A tree grows in Monroe

Developmentally disabled adults’ gift of a 'giving tree’ is a win-win for them and the South Orange Family YMCA, By Nancy Kriz MONROE - The South Orange Family YMCA in Monroe is now home to its own “giving tree.” Of course, it isn’t as big and lifelike as the tree depicted in Shel Silverstein’s 1964 classic book, “The Giving Tree,” but it’s large enough to offer the very same lessons about the value of giving and receiving. Silverstein’s book is a tale about the relationship between a boy - and his childlike innocence - and a tree. The Y’s tree is also the story of the relationship between a group of developmentally disabled adults - with their own childlike innocence - and a tree. While literary opinions vary about the book’s interpreted messages, the one common thread is the relative happiness of childhood. And like Silverstein’s “giving tree,” the Y’s tree has equally brought happiness to the clients of Crystal Run Village’s Open Vistas Day Habitation program who have their own version of childhood wonder. The past Tuesday, program clients and staff delivered an eight-foot diameter tropical Philodendron Sellum to the Y, providing the tree with a new home while giving them a reason to visit with Michele Bernieri, who had worked with them for 18 months. Bernieri, now the Y’s wellness director, had worked for Crystal Run full-time and at the Y’s Middletown branch part-time before taking the full-time wellness position at the Monroe site. The Y, which opened in February, has placed the tree to the left side of its lobby staircase, filling an unusable space with the big leafy greenery. The tree symbolizes the Crystal Run Village clients’ commitment to come to the Y weekly and volunteer to take away all its recyclable bottles, according to Bernieri. The clients will take the recyclables to the Hannaford grocery store in the town of Wallkill where they will redeem each for five cents. They will then donate half of what they collect back to the Y, and have designated those funds for the Y’s $625,000 capital campaign. 'Jump for joy’ to give Small change for certain, but as anyone would say - particularly to those who are young or young at heart - small change adds up. Bernieri said she became very close with the men and women she worked with, and was just as sad as they were when it came time for her to move on. The clients knew the Y was a big part of Bernieri’s life, and wanted to give her their tree as a good luck gift. “I also knew they wanted an excuse to be a part of the Y,” Bernieri said. “We came up with the idea of the recyclables and that will benefit them and the Y. Those bottles are just thrown out. There’s nothing more these people love than to go out in the community and volunteer their time. It makes them feel important.” And that was clear on the faces of the group of five men who came to pick up their first collection of plastic bottles on the day the tree was delivered. Tony Cantone, sitting in a modified wheelchair and proudly wearing his New York Yankees cap and jacket, has lived in Crystal Run Village most of his life. He waved to some of the female Y members and blew flirtatious kisses to them. “It makes me jump for joy that I can give something away,” said Cantone. “I like to give gifts. Giving the tree makes me feel uplifted. And, I get to see Michele.” His friend, James Bywater, who has lived in Crystal Run Village for 20 years, brought his digital camera to photographically commemorate their gift. 'Greener in many ways’ “If you give a little, you get back a lot,” Bywater said, happily clicking pictures of his friends standing by the tree with Bernieri. “It increases my self-esteem to give.” That’s what Shelly Fabiszak, Crystal Run Village’s Open Vistas Day Habitation coordinator, wants people to know about these special needs people. “Most of their life, it seems they’re always 'taking,’” she said. “By doing this, they are giving to the community and showing what great people they are.” Bernieri saw other symbolism in tree’s arrival at the Y. “As this tree grows, the Y grows, particularly as we develop relationships with the community,” added Bernieri. “We are all about 'community.’ We are truly blessed to have friends like these who are dedicating their time and efforts as well as making our new facility 'greener’ in many ways.”

If you give a little, you get back a lot.” James Bywater, a Crystal Run Open Vistas Day Habitation program client, talking about how happy he feels to donate the group’s tree to the South Orange YMCA and to donate money back to the Y through the group’s recycling efforts.

There’s nothing more these people love than to go out in the community and volunteer their time. It makes them feel important.” Michele Bernieri, wellness director at the South Orange Family YMCA, talking about how important it is for the Crystal Run Open Vistas Day Habitation clients to give their tree to the Y and donate half the money they earn from recycling plastic bottles left at the Y to its $625,000 capital campaign.

Horticultural expertise sought
If you have knowledge of tropical plants and trees, the South Orange Family YMCA could use your help. The facility’s new, eight-foot wide Philodendron Sellum is in need of horticultural expertise.
Officials are not quite sure of its age, but know it’s in need of being transplanted into a pot that will allow it to grow and flourish for many years to come. They’re looking for someone to help with this project.
If you can help, including if you know of someone who can donate a new large pot and soil, contact Michele Bernieri, the Y’s wellness director, at 782-9622.