SOPHIA FRANCO, PHOTOS BY RACHEL MISHANIEH PHOTOGRAPHY
THE OTHER DAY AS I DROVE DOWN MAIN STREET IN ALLENHURST, I NOTICED A HUGE CROWD IN THE DISTANCE. AS I GOT CLOSER, I SAW THE YELLOW T-SHIRTS AND HEARD YAAKOV SHWEKEY SINGING MY SONG ON FULL BLAST. A SMILE BROKE OUT ACROSS MY FACE, WIDE AND STRONG AND REAL; FROM MY HEART.
I jumped out of the car at the Special Children’s Center Lemonade Stand and the kids ran towards me, hugging and kissing me and singing, “I can be stronger,” over and over again. This is love. This is happiness. And this is pure.
Over the years I have learned that while the care of special kids is intricate and exhausting, these amazing children need one thing to thrive. That one thing is love, and at The Special Children’s Center, they get it by the busload. During COVID, we lost so much, but stop for a moment and imagine what it was like for the families of these kids. While most of us were at home, watching Netflix and giving ourselves spa treatments in our bedrooms, the needs of these kids did not dissipate. Twenty-four hour a day care is exactly that. The powers that be at the Special Children’s Center understood this thoroughly, and did not stop for a moment.
WE RISE, LIKE THE SUN
Chaya Bender, co-founder of the Center explained, “We really never closed. Not for a minute. The first couple of weeks were so hard—we sent the families care packages, activities to do with the kids, DVD’s, DVD players, and arts and crafts. I remember that the first of these packages was sponsored by Monique Chera for the refua shelama of her father in law, Stanley Chera A”H. Marc Sitt and his friends sponsored another batch of goodies. I vividly recall standing outside a toy store, begging to be let in. No one was open; it was nuts. Yaakov Shwekey did Facetime calls with each of the kids, he gave impromptu Zoom concerts, and offered the children the love and attention they craved. We had to get creative, but we figured it out. By Passover, we realized that the moms needed some TLC; they were truly at their wit’s end. We sent beauty products, books, slippers, and a heartfelt letter validating their struggles. The overwhelming response from the parents, was, ‘Yes…yesss! Someone really understands what we are going through!’ And as soon as there was a small window visible, our doors opened once again.”
In September 2020, schools were still closed, but the Special Children’s Center in Brooklyn had their doors wide open, with Dina Grafstien at the helm. Jenine Shwekey, co-founder of the Center, explained, “There was no way these kids could stay at home even one more day; it was not a choice. The parents would not have been able to function. But finding staff was a real struggle, as many parents would not let their girls come in. Then there was so much back and forth; opened – closed – opened – closed. There were some crazy days, and that lasted all year long. The Center is really supposed to be a respite, for after school and weekends, but during COVID, when we could, we ran all day, from morning till night.”
SHOOTING STARS
At the Center, it’s a partnership between the staff and the families every step of the way. Parents drop off their babies each day knowing that they will be cared for there, like nowhere else. At the end of the day they are met with positivity, hope and growth. “She had the best day,” the teachers will say. And she did!
Today, the Center is a touchstone for special parents, and they call early on for support and understanding. The Day Care program is available for children from birth until three years old. The progress these parents see in their kids is second to no other program in the world. Shani Gross, program director described, “They come in with these tiny newborns; tense and afraid, and they walk out calm. We give them such comfort and the confidence to go home, love their babies and themselves, and live a normal life. They can say, ‘ I’m not alone—and they can breathe, sometimes for the first time in a long time.’
UNBREAKABLE
On some days, the Center will open its doors for a newborn and on others, it will be for a 30 year old. Unfortunately, it’s not that different. Jenine continued, “When a special child is born there is so much unknown, so much fear in the parent’s eyes. As these children grow, our love grows exponentially, but the fear does not go away. Each chapter is a new beginning, a rebirth, and a whole new flood of emotions. As children become adults the mothers continue to hope for something more; ‘maybe if we do more speech or more physical therapy…’ but there is a point where the child takes the lead and the hope is for an enriched life. Here at the Center we find that something amazing happens when you treat these kids like adults. We’re still coaching and helping them learn to grow, but we are focused on showing our special adults just who they are, and what they can do.”
Chaya Bender added, “We have been working so hard on every detail of getting the new building finished! And when you see what we’ve done you will understand how we’ve been growing alongside our community. Here, we are catering to the special adults. We have a huge culinary arts training center, teaching everyday skills and food prep. These are lessons that will truly serve these kids, especially in our new Café, that will be run by them and for them! Already, our team of special adults are cooking for each of our five group homes. They prepare the food, separate and label it, count it, and make sure it goes to the correct house. In this way they feel responsible and capable. With the new Café, we’ll have coffee, drinks, salads and more, and the staff’s duties will expand to stock replenishment, inventory and customer service. We believe this accountability and trust is essential for the growth of our special adults. It’s crazy; we aren’t thinking of these ideas; our community is demanding them!”
Jeff Sutton, real estate developer and loving dad of Frieda Sutton, said, “I watched firsthand as my daughter developed a sense of purpose, accomplishment, camaraderie, and self-esteem. There is nowhere in the world like this Center.”
NEW BEGINNINGS
The Special Children’s Center has become a campus; it is big, beautiful and alive, like a children’s museum. The stunning two-storied glass lobby is bright, cheerful and inviting. The lights overhead give an ombrè effect—warm, and full of soft color. And the walls are singing! They are colorful, vibrant and happy, like the children who walk between them. Jenine continued, “We look forward to a ribbon cutting very soon, and we are really almost there!” At a recent fundraiser at Vornado offices, Haim Chera, Center advocate, spoke to the donors, “This is not a choice; this building has to be finished, and it has to be finished to perfection.” These words echo those of his father, Stanley Chera A”H, who promised the completion of this project on the day he first entered the Center, almost ten years ago. “These are G-d’s children,” Stanley would say, “and it is our responsibility to love, protect and nurture them.”
Shani Gross added, “Jenine and Chaya are fundraising every day, and in between, they are choosing tiles and paint colors; buying equipment for new physical therapy rooms and mapping out floor plans for a music room that will rival any Broadway stage. Here, the children will flourish like never before!”
Jenine chimed in, “When you see the kids with Yaakov, it’s clear that every child responds to music. They will now learn beats and skills—in a professional way—in the new Adele Hanover Performing Arts Program. This is something they can all connect with, and enjoy. That, and the new Café will be the shining stars of the new building, and will make all the difference in the world for our kids. We cannot wait.”
AND FINALLY, THE CONCERT!
After a year and a half of Covid related quiet, we are all chomping at the bit for some good, old-fashioned fun. We can’t wait to get out, dance and be happy—and the time is now! On Tuesday, August 17th at 7:30 pm, join us at DSN as Yaakov Shwekey lights up the beach in Deal, New Jersey with an Electric Concert. Come early, and join the special children as we rock the house for what will surely be a magical evening. You, too, can be a part of the Center’s growth, and help to put smiles on the faces of the best kids in the world. Steve Rosenberg, Center supporter, asked this question to friends of the Center, “How many causes can you support knowing full well that your creator is giving you a standing ovation?” For more information, to donate or to buy tickets, visit TheCenterNJ.org.
Sophia Franco, 53, is a mom and grandmother who has been feeding her love of reading and writing for as long as she can remember through poetry, community journalism, and songwriting. She has written many songs with Yaakov Shwekey but the first, I Can Be, has become an anthem for the Special Children’s Center and the community at large.
