Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center recently presented its Helping Hands, Caring Hearts Award to Bay Shore resident and retired Town of Islip Park Ranger Henry Cain, or Grandpa, as he likes to be called. Grandpa was recognized at a special ceremony at the hospital for his dedication and generosity to Good Samaritan’s Pediatric Unit and the Child Life Program. He visits the Medical Center weekly to donate coloring books, which he creates himself along with crayons to pediatric patients. Grandpa estimates that he distributes more than 4,000 coloring books each year to local hospitals. He has been visiting Good Samaritan’s pediatric patients weekly for almost 10 years.

Cain and his wife, Bonnie, used to make hand-carved cartoon characters to distribute to local hospitals to cheer up pediatric patients, then in 2001, Cain became ill and had to stop woodcarving. That’s when he started using his drawings to develop coloring books. Community members supply him with crayons. Cain explains, "We hope that by doing this and working with Good Samaritan we can bring a smile to the faces of these patients and make some of the hurt go away for these special children."

Town of Islip Councilman Brian Ferrugiarri, Councilwoman Pam Greene, Town Clerk Joan Johnson and other members of Islip Town attended and presented Grandpa with a special plaque.

Pictured are Good Samaritan’s Vice President of Administration Charles Bové, Islip Town Councilwoman Pam Greene, Henry "Grandpa" Cain, Director of Public Safety for the Town of Islip Martin Raber, Islip Town Councilman Brian Ferruggiari and Islip Town Clerk Joan Johnson.