West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox

Search the site

No Result
View All Result

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

AVAILABLE NOW!


HERE

Covid Inspires a New Tradition: High School History Teacher Cooks for Dozens of Shelter Residents Every Week

January 14, 2021 | 4:30 PM
in FOOD, NEWS
16
Lisa Greenwald in her lobby at Christmastime.

By Lisa Kava

Lisa Greenwald, a public high school teacher and Upper West Sider, started a new tradition last spring. Every Wednesday she cooks and delivers meals, toys, clothing and toiletries to residents of The Ellington, a homeless shelter that houses women and children located on 111th Street between Broadway and Riverside Drive.

The Ellington, which has the capacity to house 86 families, is staffed with social workers who provide education, counseling and assistance securing employment.

Greenwald teaches 10th and 11th grade history at Stuyvesant High School and lives across the street from The Ellington. Last spring, after all schools switched to remote learning, and once she felt settled into a new routine, Greenwald was overcome with a desire to help people who were struggling.

Greenwald’s cousin, who worked as an X-ray technician, died from Covid-19 after spending weeks without adequate PPE. Around this time, Greenwald learned about the rising food insecurity that many New Yorkers were suffering from as a result of the pandemic. She began to search for ways to make a difference.

“I felt safe teaching from home and wanted to model for my students and for my children what we do in a crisis. We step up. We don’t fall apart because there are people who are actually falling apart. If we have the privilege to be OK we should find a way to give to others rather than wallow in all that is frustrating and difficult,” said Greenwald, who recalled growing up on West 75th Street in the early 70’s amidst many SROs. “I had friends who would come over for lunch just to get fed. It made a lasting impression on me.”

Greenwald, who enjoys cooking and has regularly walked by The Ellington for years, figured “what better place to start.” She reached out to a social worker at the shelter in April offering to cook for the residents. The social worker accepted the offer and the following week Greenwald dropped enough meals to feed 30 people. The positive response from the shelter residents inspired her to keep going.

Before long, the meal drop off became a weekly Wednesday night event. But Greenwald wanted to help even more and reached out again to the social worker asking what else was needed. The social worker responded saying the women and children were in need of clothing, toys and toiletries.

Greenwald then proceeded to post old-fashioned flyers on her block asking for donations. The response from her neighbors was tremendous and donations began to pour in. “My project has brought out the best in my neighbors who have embraced the idea of helping in a pandemic.” Prior to her project, there was little if any interaction at all between the shelter residents and the residents of the block, Greenwald explained.

Greenwald sorts through and folds the donated clothing and organizes the toys. She then personally delivers these items to the women and children at The Ellington along with her home-cooked meals on Wednesday nights.

“The idea is to say to these women and children, ‘We see you. You are a member of our community, we know you are in hard times and we want to extend our hand to you,’” said Greenwald.

Individual shelter residents have expressed their appreciation to Greenwald.  One woman, a former taxi driver who lost her job during the pandemic, was recently able to find a new job with help from the social workers, Greenwald said. “She has expressed unending gratitude to me for all she acquired through donations of the past months; jackets, blouses, beautiful dishes from a neighbor’s grandmother.”

At Christmas time, Greenwald initiated a special holiday gift drive by generating a holiday wish list from the shelter residents. She then asked neighbors to choose a particular family to donate a holiday gift to so that the wish list of each family was fulfilled. “A woman from the shelter was waiting for me last week to model the Eddie Bauer down coat someone purchased for the holiday gift drive. She was so happy and kept saying thank you.”

Nancy Goldfarb, a resident of West 111th Street and Greenwald’s neighbor, says Greenwald has inspired kindness and compassion in the neighborhood. “Not only has Lisa brightened the lives of the residents but she has singlehandedly changed the way her neighbors view the shelter by galvanizing awareness and support. Before Lisa, nobody thought to reach out to the residents to offer assistance Goldfarb wrote to West Side Rag. “I’ve lived on this block since the shelter first opened, in approximately 2002, and I can’t think of a time when anybody paid any attention to the residents.”

Share this article:
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

16 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lady Di
Lady Di
2 years ago

would love to help this amazing woman with clothing donations and food; if anyone on the staff of WSR or readers knows how to contact her, please answer ? thank you!

0
Reply
Lisa Greenwald
Lisa Greenwald
2 years ago
Reply to  Lady Di

Thank you so much; I’m so glad you want to help. You can reach me through the Stuyvesant HS website or through the WSR. But honestly, the Ellington is already well sourced. I’m hoping this article inspires others to find the place in their community that needs help the most and to offer it there. I’m happy to give you ideas if you want to talk. If we all do something like this everywhere in NYC we will be building community exponentially.

0
Reply
Leland
Leland
2 years ago
Reply to  Lisa Greenwald

What about clothing donations? We’d been donating children’s clothing to St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church at WEA and 86th. Would they be interested at the Ellington when we gather our next batch? We’ve called other shelters in the area.

note: Our Stuy graduate didn’t have you but maybe our current student will.

0
Reply
Bruce E. Bernstein
Bruce E. Bernstein
2 years ago

“The idea is to say to these women and children, ‘We see you. You are a member of our community, we know you are in hard times and we want to extend our hand to you,’” said Greenwald.

Exactly. A New Year’s lesson for all.

0
Reply
Jane
Jane
2 years ago

This is a great story! If I still lived in the City, I would offer to help. But alas, I am in North Carolina now.

0
Reply
Marianna
Marianna
2 years ago

Ms. Greenwald was my daughter’s 10th grade teacher. She’s a wonderful educator & so nice to see that she’s just as lovely outside of the building, within her community.

0
Reply
Lisa Greenwald
Lisa Greenwald
2 years ago
Reply to  Marianna

Thank you!! Still going at it. “Dr. G”

0
Reply
Sarah
Sarah
2 years ago

Bless this woman for taking the initiative here.

0
Reply
Sheila Robinson
Sheila Robinson
2 years ago

Is there contact info for Ms. Greenwood?

0
Reply
js
js
2 years ago

There are at least 2 other family shelters on the West Side and a number of midtown/Times Square/Penn Station hotels being used as shelters for families.
They are run by non-profits under contract to NYC.

Perhaps the Community Board could reach out to DHS and help connect people who would like to support/volunteer ?

0
Reply
CHIOMA N. OKORO
CHIOMA N. OKORO
2 years ago

As the previous Manager of the program @Ellington it was my pleasure not just seeing the love and kindness shown by Ms Greenwald and the others whom she singlehandedly engaged into this selfless venture, but working close to her to reach the families within personally and intellectually. Her dedication not just to provide home cooked healthy alternative to these families weekly but to offer read-to-me moments to the children during the summer around the park is remarkable.
I appreciate the neighbours and community and look forward to working more with Ms Greenwald locally as well as in other communities.

0
Reply
Lisa Greenwald
Lisa Greenwald
2 years ago
Reply to  CHIOMA N. OKORO

I could not have done this without the help and consummate professionalism of social worker Ms. Chioma N. Okoro! I miss working together. Your new work sites are now is lucky to have you!

0
Reply
dr. audrey lavin
dr. audrey lavin
2 years ago

super article. so, so proud of lisa and all she does. thanks for posting, doug.

0
Reply
Rina
Rina
2 years ago

What a wonderful act of kindness. I’m sure this will inspire others to participate in their communities in meaningful and significant ways. Thank you.

0
Reply
Linda Winston
Linda Winston
2 years ago

Brava for Lisa! This is the most heartening
news I’ve learned since last March when the
lockdown began.

What a great teacher Lisa is, teaching by
example. We are all indebted to her.

0
Reply
Karyn Elizabeth
Karyn Elizabeth
2 years ago

HI I saw the story of Ms Greenwald on NY1 and she is a miracle worker!! I’d love to donate food, clothes, etc. but as I read the comments I guess the Ellington is not in need of items now as other shelters may be more in need. I’d still love to assist with donations of food and clothing. thank you kc

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

Artist and Teacher ‘Internationally Famous on the Upper West Side’
ART

Artist and Teacher ‘Internationally Famous on the Upper West Side’

February 1, 2023 | 2:11 PM
Crime On The Upper West Side Over the Decades
CRIME

Now There Are Nine: Two More Local Businesses Were Burglarized

February 1, 2023 | 9:57 AM
Previous Post

Enormous Lines Form Outside Michaels for Liquidation Sale; Here’s What’s Already Sold Out

Next Post

Classic Emerald Inn Restaurant Needs Your Help to Continue Outdoor Dining

this week's events image

Explore Your Favorite Subject

20th precinct 24th precinct american museum of natural history animals art bicycling bulletin central park closings columns community board 7 coronavirus crash crime development dogs events fdny fire food gale brewer helen rosenthal history jcc lincoln center monday bulletin morning bulletin nypd openings pedestrian safety photography photos politics public schools pupper west side real estate restaurants retail riverside park silver stars fitness snow sponsored subway upper west side uws

CITY NEWS

Brick Underground
City Limits
Eater
Gothamist
NY Daily News
NY Post
NY Times

LOCAL RESOURCES

Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Central Park Conservancy
CB7
Community Education Council 3
Assembly District 67
The New York Historical Society
Riverside Park
West End Preservation

UWS Blogs

Bloomingdale History Central Park Blogger
North River Notes
Next Post
EMERALD INN OPENS IN NEW SPACE; TWICE AS BIG, WITH MORE BEERS ON TAP

Classic Emerald Inn Restaurant Needs Your Help to Continue Outdoor Dining

Openings: Virgil’s Real BBQ, Vanessa’s Dumpling House

Openings: Virgil's Real BBQ, Vanessa's Dumpling House

Updated With Latest NYC Website: Vaccine Update: New Yorkers 75+ and More Essential Workers Will Be Eligible for Vaccine on Monday; Here’s How to Sign Up

Vaccine Update: Mt. Sinai Cancels Some Appointments ‘Due to Sudden Changes in Vaccine Supply’

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.