MILLERTON – John Roccanova developed a passion for craftsmanship in 1960s Brooklyn, where he spent childhood summers tagging along with his father to work at one of the countless woodworking factories that lined the waterfront and industrial side streets.
“Sometimes you’d be drilling four thousand pieces of wood over the course of a few days,” Roccanova recalled of his factory days, where he made display cases for department stores. “I got to see how things were made, and I got comfortable with the equipment.”
During this time, Roccanova said he and his friends did their woodworking outdoors, asking store owners for their discarded crates, using the wood and storage boxes to make scooters and forts.
What began as summer work evolved into a hobby and eventually, a career as a shop teacher in the Webutuck school district.
This fall, Roccanova’s craftsmanship fills the Irondale Schoolhouse in Millerton, where his handmade items will be on sale Nov. 22–23 and 28–30.
From salad bowls and trays to jewelry and children’s toys, shoppers can get a head start on the holidays with artisan-made pieces crafted from mahogany, walnut, maple and ash.
Former Webutuck educators John and Jean Roccanova are selling handmade wood goods to benefit a Kenya-based nonprofit fighting poverty in the African nation.Photo by Aly Morrissey
Grow Against Poverty
Roccanova and his wife, Jean – both former Webutuck school teachers now living in Ancramdale – spend their retirement supporting a nonprofit organization in Kenya. Every dollar from John’s woodworking goes directly to children there.
Their involvement began after reading a New York Times article about extreme overcrowding in Kenyan schools. Moved to learn more, they eventually established the U.S. arm of Grow Against Poverty, the Kenya-based nonprofit they now support through John’s crafts.
Seven years ago, the couple traveled to Busia County, Kenya, to meet Helen Mukanda, founder of Grow Against Poverty. “It’s poverty like we’ve never seen before,” said Jean. Thanks to that visit and – and with the help of WhatsApp – the Roccanovas receive real-time updates and photos showing the impact of their donations. Mukanda and her board identify the areas of greatest need and share them with John and Jean.
Their contributions sustain an organic gardening program that provides fresh produce for student lunches, which increases attendance at schools and is often a child’s best meal of the day. They also support efforts to reduce period poverty by building restrooms and showers and supplying sanitary products.
Roccanova grows emotional when he talks about the conditions in Busia County.
“When I retired, I didn’t know what I was going to do,” said Roccanova. “So I started making things. And then I had all this stuff. So we said, ‘Well, we can donate it.’”
To date, the Roccanovas have raised more than $75,000 for Grow Against Poverty. Wood crafts will be available at Irondale Schoolhouse this weekend and after Thanksgiving. Donations are also accepted online through GlobalGiving.org.
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