Robin Hood Needs You! Steve DeWitt battles cancer

As his daughter’s school Principal, Steve and I have built a great relationship. I was not surprised to see him outside knocking on my office window. Steve always found me when he wanted to talk, and usually to make some kind of donation to our students and school or share an idea to help us. On this visit, a recent Sunday afternoon, I was preparing for the new school year and seeing him was a welcomed break. He was brief and to the point. Cancer. It’s not good. I need help.

Steve is a proud man, a hard worker, and full of grit and determination. His life’s pride and joy are his two daughters, Cali and Savannah and his wife Angelique. Steve has recently been diagnosed with Lung Cancer that has now spread to other areas. He is being treated at Sloan Kettering in NYC and has a long road ahead. We need your help for him and his family to be able to fight!

Visiting Steve at home recently I saw how unique his situation is. Steve has made it his life’s mission to serve and help others as a true example of altruism. Sometimes, service to others happens through our own sacrifice and expense. Steve routinely donates to others, especially to students facing hardships (often to those that he does not even know), while Steve’s own home lacks an adequate heating and septic system, complete with a roof that is leaking. Steve is a tinkerer, a fixer, and will get the job done, no matter what. He approached his home in the same way, knowing that he could keep things running, splitting wood for heat, patching and repairing things with just enough to get by. All while serving others. This coming winter, while fighting cancer, he will not be able to keep up with the needs of the house.

I asked him recently, Steve, what makes you give the way that you do, even when you have needs of your own? “Simple, I want to show my girls kindness, how to love and care for others, doing the right thing, understand?” Yes, Steve, I understand. He loves his girls and wife more than anything, and simply wants to be a great example. Steve’s generosity, care for others, and love of his family are an inspiration.

While patching things at home to keep the wood stove warm and the water running, Steve quietly goes about helping others. He has given thousands of dollars to our school to support our DARE program and offset costs to families at the holidays. Knowing what it is like to not be able to afford school pictures, he gives money to the school photographer every year to make sure all kids get a picture package. He is legendary for donating his time and equipment throughout the community to those in need.

Now we have the opportunity to care for him. Please consider donating to help Steve and his girls, Angelique, Cali and Savannah. Your support will go to the immediate needs of installing a heating system, and repairs to his septic system and roof. Additional funds will then go towards his looming fight with cancer. Steve has served us in countless ways and now we can help him.

Steve used to work in NYC and spent over 9 months working at the World Trade Center site after 9/11 removing rubble and debris with the local 731 excavating unit. After moving upstate, he has run his own tree removal company. He has been out of work for months while dealing with complications from his cancer. Your donation will have an immediate impact on helping him and his family. If you cannot donate, please support Steve with your thoughts and prayers, and consider ways you can serve our community in his honor. If you cannot donate financially, but have product or labor to help donate to repair his home, please contact us!