Escape the heat by stopping in to our air-conditioned Sunnyside location. SCS is part of a city-wide activation of air-conditioned facilities that residents can visit to cool down. New York City opens cooling centers throughout the five boroughs to help prevent heat-related illnesses or deaths.
The SCS Cooling Center will be open during the following hours:
Tuesday, September 5: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (adults aged 60 and older) Wednesday, September 6: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (adults aged 60 and older) Thursday, September 7: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (adults aged 60 and older) Friday, September 8: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (adults aged 60 and older)
Univision New York recently stopped by our Center for Active Older Adults and interviewed Javier Osorio, Geriatric Mental Health Coordinator for SCS, about our dance therapy classes. These fun dance classes are just one of the many free programs we offer at the Center for adults aged 60 and older. Visitors to the Center for Active Older Adults can also get a warm lunch (offered on weekdays), enjoy a new hobby, exercise, meet new people, and much more. If you or someone you know would like to become a member of our Center for Active Older Adults, please call 718-784-6173 ext. 411, or email us at info@scsny.org.
You can watch the Univision New York feature here.
An event welcoming new immigrants to Sunnyside was held at our Sunnyside location on July 21. The event was hosted by Councilwoman Julie Won and several community groups.
Judy Zangwill, Executive Director of SCS, said “We hope our neighbors feel more welcomed, supported, and empowered with the information they need to adjust to life in Queens.”
Approximately 270 people attended the event. Read more and see photos in this Sunnyside Post article.
In this issue of the News and Views newsletter, you can read about recent news regarding SCS. Stories in this issue include: five very special SCS volunteers; benefits assistance; honoring our home health aides; Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez’s meeting for community leaders in Queens; a caregiver conference; and more.
Earlier this week, members of our Center for Active Older Adults participated in the Talent is Timeless competition. Talent is Timeless is a talent competition for older New Yorkers organized by NYC Aging. The first round of competitions are held at older adult centers throughout the city. More than 15 acts performed in our talent show that was held on July 18. Our top three acts will advance to the 2nd round – the regional competition – later this summer, with the final round – the citywide competition – scheduled for late September.
The top three acts at our talent show were Wenceslao Mejia, who sang and played the charango; Yvonne Rodriguez and Jaime Montero, who danced the Paso Doble; and Angela Ruiz and Jaime Montero, who danced the Salsa. Congratulations to all our talented competitors!
The New York City Police Department Band joined us on July 11 at our Sunnyside location for a special free concert. Thanks to everyone who joined us and a special thanks to the New York City Police Department Band for a wonderful show!
Bank of America has been an amazing partner to us, keeping us supplied with PPE and other supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Their most recent donation, which we received in mid-June, included 26,000 gloves and 50 cases of sanitizer. These supplies will be used to keep our home health aides and the people they care for safe from germs and infections.
Home health aides care for homebound adults, who are one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Our certified home health aides help those in their care with bathing, dressing, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, getting to and from medical appointments, and other errands.
More information about our Home Care services can be found here.
If you would like to make a difference in the life of someone who is homebound, please consider our Home Health Aide Training Program. More information about this free training can be found here.
On Tuesday, June 20, guests gathered at M. Wells on Crescent Street in Long Island City for Sunnyside Community Service’s Annual Celebration.
The annual benefit celebrates the organization’s achievements and raises much-needed funds for its community work. The nonprofit serves more than 16,000 people each year with a variety of programs including pre-K, college and career readiness, community centers for youth and families, ESOL classes, immigrant services, home care, home health aide training, a vibrant center for older adults, services for individuals with Alzheimer’s, and supports for caregivers.
The event honored two individuals who have supported the Queens-based organization and the community with their time and talents:
M. Joseph Levin was honored posthumously with the Neighborhood Visionary Award for his work as a member of the Board of Directors for Sunnyside Community Services. Born and raised in Vermont, Mr. Levin’s connection to Queens began as a teenager when he would visit his aunt and uncle in Sunnyside. Mr. Levin had a distinguished law career, attending Cornell Law School, working with the Legal Aid Society where he specialized in immigration law, and joining a private practice in Elmhurst, Queens where he remained for more than four decades. He specialized in estate planning, elder law, and real estate administration. He also was active in the Queens Bar Association, serving as chair of the real estate committee for many years. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for Sunnyside Community Services for 25 years, serving as Secretary and as President for part of his tenure. Mr. Levin was married to his wife Mary Ellen for 53 years. They raised two sons and have four grandchildren. Mr. Levin passed away last December.
Bertha Motta, a home health aide for Sunnyside Community Services, was presented with the Gert McDonald Advocate of the Year Award for her advocacy work on behalf of her fellow home health aides. Ms. Motta joined Sunnyside Community Services in 2015 and in 2017 became an 1199 SEIU union delegate representing close to 1,000 home health aides. Since then, she has been a strong advocate for her colleagues. Her recent advocacy work includes participating in the “Fair Pay for Home Care Workers” campaign, which resulted in the New York State Legislature passing a $2.00 an-hour increase in 2022, with an additional increase of $1.00 an hour scheduled for October 2023. Originally from Peru, Ms. Motta currently lives in Maspeth, Queens with her husband and two sons.
Sunnyside Community Services has offices in both Sunnyside and Long Island City, Queens. The organization also runs programs in other locations in western Queens, including community initiatives at Woodside Houses Community Center in Woodside; high school programs at Queens Technical High School and at Aviation High School in Long Island City; SCS Beacon Community Centers at I.S. 5 in Elmhurst and P.S. 343 in Sunnyside; after-school programs in Sunnyside, Elmhurst, and Woodside; and pre-K and 3-K classrooms in Sunnyside.
Information for Members of theMedia Interviews and images are available upon request. For info about the Annual Celebration or other stories, please contact Monica Guzman at 929-335-7849 or via email at info@scsny.org.
Photo courtesy of Senator Michael Gianaris’ office.
SCS Volunteer Marvin Ramirez is NY1’s New Yorker of the Week.
Marvin helps with events at our Center for Active Older Adults, where he is known to Center members as the resident DJ. He is a strong champion for older adults and has visited City Hall to advocate for budget increases to senior services. We’re so lucky he is part of the SCS family!
Watch the NY1 piece here. When prompted, click “Ask Later” to view the video immediately.
