Second Wind begins construction on Dryden House

Second Wind Cottages Executive Director David Shapiro recently walked around an opened-up property on 35 W. Main St. in the village of Dryden, taking in the progress of a project under construction by the Newfield-based nonprofit organization.

The project in the making, currently being built by volunteers throughout Tompkins County, will soon become Second Wind’s new Dryden House for women (tinyurl.com/2ztma55l).

“We looked inward and thought about really making sure we offer opportunities for shelter and healing for women unhoused,” said Shapiro, Second Wind’s executive director since mid-August.

Second Wind currently has 18 cottages in Newfield to provide a supportive environment for formerly homeless men. Now, a house in Dryden will provide the same support for homeless women. It also gives women a chance to be with their children again — ones lost due to the mothers’ being homeless.

“Our vision is to help women that are in some bad places right now,” Shapiro said. “Maybe we can give them this safe landing spot here and bring them the support of being part of a community.”

The property was donated to Second Wind after a home on the property was damaged by a fire in the fall of 2019.

“This project is needed,” Dryden Town Supervisor Jason Leifer said in the past. Leifer, also an attorney, represents those who receive help from Second Wind. “I’m thrilled to have this house come to Dryden. Clients of mine can see their kids again and get back on their feet.”

The house in Dryden will be four units — two of them will be two-bedroom units and the other two will be one-bedroom units. Each will include a kitchen, bathroom and laundry, Shapiro said.

“It’s a really heartwarming project,” he added.

Second Wind announced the Dryden House project during a ceremony last December (tinyurl.com/2b23wxxm). A couple of weeks ago, the organization officially broke ground on the project.

“We have all this momentum; now, we have to get it done,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro anticipates the construction of the house to be completed by late spring of next year. Volunteer workers have dug a hole and started putting the pieces together.

“They’re putting in footers and laying the foundation within the next week,” he added. “We’re working hard to get the outside structure built before the elements come.”

Second Wind received $230,000 from private donations and community foundations and an additional $120,000 from the Tompkins County Community Development Block Grant.

Shapiro is unsure how much more Second Wind will need, but he anticipates there will be expenses for work that requires paid contractors.

“We’re still building those plans. It’s still fleshing itself out,” he added.

Aside from paid work in the near future, the bulk of the work will come from volunteers. Shapiro praised the project’s volunteers, calling them “great, fantastic and invested” residents of the Dryden area.

“They’re the ones who could make this project happen,” Shapiro said, noting he “rallied together” volunteers soon after he came in at the helm of Second Wind. “It’s been quite amazing for me to experience and see the Dryden people so interested in this area.”

Once the house is enclosed, Shapiro said, the “heavy volunteer work” will occur, including interior painting, electrical work and sheet rocking.

Shapiro noted Second Wind is still “developing the project in pieces,” but they’ve at least been approved for the foundation work.

“We’re excited to see it all come together,” he added.

Dryden Dispatch appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Dryden Town Historical Society’s pie and bread sale is Nov. 5

The Dryden Town Historical Society (DTHS) is bringing back its pie and bread sale, which will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 5 in the lobby of the First National Bank of Dryden at 7 W. Main St.

DTHS members are encouraged to donate their specialty pie, bread or other baked goods.

For more information or to arrange for a donation to be picked up, contact Shirley Price at (607) 844-8700 or Mary Hornbuckle (607) 898-3461.

Jennie’s Book Club scheduled to meet Nov. 15

Jennie’s Book Club is slated to meet at the Southworth Library on 24 W. Main St. in the village of Dryden at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

The book selection for November is “The Red Address Book” by Sofia Lundberg. Books are available to borrow at the library, and all are welcome to join the book club.

Paws to Read event at Southworth Library is Nov. 5

The Paws to Read event is returning to Southworth Library at 11 a.m. Nov. 5. The event aims to practice reading to the dogs from Cornell Canine Companions.

Those who participate in the event will receive a free book to bring home. To register, go to the Southworth Library website, southworthlibrary.org.