Volunteer of the Month: Liz Vaniderstine
by Mel Rubenstein
When I received a recommendation from Leah Kraus, director of community engagement of the Fayetteville Library, to feature Liz Vaniderstine and her Sew-A-Thons in this column, I jumped at the chance. I did that because I remembered, as a kid, watching my mother and grandmother sew for hours a day, and was amazed at what they made. That being said, little did I know how much these Sew-A-Thons mean to the community.
Liz was born in Syracuse, attended Merrick Elementary School, Bellevue School, and Central High School.
She then went to Alfred State University where she majored in ornamental horticulture, and became a floral designer.
For the next 30 years she worked for Kelso Florists, and then 14 years for P & C Foods where she was a floral supervisor. Liz began when P&C had just six stores with floral departments, but after traveling over 2,000 miles a month throughout the greater Central NY area, she increased that to 32 stores.
When P&C Foods closed Liz went to work as interim director of the Wagon Wheel, a place for seniors to meet for activities and lunch, owned by the Corinthian Foundation.
As the interim director of the Wagon Wheel, and a board member of the Corinthian Foundation, she was tasked with the job of closing the facility and transitioning the remaining funds to the Community Foundation where they were earmarked for future projects benefiting senior citizens.
When Liz Vaniderstine retired she began to volunteer at the Fayetteville Library, where her daughter works. Taking advantage of her knowledge of sewing that she learned from her mother, Liz volunteered to teach sewing at the library. The Fayetteville Free Library is home to the Fab Lab, a community maker space where one can learn 3D printing, vinyl laser cutting, and sewing, as there are a number of sewing machines available to use.
Liz conducted sewing events where people could learn how to sew.
She said; “Some were doing this for the first time and learned how to cut out cloth and use the sewing machines. I did this on a group basis, or individually when people made appointments.” Event promotion was done with the help of the Fayetteville Free Library, Immaculate Conception Church, and in the Eagle Bulletin, which resulted in many people participating in the sewing events.
Vaniderstine explained; “These sewing events actually produced items like scrubs and aprons for St. Marianne Cope Museum at St. Joseph’s Hospital, diaper changing bags, and vests and hats for Catholic Charities that were given to the homeless. Also, polar fleece vests for the migrant dairy workers, and clothing for the Salvation Army’s Women’s shelter. Breast cancer pillows and Linus (the character in Peanuts) blankets for kids in hospitals were also produced in the Fab Lab at the Fayetteville Library.”
The Sew-A Thons also produced fidget pads for Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango. Fidget pads are used to help veterans with brain injuries learn to use buttons and zippers. (Just imagine how much that means.) These sewing events also provided dog beds for Helping Hounds Dog Rescue of CNY.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Vaniderstine provided the Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville with clothing for people in the St. Thomas Virgin Islands. Clothing was mailed to the Catholic dioceses in St. Thomas for distribution.
Liz said; “None of this could have been possible without Donna Bennett and Debra LeRoy Elliott, who are my assistants in putting on sewing events. Debra handles the e-mails and phone calls and sends out timely notices.”
Vaniderstine said that money to buy material comes from tax deductible donations. That money goes a little further by taking advantage of the annual Fabric Sale of the Oswego County 4-H program. And, she emphasized that a big thank you also goes to Kohl’s Decorating Company on Rt. 92 that donates a considerable amount of material.
Pam Edelmann, owner of the decorating company said; “Once upon a time (not too long ago), a lovely lady came into my shop with a picture of smiling kids lounging on what looked like beds one would see at a camp outing. This lady wondered if I knew that there are lots of kids without beds. I know the needs in this world are great, but had never thought about kids without beds, and this unusual woman makes them! As my shop is for furniture reupholstery, I sent her away that day with many remnants of fabric to be made into beds for kids. Several weeks later I had a box full of beautiful (expired) samples, not large enough for the beds, but nice for some creative soul, and that creative person was Liz Vaniderstine, who came right down to collect them.” Pam added; “I wonder what the world would be like without people like Liz who gives her time for others?”
Over the years Liz Vaniderstine has volunteered in many capacities. She was on the board of the YWCA which provided a special residence for young girls with no home, a board member of the Central Library that helped begin the Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series, and on the board of the Syracuse Symphony Guild. Her love for gardening involved her in the Home Garden Club as the current President, the Fayetteville Garden Club, and the Manlius Herb Society.
Liz, and her husband, John, live in Pompey. They have two children and five grandchildren.
Tax deductible donations may be made to: Immaculate Conception Church (Note-Sew Helpful Sewing), 400 Salt Springs St., Fayetteville, NY 13066, or Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville, NY 13066.
To recommend someone with a stellar record of volunteering to be featured in this column contact Mel Rubenstein: 315-682-7162 or [email protected].
