is headed by Guatemalan-born Dominga Marina Marquez, a 70-year-old resident. Marquez suffered a sudden stroke seven years ago, leaving her partially paralyzed. The therapeutic recreation team at The New Jewish Home helped her to regain her creative skills, teaching her how to bead, crochet and knit again using just one hand.
“It’s both entertaining and therapeutic for us, because when we’re making these gifts, we keep our minds busy," said Marquez.
The committee encourages volunteerism and community service among residents. Previous recipients of their donations include Doctors without Borders, CaringKind, New York Cares and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
“Our residents at The New Jewish Home love to give back to the community in any way they can. Crafting these handmade works of art keeps them engaged and allows them to get in touch with their creativity, but it also brings them a lot of joy to know they made a difference,” said Dr. Ed Wu, The New Jewish Home’s Chief Medical Officer.