Finding warmth in winter feels especially meaningful right now — as we prepare for the possible snow ahead and take comfort in stories, community, and one another.

Greetings!

With a big winter storm approaching, I know many of us are feeling a bit uneasy - about travel, safety, and what the snow may bring. Please take good care of yourselves, check in on neighbors if possible, and remember that even in uncertain moments, small gestures of connection can bring real comfort.

At People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos, we turn to stories - not as distractions, but as companions. Today, we’re sharing a short winter story with you as a gift of comfort.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Snow-Image" is set on a snowy winter day, and follows two children who create a delicate figure from snow. Though the snow may melt and change, Hawthorne reminds us that care, attention, and small acts of beauty endure.

Even in the depth of winter, there is always the quiet promise of renewal — the hope of spring just beyond the storm.

If the weather keeps you indoors, I invite you to read "The Snow-Image" slowly, savor it, read it aloud, Zoom together and share, or pass it along to someone who might appreciate a quiet moment of warmth this weekend.

And, perhaps pair it with a drink popular in Hawthorne's day - easily made with chocolate candy that may be in your pantry from the holidays!

Click here for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Snow-Image"

Click here for recipe to pair with tonight's reading



Celebrating Our Coordinators &

Thankful for a Strong End to 2025

Earlier this month, many of our wonderful coordinators gathered at the Peacock Inn in Princeton, NJ for our January Appreciation Brunch - celebrating the heart of People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos. Our coordinators' care, commitment, talent, and creativity make our programs possible, and it was a joy to spend time together with those able to attend. (pictured at top from left, Marcy Schwartz, Christine Coggeshall, Virginia Kerr, Darcy Donahue, Deborah Salmon, Patricia Smith, Teresa Leary, Ana Meijia, Anndee Hochman, Executive Director Debra Lampert-Rudman, Jane Scott.)

Thanks to our coordinators and buoyed by our generous funders and community support, 2025 ended on a very high note - surpassing our call for "$60,000 in 60 Days" to help defray our federal funding freeze.

Through our programs and partnerships, we reached nearly 4,000 lives this past year - participants of all ages who found connection, reflection, and community through shared reading and discussion. We are deeply grateful for your role in making that impact possible.

✨ Coming next month: our Annual Impact Report, where we’ll share more stories, reflections, and outcomes from this meaningful year.

With Gratitude to Our Community

This work is only possible because of the people and partners who make it happen.

With heartfelt thanks to:

• Our participants, who show up with openness, courage, and curiosity each week
• Our site partners, who welcome People & Stories into their spaces and communities all year-round
• The generosity of our Board of Trustees, funders, individual supporters, and community leaders
• Our coordinators, visiting poets and authors, and staff for sharing their unwavering dedication, support, and heart

Looking Ahead to Spring

March 7 event with Susan Choi

As we look toward brighter days, I’m delighted to share that our annual fundraising event with Susan Choi will take place on Saturday, March 7 at the Mackay Lounge of Princeton Theological Seminary at 2:00 p.m.

Sponsorships and tickets are now available, and your participation helps sustain the programs that keep stories alive and communities connected throughout the year.

We are grateful to our early sponsors, whose leadership is helping make this event possible:

$1,500 - Benefactor Sponsorship

• Lynne Fagles
• Darcy Donahue

$500 - Bright Light Sponsorship

• Charlotte Friedman & Andrea Honore

Click here for event sponsorships and tickets

Join Our Board of Directors

The pending arrival of spring also brings with it our Annual Board of Directors meeting and welcoming new board members. We invite inquiries from potential board members who are passionate about helping People & Stories continue to thrive.

If you, or someone you know, might be interested and want to learn more about our Board, I would love to hear from you. Please email debra@peopleandstories.org

Thank you so very much for being part of this caring community - for showing up, for caring, and for helping us find warmth in every season!

Many warm hugs,

Debra

Debra Lampert-Rudman, M.Ed.

Executive Director, People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos

debra@peopleandstories.org