Second Wind starts second fundraising campaign for Dryden House

Second Wind Cottages, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Newfield, is close to completing its Dryden House for Women.

“We’re getting closer,” said Second Wind Cottages Executive Director David Shapiro, noting that the house has been under construction for almost a year.

The organization, however, has realized it will have a shortfall in funds to complete the project. According to Shapiro, the organization is somewhere between $75,000 and $100,000 short of wrapping up construction of the house.

Second Wind recently had over 100 donors chip in funds for a campaign supporting the Dryden House for Women. The organization previously received $230,000 from private donations and community foundations and an additional $120,000 from the Tompkins County Community Development Block Grant.

Shapiro said the organization’s board of directors has decided to begin another campaign in hopes of raising enough money to complete the project by autumn.

“We had a lot of Drydenites, and [people] beyond Dryden, who supported this [first] campaign,” Shapiro said. “It’s going to need a little more funding and a little more time from our friendly volunteers.”

Second Wind currently has 18 cottages in Newfield to provide a supportive environment for formerly homeless men. 

Dryden House, located at 35 W. Main St. in the village of Dryden, will provide the same support for homeless women. It also gives women a chance to reunite with children they’ve lost due to homelessness.

The house in Dryden will comprise 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.

“We’ve always wanted to have a focus on helping women and reuniting women with their kids especially,” Shapiro said. “[The women] will not just be working on restoring their lives, but [will have] a place to reunite with their families, as well.”

Second Wind previously had its sights set on completing the project during the summer, but Shapiro noted that “things happen.”

“We still have a bunch of people that are still giving us a bunch of support,” he said.

The shortage of funds started with a shorthanded group of volunteers, Shapiro said. This forced Second Wind to hire laborers for parts of the project, including during the winter season.

The organization has construction days on Thursdays and Saturdays. Shapiro noted that Second Wind typically gets between four and eight volunteers, and sometimes only two.

“It’s been tougher than we’ve experienced in the past, recruiting the number of volunteers we need to complete the project,” Shapiro said.

The shortfall, Shapiro added, will make it tough for the organization to purchase appliances, a security system or fire safety equipment for Dryden House.

It’s the reason that Second Wind is kicking off another fundraising campaign. Shapiro said this includes private and business donations, local grants and funds from foundations.

“When you run a campaign like this, you have to go for it from all areas,” he added. “We want to have a community behind this. Our goal as an agency is to have the community engaged in a healing process for these men and women who have been homeless.”

Shapiro mentioned that Second Wind is in the process of transitioning its first woman to Dryden House. The rest of the recruiting process in the community for the house, Shapiro added, will begin soon.

“What we’re looking for from folks is that they’re looking to repair their life and get it back in order, and look to do it in a community environment,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro said the organization will look for women who want to engage with staff members and support each other in the program. The hope is that “people want to live in that environment,” Shapiro added.

“It means you’ve identified that you keep making mistakes and you’re looking to improve and get better,” he said. “You realize you need some help to do that.”

Shapiro elaborated that the campaign is “about raising money,” but “it’s always been about raising friends.”

“The way we continue to combat homelessness, aside from the need for more housing, and to help people recover is through community,” Shapiro said.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Program on restoration of Dryden fair poster is Sept. 10

The Dryden Town Historical Society (DTHC) will hold a program on the restoration of the 1885 Dryden Fair poster on Sept. 10 from 2-3 p.m. at the village hall at 16 South St.

Luisa Casella, of West Lake Conservators, will present the poster. It was previously heavily damaged and in dire condition.

For more information, contact the DTHC at 607-844-9209 or drydennyhistory@gmail.com.

Free yoga class on Thursdays this summer

A free slow-flow yoga class will be held every Thursday from 5-6 p.m. at the village hall at 16 South St.

The yoga class will go until Aug. 31. Mats and props are provided, but there is a limited supply.