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Brewster Cares NY

About Us

Uniting people to build trust, give hope and serve those in need.

Our
Mission

Brewster Cares is a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of those in need in Brewster and the immediate surrounding communities. Our mission is to support, serve, and encourage those among us who are less fortunate or in need of assistance. Together, we all make Brewster stronger.
Nandi Duperval

Executive Director
Michelle Smith

ESL Director

Our History

Brewster Cares was born during the pandemic. Before Brewster Cares, there was another organization, the Brewster Emergency Shelter Program (BESP), that ran an overnight homeless shelter system during the winter months for many years. With COVID looming, the organization was forced shut down– and many people who counted on this service were left with nowhere to turn. Father Richard Gill, the pastor of Saint Lawrence parish in Brewster (and chairman of our board), found other like minded leaders in the community to create Brewster Cares as an organization to take on the reins of continuing to care for the homeless.

volunteering at a shelter
coming in from the cold

After adopting a similar overnight model to the previous organization, which includes relying on a rotation of local churches to provide sleeping space for the guests, Brewster Cares went on to open a warming center for our guests to find shelter during the daytime, which continues to act a place where the homeless members of our community can grab a meal, wash up, do laundry and generally have a safe space to reside while not at the shelter.

Once we had the shelter and warming station in place, Brewster Cares began to look to other needs in our community. We started a program called “Supper Hugs” which connects with local restaurants to donate meals to families who may be in need of one. As this area is home to an immigrant community, we began to offer free of charge adult ESL classes, as well as tutoring to help students from households where English is not the primary language spoken to catch up on school work. We have since begun supporting the only Spanish speaking AA meeting in Putnam County at our warming center. We are perpetually looking at our community and asking: “What needs aren’t being met?” and creating our programming from there.

Our History

volunteering at a shelter

Brewster Cares was born during the pandemic. Before Brewster Cares, there was another organization, the Brewster Emergency Shelter Program (BESP), that ran an overnight homeless shelter system during the winter months for many years. With COVID looming, the organization was forced shut down– and many people who counted on this service were left with nowhere to turn. Father Richard Gill, the pastor of Saint Lawrence parish in Brewster (and chairman of our board), found other like minded leaders in the community to create Brewster Cares as an organization to take on the reins of continuing to care for the homeless.

coming in from the cold

After adopting a similar overnight model to the previous organization, which includes relying on a rotation of local churches to provide sleeping space for the guests, Brewster Cares went on to open a warming center for our guests to find shelter during the daytime, which continues to act a place where the homeless members of our community can grab a meal, wash up, do laundry and generally have a safe space to reside while not at the shelter.

Once we had the shelter and warming station in place, Brewster Cares began to look to other needs in our community. We started a program called “Supper Hugs” which connects with local restaurants to donate meals to families who may be in need of one. As this area is home to an immigrant community, we began to offer free of charge adult ESL classes, as well as tutoring to help students from households where English is not the primary language spoken to catch up on school work. We have since begun supporting the only Spanish speaking AA meeting in Putnam County at our warming center. We are perpetually looking at our community and asking: “What needs aren’t being met?” and creating our programming from there.

Board of Directors

Brewster Cares Inc.
Fr. Richard Gill

Board President
Julie Noce

Secretary/Board Member
Zef Aliaj

Treasurer/Board Member

Board Members

Judy Callahan

Learn more

James Peck

Contact

Jay Ryan

Contact

Mike Piazza

Contact

Make a Difference Today

Your contribution matters. Support our community by making a donation.

Every dollar counts and helps us bring hope, joy, and essential resources to those in need. Together, we can create a better tomorrow.

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Nandi Duperval

Executive Director of Brewster Cares

Nandi Duperval is the Executive Director of Brewster Cares, where she leads with compassion, experience, and a deep-rooted commitment to serving vulnerable populations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, a foundation that has guided her career in human services and community advocacy.

Nandi brings an extensive background in working with the foster care system and has dedicated much of her professional life to supporting underserved communities. Her work is driven by a strong belief in equity, dignity, and access for all individuals—especially those navigating housing instability, trauma, and systemic barriers.

Her journey with Brewster Cares began as the Overnight Supervisor for the organization’s homeless shelter, where she served faithfully for four years. In that role, Nandi was known for her consistent presence, strong leadership, and personal investment in each client’s well-being. Even after transitioning to other roles, she remained closely connected to the organization, returning time and again to support the Putnam County community in times of need.

Nandi has worked with a wide range of individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and housing insecurity. Her approach emphasizes not only meeting immediate needs but also fostering long-term stability and empowerment for those she serves.

Now, as Executive Director, Nandi continues to advocate for comprehensive services, inclusive outreach, and sustainable solutions. Her leadership reflects a deep understanding of community dynamics, a heart for service, and a vision for a future where every person has the support they need to thrive.

brewstercares@gmail.com

Michelle Smith

ESL Director

Michelle Smith serves as the ESL Director at Brewster Cares, where she also teaches English classes twice a week. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and Psychology from The College of New Rochelle. Michelle brings a strong background in education, having previously taught middle school-aged students, and continues to apply her experience to support learners of all ages.

Since joining Brewster Cares in June 2022, she has been dedicated to helping individuals from diverse backgrounds who want or need to learn English. Michelle works closely with fellow instructors to strengthen teaching practices and ensure inclusive, high-quality instruction. Her professional background continues to display her commitment to education, access, and empowering students with the language skills they need to succeed. She looks forward to growing the ESL program and reaching even more members of the community.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining the ESL program, please get in touch with Michelle Smith, ESL Director, at 845-279-6416 or mmla25@aol.com.

Father Richard Gill

Board President

Fr. Richard Gill was ordained to the priesthood in 1991 and earned advanced degrees in Philosophy and Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Regina Apostolorum in Rome.

He worked in the Washington, DC area as Director of Apostolates for the Legionaries of Christ from 1991 to 2004. He founded Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center in Bethesda, MD, and was President of the Institute of the Psychological Sciences (now Divine Mercy University) in Arlington, VA.

He was the Director of Our Lady of Mt. Kisco Retreat Center in New York (2005-2009) and has served as pastor of St. Lawrence O’Toole and Sacred Heart Parishes in Brewster, NY, and Patterson, NY, since 2011. During this time, he led a $4 million renovation of the Church and helped found Brewster Cares, a non-profit organization assisting the poor in Putnam County.

frrichardgill@gmail.com

Julie Noce

Secretary/ Board Member

Julie Noce is the Pastoral Assistant for St. Lawrence O’Toole Sacred Heart and Executive Director of Gianna’s House, Inc., a non-profit organization serving women in unexpected pregnancies. Julie also serves on the board of Brewster Cares, a nonprofit organization that supports the homeless and underprivileged in Brewster, NY.

She is responsible for implementing the parish’s commitment to create a parish of missionary disciples and connecting volunteers to an organization that enables them to serve their neighbors. Her favorite challenge was leading the Giving Help and Hope Campaign, requiring an army of volunteers to provide food, essential products, and clothing to thousands of people who needed it most during the COVID shutdown. Her coworkers know her as the person who thrives on working tirelessly to bring big ideas to life.

Prior to joining St. Lawrence O’Toole, Julie was Director Client Partner for Pfizer, responsible for managing people and systems in Human Resources, Legal, and Finance. She and her husband John have four children, two sons enlisted in the Army, and 3 grandchildren.

juliannnoce@comcast.net

Zef Aliaj

Treasurer/Board Member
Zef Aliaj serves as the treasurer of Brewster Cares, where he provides monthly financial updates to the board, prepares budgets, and assists with the audit of Brewster Cares Inc. Zef holds an MBA from Pace University. He is committed to ensuring that the homeless have a place to live, both in the short and long term, and that immigrants struggling with English have the opportunity to integrate into society by providing access to ESL classes. Zef has volunteered at Brewster Cares by sleeping overnight at the shelter and saw first hand, that there is a need to help the homeless in Brewster.

zefaliaj@gmail.com

Judy Callahan

Board Member

Judy Callahan is a long-time resident of Brewster and a member of St. Lawrence O’Toole parish. She received her MBA from Long Island University and spent her 29-year career in the field of Information Technology at Verizon.  Upon retirement, she accepted a position as the Director of Putnam Community Action Partnership, where she spent 12 years working in the Human Services field in her home community.  She has given her time to various volunteer endeavors over the years and currently serves on the Board of Directors at Brewster Cares.

judycallahan122@msn.com