SCS News

Students in Sunnyside Community Services’ Youth Futures program at Queens Vocational & Technical High School enjoyed an inspirational learning opportunity when they visited the Honorable Sanket Bulsara, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for The Eastern District of New York in his courtroom by special invitation. Judge Bulsara and the staff shared valuable information about the courts. Students learned the distinctions between the federal and state courts as well as various courtroom procedures. The class then put their newfound knowledge to good use by conducting a mock jury trial modeled on an actual case. The experience made an enormous impression on the students. They “could not have asked for a better trip with our Career Readiness instructors and peers.”

Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) is collecting school supplies for children in the programs at the Cornerstone Community Center at Woodside Houses and at the Boulevard Family Residence.  

“The cost of basic school supplies can be more than some families can afford every year,” said Sheena Sukhraj,  Assistant Executive Director of Youth and Family Services at Sunnyside Community Services. “We can help our children have a better school experience by making sure they have the tools they need to succeed.”  

Community members, staff, local businesses, and others dropped off supplies throughout the Summer, including notebooks, backpacks, paper, markers, pens, pencils, rulers, crayons, folders, flash drives, and calculators.  We are grateful to everyone who helped to support this significant effort.

Three Cheers for Sunnyside Community Services’ Volunteers

NY City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, New York State Senator Mike Gianaris, Assemblyman Brian Barnwell, and representatives from the offices of Congressman Joe Crowley and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan were on hand to help honor Sunnyside Community Services’ volunteers at their annual celebration on April 26, 2018.

The latest data shows that nearly 63 million Americans volunteer annually, providing almost 8 billion hours of time.  According to Czarinna Andres, Director, Volunteer Services and Community Relations at Sunnyside Community Services, almost 500 people volunteered at Sunnyside Community Services last year.  “We have wonderful volunteers providing assistance throughout our range of programs, which enables us to do more with limited resources,” said Andres. “We would not be able to serve more than 14,000 New Yorkers each year without the help of our generous volunteers.”

Among the hundreds of volunteers serving at SCS, Sunnyside Community Services recognizes several “Volunteers of the Year” for their exceptional service to the agency and the community it serves.

After serving as a combat engineer and spending 25 years in management, Jairo Bernal decided to retire. But that didn’t mean slowing down. Jairo is a regular volunteer at the SCS Center for Active Older Adults, welcoming and assisting members at reception, and helping with onsite blood pressure screenings, which keeps members on top of their medical information between doctor visits. For his service, Bernal was recognized as the SCS Abe Vilensky Volunteer of the Year for Service to the Center for Active Older Adults.

Francisco Mena volunteers in SCS’ Social Adult Day program for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Francisco’s reliability, sensitivity to the special needs of the members, and his ability to provide Spanish translations for staff, families, and members helped him to win the SCS Adult Day Services Volunteer of the Year Award.

Abdur Chowdhry is a passionate advocate about healthy and independent aging.  He has volunteered more than 1,200 hours since joining SCS in late 2016.  He jumps in to do whatever needs to be done, and still attends classes such as the SCS English as a Second Language class in his “free time.” For his dedication and energy, Abdur was awarded the SCS Administrative Support Volunteer of the Year Award.

Patricia Shubert has been instrumental in supporting the unique intergenerational programs SCS offers to older adults and local youth. Shubert helps to organize events and leads the team of seniors in devising creative programming.  She also finds time to help the SC pre-Kindergarten programs as well.  For her service, Shubert was awarded the SCS Youth and Family Services Volunteer of the Year Award. 

Emily Vertosick has volunteered as a Friendly Visitor at SCS since 2014, visiting Alice, age 65, every week, and almost never missed day. In addition to providing companionship, she helps Alice with small chores around the house such as using the computer or reading mail. Emily also walks Akira, Alice’s retired service dog, allowing Alice to keep her at home.  As an example of the beautiful friendships that can bloom in volunteer service, and for her commitment and dedication, Emily was awarded the SCS Friendly Visiting Volunteer of the Year.  

Since it was formed last year, Jennifer Silverman and Shyvonne Noboa have tirelessly co-chaired Sunnyside Community Services’ Advocacy Committee, determined to make a real difference in the community. For their focus on defending the rights of all New Yorkers, Jennifer and Shyvonne were awarded the first SCS Gert McDonald Advocate of the Year Award, named in memory and honor of Gert McDonald, a long-time SCS member and legendary local activist. Eileen Auld, Gert’s daughter, presented the award to Jennifer and Shyvonne, citing the Committee’s efforts in setting up voter registration drives, phone banks for urgent issues, participation at marches and rallies, and defending the rights of SCS’s diverse population and all New Yorkers.

Sunnyside Community Services “lights up lives with programs diverse as the people it serves,” offering a wide range of programs and services for people of all ages.  SCS is located at 43-31 39th Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104. To volunteer, contact Czarinna Andres, Director, Volunteer Services and Community Relations at Sunnyside Community Services at 718-784-6173, ext. 401, or email volunteering@scsny.org. 

Fox 5 New York aired this segment highlighting recent volunteer activities at the SCS Center for Active Older Adults. On April 17, New York Cares and volunteers from HSBC helped our members to assemble and paint springtime crafts while Sabor and the Afro-Latineers played and shared information about Latin and African clave music.  A great time was had by all! If you would like to join our team of volunteers, see how many ways you can help on our Volunteering page.

Sunnyside Community Services Associate Executive Director of Community Services, Jonah Gensler, and Kerly Serrano, director of the Center for Active Older Adults discussed our continuum of care on UniMás (NYC Channel 68) and covered the range of services SCS makes available for people of all ages throughout the community.  Click here to watch.  You can click on settings to enable subtitles/translations.

The topics focused on programs from home care, pre-kindergarten classes, youth and family services, case management, our Senior Center menu and calendar, volunteering and friendly visiting, home health aide training, and citywide services for people caring for loved ones with dementia or chronic illness, and our supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits (food stamps).  To find out more call 718.784.6173 or email info@scsny.org.

Of about 40 million family caregivers in the country, 21% are Latinos according to the 2015 study “Caregiving in the US”, by  AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving.  Univision explores the impact of Alzheimer’s among Hispanic communities by following Nancy and Alejo. “When Nancy Aponte moved from Colombia to the United States, Alejo Conde and his wife helped her adapt in the new country. Years later, ‘He came to knock on the door of my house and he looked for me, and I felt that this was a mission I had.’  Among the community, watching over a loved one is a duty worth fulfilling.”  For many, caregiving is a full-time, unpaid and stressful job. But isupport programs for the elderly and their families, such as the Care NYC program at Sunnyside Community Services, make it easy to access supportive services for caregivers as well as invididuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.   Read and watch more here.

The Third Annual Sunnyside Post Mile Run/Walk was held on October 14.  Hundreds of people turned out to run or walk a course through the streets of Sunnyside. In addition to being great fun, the event helped to support Sunnyside Community Services, and the 14,000 individuals they serve every year.

Sunnyside Community Services staff members, Board members, friends, family, and volunteers joined in the race.  We are very grateful to everyone who participated, with special thanks to the Sunnyside Post, race organizers the Woodside – Sunnyside Runners, and all the wonderful sponsors, including: 

• Gold: The DOG and DUCK, Aubergine Cafe, The Skillman Project, Brookside Market, Melo Yelo Hair Dressing.
• Silver: The Alcove Restaurant NY, Jack’s Fire Dept,CrossFit Sunnyside, CLARET WINE BAR, Welcome Home Real Estate Sunnyside Gardens New York, Suryaside Yoga, Bar 43, Jimmy Van Bramer.
• Bronze: Merit Group & Associates Real Estate Brokerage, Home Grown Real Estate Sunnyside Ballet Studio, Bing’s Gifts, Proudnyc, Sunnyside Shines, Pure Spa and Salon, Copper Kettle Restaurant, Jin Brothers Wine & Liquor, Maggie Mae’s Bar, Green Leafs Juice Bar NY, Dr Belli Skillman Ave, Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.
• Additional support by Rep. Joe Crowley and Senator Michael Gianaris.

Led by conductor Eugene Takahashi, the Lucidity Chamberistas orchestra performed powerful renditions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Divertimento in D major, K.136/125°, Claude Debussy, Sarabande from “pour le piano,” arranged by Leo Soeda, Yui Kitamura, Japan Sketch (2017) for string orchestra, and Edward Grieg, Holberg Suite, op. 40.  The performance was well attended, with about 100 local residents and music lovers in attendance.  

This performance of the Lucidity Chamberistas is fiscally sponsored by MuSE (Multicultural Sonic Evolution).  For more information, see www.luciditychamberistas.com.  This performance by the Lucidity Chamberistas is free, however you should reserve your ticket in advance.