Sherry Wolf to be Honored at CCNW Benefit

Sherry Wolf’s calling for the past twelve years has been to uphold the mission of the : To improve the dignity, security and well-being of our neighbors in need by providing food, clothing and access to other resources.

Wolf took the helm as executive director in 2008, after eight and a half years as president of the center’s board. With warmth and modesty, the hard-working leader has continued the tradition of the center by helping those in the community who say they are hungry or in need.

Sheryl Bernhard, co-president of the center’s board of directors,said the recognition of Wolf is well-deserved. “Sherry has been an inspiration to both staff and volunteers. She works tirelessly and is passionate about carrying out the mission of the center—and is so humble about her accomplishments.”

Her dedication and service will be recognized when Wolf is honored at the 18th Annual Cocktail Party and Auction to benefit the center, to be held on October 15 at St. Matthew’s Fellowship Room in Bedford. Wolf says this is certainly not a farewell tribute and that she is touched by the acknowledgement.

“I am honored to be honored,” said Wolf. “Going forward, I am always looking for ways we haven’t thought of yet to meet the needs of clients and also of the volunteers.”

The Community Center was established in 1991 and is now sponsored by 28 religious, civic and educational organizations in order to provide a food pantry, clothing, shoes, linens, as well as assistance in accessing health care and social services to those in need. There are also English and computer classes along with assistance for clients in their job searches. The center was moved in 1999 to its current location on Bedford Road after an enormous volunteer outpouring that resulted in building’s refurbishment in 1999.

Wolf, who is a graduate of Barnard College and Columbia Business School, is a Katonah resident with a husband and two daughters. She believes the strength of the community center is the fact that it belongs to the entire community. “This is an interfaith operation—we draw people from across religious denominations—I believe we all want to teach our children the same thing: empathy and compassion for our neighbor.” 

Already in 2011, over 1500 households have been served by the center while in the previous year, 91,000 pounds of food and 167,000 pounds of clothing was distributed. “This is a very generous community,” the executive director says. “The donors, the volunteers—they really make the center what it is today.

She explains that a family can visit it once a month for food and twice a month for clothing, with nothing more than proof of residence. “If you say you or your family is hungry—we believe you,” Wolf says.

The economic downturn has had profound ripple effects in the community, she added. “People who used to be donors now come in as clients and this can be humiliating. We try our best to make a painful situation easier for those in need.”