R.A.I.N., Inc. is a multi-social service agency offering a myriad of services with a focus on the provision of continuum of care that includes a range of services for seniors and people with disabilities.

I have been teaching crochet and knitting to the senior ladies of the Boston Secor RAIN center for over five years.

During the Covid-19 pandemic our classes were suspended indefinitely, but finally in December of 2020, our beloved center – Boston Secor, began online classes on Zoom where we could connect and work on our crafts.

I realized that we couldn’t continue our classes in the usual way and I asked the ladies what they wanted to do. They decided that they wanted to make hand made donated items for babies in need in Bronx hospitals.

Cecile, Phoebe, Liz, Rebecca, Sandra, Ethel, Martha, myself and guest Kenisha – worked diligently creating, hats, toys, blankets for newborn Bronx babies. I would like to thank Premier Yarns for kindly answering our request and donating yarn for this project. I am very thankful to the staff of Boston Secor for facilitating our project which included driving supplies and donations to the participating members and hospitals, purchasing our pretty gift bags and administering our once a week classes.

I also wish to thank Jodi Moise, Director of The Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Medicine. She is our Liaison connection at Montefiore Medical System, and helped us print our flyers to go with each item.

Finally with Jodi’s help on the 24th & 26th May, 2021, we were able to organize a drop off of the donations at Weiler and Wakefield campuses of Montefiore. 112 items were split between two NICU – (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) wards. The staff at both locations were very thankful and happy with the project. LINK to Montefiore Fine Art on Instagram.

These types of programs where local communities and organizations work together to help each other during the strict protocols of a pandemic create an atmosphere of positivity and empathy. I lastly wish to acknowledge my gifted older adult students for their talent, patience, hard work, and their huge hearts in bringing this project to life.

Here is a sneak preview of more exciting items that we have been creating for future donations 🙂

In March 2022 we partnered with a new organization Heartshare St Vincent Services, and donated to their Steps to Home womens’ shelters. I’d like to thank Ruth Camacho the Recreation Coordinator for her help with our first donation drop off. Hopefully this will be the first of many!

March 2022.

The Golden Ladies of the Rainy Day Donation Project visited their exhibition at Montefiore Moses campus! Curated by the Fine Art Program & Collection, this exhibition promotes our project throughout the Montefiore Health System and will also travel to the Wakefield, Weiler campuses for a total of nine months. We would like to thank Jodi Moise – Director of the Fine Art Program, Marcos Crespo – Senior Vice President of Community Affairs, and Raven Carter – Vice President of Operations at Montefiore for meeting and greeting and supporting our project! (They are in the first photo left to right.)

The ‘RAINY Day Donation Project’ exhibition then moved to Montefiore Wakefield hospital and we were able to visit the show on the 29th September, 2022. We had a wonderful time and took two boxes of donations with us. We met the VP Clinical Services & Executive Director of Wakefield hospital Regginald Jordan, Dr. Sheri Nemerofsky, director of Newborn Services and other nurses and staff members. We had the incredible experience of visiting a NICU unit where our donations help the babies and their families. There is nothing like a handmade gift to give some extra love, comfort and care.