November 30, 2006

The gift of warmth

Local woman begins annual drive for warm clothing for homeless

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

With December temperatures dipping to freezing, one tender-hearted local woman is making life a bit easier for the homeless of San Jose.

Ninety-year-old Carolyn Kronzer lives with Maria Stitch since being adopted seven months ago. From left: Kronzer and Maria Stitch. Photo courtesy of the Stitch family

For the past five years, Maria Stitch has collected coats, blankets, scarves, gloves and anything that will give the destitute warmth living on our streets. The Ventura Burnett Properties realtor distributes the warm clothing to the homeless, delivering the much-needed items Christmas day at Saint James Park in downtown San Jose.

“I borrow a truck and pack it full of coats, blankets, sleeping bags, anything warm that is donated,” said Stitch. “Then I bring five or six dozen doughnuts and place them on the hood. At first there is no one in the park but then they come out, walking, some in wheelchairs or seniors who are not well. Everyone stands at the truck and I help them pick out items. Last year there must have been 150 homeless people. I wish the public could see it. They are so grateful that someone cares.”

Stitch admits that helping the homeless is a personal issue. She shares stories of an asthma-inflicted elderly woman who she helped choose blankets and wool scarves and the man in a wheelchair in need of a tarp to protect his legs from the elements. Her attractive face shines with happiness as she tells of the grateful smiles, hugs and kisses from the very people many spurn.

But Stitch’s care giving isn’t just at Christmas. She cared for a woman in her house in Almaden because the senior didn’t want to be placed in a home for the sick and elderly. A friend’s 90-year-old mother has been living with her for the past seven months. Stitch excitedly shares that the two women have the same birthday and that “I’ll see her off at the time of her death in my home—how lucky am I?”

The Stitch house may be crowded with her three daughters, but Stitch says “this is what I love to do.” Her husband of 18 years, Mark is supportive and thinks “it’s great” that his wife is helping people. And before the energetic Stitch became a realtor two-and-a-half years ago, she cared for her mother who was inflicted with severe osteoporosis for 15 years and provided day care in her home for 17 years.

Stitch passes out fliers in her neighborhood as well at the Ventura Barnett Properties office where she works, with approximately 200 other agents requesting donations of sweatshirts, jackets, mittens and even tarps. On Christmas Day, she and her three daughters, 20-year-old Alyssa, 15-year-old Kristina and 12 year-old Samantha drive to Saint James Park and help the homeless choose needed items.

Stitchs’ daughters are sometimes frightened by the disheveled men and women who gather around the truck. But that didn’t stop Kristina from suggesting another way to obtain donations for the cold weather items. She’s on the cheerleading squad at Leland High School and presented the idea to coach adviser Meg Maclise.

“This coming Sunday we’ll be in front of Safeway collecting blankets, jackets and warm clothing for Maria’s coat drive,” said Maclise. “The girls will also make a blanket to give to the homeless. We do something philanthropic every month to give back and support the community. It gives the girls an opportunity to see the bigger picture.”

And so another holiday season has arrived and with it Stitch hopes to spread a little cheer to the indigent of San Jose.

“I want the homeless to know there is someone rooting for them and know that they aren’t forgotten and that someone cares,” said Stitch. “I believe in giving back.”

The Leland High School cheerleaders will be at Safeway on Almaden Expressway Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. collecting warm items for Maria’s warm clothes drive. If you would like to contribute blankets, coats, sweatshirts, gloves, scarves, tarps or sleeping bags, please drop them off at 1433 Medallion Drive or call Maria Stitch at (408) 921-4104 or (408) 997-9999 Ext. 513 for pickup.