SCS News

NY1 visited our vaccine pop-up on May 27 to explore the issue of vaccine hesitancy among New Yorkers. They spoke with SCS’s Jackie Lopez; Johonniuss Chemweno, the CEO of VIP StarNetwork which operated the pop-up; and Sunnyside resident Amalia Mendoza. View the story online at: https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2021/05/28/city-battles-misinformation-as-it-attempts-to-inoculate-new-yorkers-against-covid-19#

The Queens Daily Eagle talked to representatives of a number of community groups in Queens who worked on getting underrepresented communities counted for the Census. Johan Lopez, the director of Adult and Immigrant Services at Sunnyside Community Services, was interviewed and said that “many times, community members just wanted to talk to someone, and talk about the trauma that they were experiencing in their neighborhoods. Losing family members and neighbors. In a way, our team became counselors.”

Read the full article online at https://queenseagle.com/all/2021/5/14/queens-community-groups-make-connections-through-census-count.

If you have a child who was born in 2018, now is the time to apply for free 3K! New York City is expanding availability of free early childhood education for three-year-olds at classrooms around the city, including our very own Sunnyside UP 3K program. The Sunnyside UP 3K program provides fun, creative learning experiences that include art, music, movement, vocabulary, science, and trips to a local park. The Sunnyside UP 3-K program focuses on exploration and discovery and includes small class sizes and convenient access to the 7 train. Early drop-off and aftercare options are available for a fee. Apply for free 3-K through the New York City MySchools website and use the school code 30QBGO to select Sunnyside UP as your preferred program. For help with your application, contact our staff at 718-784-6173 or via email at prek@scsny.org.  

SCS Executive Director Judy Zangwill is interviewed in this feature about nonprofits who are facing financial challenges due to the extra demands placed on them because of the pandemic. Read the article online at: https://gothamist.com/news/city-nonprofits-face-financial-catastrophe-due-to-pandemics-demands

Queens Post talks to Monica Guzman, SCS’s Associate Executive Director, Development, about the recent Today show story about those struggling during the pandemic who don’t qualify for government assistance. During the pandemic, SCS has helped more than 700 families with cash assistance since March 2020, and provides food through SCS pantries for approximately 600 families each week. Read the full piece online at: https://twitter.com/queenspost/status/1382351715488391171.

The Today Show talks to two mothers in New York City who are part of the underground economy and don’t qualify for many forms of government assistance. During the pandemic, SCS helped Adriana, one of the mothers profiled. Judy Zangwill, the Executive Director of SCS, is also interviewed. Watch the moving story online. 

SCS, in partnership with Queens Post and Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement, hosted a Democratic candidate forum on April 7, 2021. The event, live streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom, allowed residents to meet the Democratic candidates running for City Council in Districts 26 and 22. 

Watch the forum for candidates in District 26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYfAmDJpAOA

Watch the forum for candidates in District 22: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgxs44LghxM

SCS partnered with United Neighborhood Houses on an intergenerational effort where older community members designed and implemented after-school programming for youth. See the program in action in a new video produced by United Neighborhood Houses. Also interviewed in the video is Kerly Serrano, Director of the SCS Senior Center, and Donald Lubin, Deputy Director of Elementary and Middle School Programs at SCS. Watch the video online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8rWGaYsNc

Read about the April 7 virtual forum for the city council candidates of Districts 22 and 16 in this Sunnyside Post article: https://sunnysidepost.com/candidate-forum-scheduled-for-april-7-meet-the-democratic-candidates-vying-for-western-queens-council-seats

Help save lives by donating blood! New York Blood Center is holding a blood drive on Thursday, March 18 from 9 am – 3 pm at our main site in Sunnyside, Queens, at 43-31 39th Street, between Queens Boulevard and 43 Avenue. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, appointments are strongly recommended. Walk-ins will be accepted if space allows. Make an appointment by calling 1-800-933-2566 or online at https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/289388To.