The Center offers a range of classes to our clients in an effort to help them achieve or return to self-sufficiency.  These include:

• English Language Classes – Clients receive tutoring in English language skills on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, from over a dozen volunteers, under the leadership of Connie Kamerman, a librarian at the Katonah Village Library.

• Computer Training – Volunteers Ellen Devey, a former IBM programmer/analyst, and Bob Hacker, who previously taught computer skills to British Airways employees, hold weekly computer training classes for clients.
  
  
• Literacy Program – US Civics for Immigrants- Supported by a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation, the Center is offering innovative language and civics classes, using the U.S. Civics for Immigrants curriculum developed by Literacy Volunteers of Westchester.  The course combines civics and practical skills, with English for low-literacy adult learners, and is held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Kisco.

• Spanish Class for Volunteers – This course, led by Rosa Margarita de la Parra, is designed to help volunteers become more proficient in Spanish language skills, so they can work more effectively with our Spanish speaking clients.

• Infant Massage Classes – Loving Touch – These free infant massage classes, which are held on Saturday afternoons at the Center, are led by Noya Guerrero, Assistant Director for Client Services.  Noya is certified as an Educator of Infant Massage by the International Association of Infant Massage and Infant Massage USA. The course offers new parents a great way to bond with their babies as they learn the techniques and benefits of infant massage, which include helping babies sleep better and fuss less, as well as improving their muscle tone and blood circulation. 

OTHER

• Career Counseling - Volunteers Sandra Pell and Carlotta Gramas help clients with job searches, resume writing and interview skills. They also interview the people responsible for hiring at local businesses and institutions, in order to better advise clients about the requirements for employment, and are often able to make successful matches.

• Furniture Exchange – Volunteers match offers of used furniture with requests from clients in need.

• School Supplies – Each fall volunteers Laura Kaplan and Lauren Cohen lead a drive to fill the knapsacks of clients’ children with books, crayons, markers, notebooks, and some of the other items students need—items that can put a deep hole in a tight family budget.  Other volunteers help to assemble the needed items into packets and then distribute them to over 300 students prior to the start of the school year.

Holiday Share and Share the Warmth - Providing extra and special food items for Thanksgiving and holiday meals during the festive season is the goal of Holiday Share, which is organized by Laura Kaplan.  Laura also manages the collection and distribution of new fleece blankets, hats, mittens and gloves to over 400 children through our Share the Warmth Program in December.