Baptist Church to host fundraiser for Newfield family

On the morning of Nov. 12, everything Eddie and Lorrie Williamson in Newfield owned and held close to their hearts was lost in a house fire.

Around 6 a.m., flames started to engulf their house. All of the moments, dreams and memories they shared in the living space they had come to call home were wiped away.

Nothing will replace the memories or the home the Williamsons created, but the Newfield community is coming together in an attempt to give the family some comfort.

In one month, a GoFundMe campaign raised more than $5,000 for the family. The Community Good Neighbor Fund (CGNF) and the People’s Baptist Church will also host a dinner at the church Dec. 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The church is located at 364 Main St. in Newfield.

The dinner will feature lasagna, salad, a beverage and dessert. CGNF Chairperson Mary Beth Gehring-Smith said the money donated at the event will go to the Williamson family. There is no cost to attend the dinner, but donations will be accepted.

“You can’t make up for the loss of your home and everything in it,” Gehring-Smith said. “It’s a way to show the people that the community does care. They’re long-time community members, and it was partly the timing. It’s more difficult around holiday time when things like this occur.”

Gehring-Smith said CGNF was established roughly 40 years ago; 10 years ago, it started a partnership with local organizations to set up Care Meals to help Newfield people and organizations.

CGNF helps residents of Newfield with emergency assistance services. Gehring-Smith said the group has helped residents with costs associated with car repairs, late rent payments and electrical expenses.

It’s really grown since [its founding],” she said. “It’s funded by local people donating, and we have no paid people on staff, so all the money that is collected goes to help out.”

Gehring-Smith said that everyone who works for CGNF is on a volunteer basis, so there are no overhead costs for running the organization.

“We’re not designed to be the Department of Social Services, but we do provide needs that are unmet by other organizations,” she said. “We are in conjunction with other organizations because we have a dollar limit per household per year, so if it exceeds that, we’ll work with other charities or organizations to meet the needs.”

She said since the pandemic, CGNF has not held Care Meals. She thinks the upcoming fundraiser is a chance for the organization to show growth and help a family that is grieving.

“It’s an opportunity to get back in the groove of doing this,” she said. “People also come and go from the church and CGNF, so it’s an opportunity for the new regime to get involved. It also demonstrates our ability to help out community members in their time of need.”

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Gingerbread bridge contest to be held at Library

The Newfield Public Library will host a gingerbread bridge-building contest in December, with the winner receiving $50.

The Library has 12 take-home kits with basic supplies to create the bridge. They can be picked up at the library, located at 198 Main St., from Dec. 9 through 20.

The deadline for submissions is Dec. 20 at 5 p.m., and submissions can be dropped off at the Newfield Library.

The maximum bridge length is four graham crackers, height is two graham crackers and each bridge will sit flat in the library’s display and must be 100% edible. Participants can add their own materials.

Winners will be announced Dec. 21 at noon.

To register, call (607) 564-3594, email the library at newfieldlibrary@gmail.com or stop by the library between 2 and 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 2 to 6:30 p.m. Friday or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Ken Serfass to conduct the Polar Express train in Newfield

On Dec.16 at 6:30 p.m., storyteller and train conductor Ken Serfass will be at Newfield Masonic Temple, located at 186 Main St.

Serfass will conduct the Polar Express train, and each child will enjoy readings from “Polar Express” and “A Visit From St. Nicholas.”

Hot chocolate and cookies will be served at the event. Pajamas are encouraged. Space is limited to 30 children.

Registration is handled by the library. It can be reached at (607) 564-3694. Residents interested in registering their children in the program can also stop by the library.