The Stony Brook Stitchers is an all-volunteer organization that creates and donates handmade items to people in need within SBU Hospital, Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital, and Long Island State Veteran’s Home.

“We serve all the departments in the hospital, anyone that’s interested, “says Shampine.

In a typical year, the Stitchers receive 2,500 to 3,000 donated items. However, for 2019, they set a new goal of 4,000 and put out the call. Their network of volunteers came through with an outpouring of goodwill and determination. Thanks to their increased efforts, they were able to exceed their goal by nearly 100.

“Our volunteers are really so generous and creative,” says Jan Tassie, West Campus Director for the organization.

Despite all of the bizarre and surreal activities of 2020, the holiday season is upon us. This year of emotional swings, fear and anxiety did not come to stay. Instead, we found stories of resilience, hope and courage. The pandemic forced us to look at life differently, reinvent it and continue on.

As is our tradition in the Office of Government and Community Relations, we’re celebrating the campus community by sharing some uplifting stories of the ways Stony Brook students and employees came together this year to improve the lives of others.

We wish you peace and good health for the new year.

This year, in lieu of mailing holiday cards, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital gave a donation to Heart of the Hamptons to help support their mission of serving our community.

Pictured from left, Kenneth B. Wright, Board Chair, Southampton Hospital Association and Bob Chaloner, CAO, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, present the gift to Hilton Crosby, Executive Director of Heart of the Hamptons. Here they are pictured with some team members that make this important work possible (from left): Delaney Jones, Maripaz Ramos, and Maribel Ramos.