August 2020 Newsletter
| It was such a pleasure to see so many of you last week on our August Zoom meeting. We were especially happy to see and hear (on phones connected to the meeting) some new faces/voices. Thank you all for tuning in; we know everyone is pretty zoomed out by the end of the day, so we appreciate you going above and beyond. It’s a summary of what we talked about on line. We look for your comments, questions and even criticisms so please responde’, as they say. NORTHFIELD BANK – With the kind assistance of our member, Mona Ghanem, who holds a very responsible position with Northfield Bank, we were awarded a $1,500 award. This will be divided between Bob Sweeney (our devoted member who visits the homeless population down near the ferry) and Joe Meitzak (Viet Nam veteran who is running South Shore Community Food Pantry). Bob requested compact sleeping bags, blankets, flannel shirts, hygiene products and other necessities for the homeless and Joe will do the same (sans sleeping bags). Michele has already ordered 48 blankets to get the collections started. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH – We have been the grateful recipients of a second large collection of food, paper products and school supplies from Zion Lutheran Church. The collections were delivered to us by Carole Larsen Vokral, a personal friend and member of the SIGC. This huge amount of goods was split between Grupo Manhattan (Staten Island substance abuse rehab facility) and South Shore Community Food Pantry. Grupo expressed special appreciation for the paper products so Zion will try to gear their next collection to that need and we will purchase the products from Star Restaurant Supply (Fran Sisto’s brother owns Star Supply so we are double-dipping). Julius Walker (NYCID) has seen yet another group of young people through his program of learning and discipline. These young people are working to satisfy the requirements of Probation. Julius is adamant that they learn and implement appropriate daily living skills and he educates them on conduct and experiences outside of their own neighborhoods/surroundings. The SIGC gave 12 $25 Amazon gift cards as a small “extra” for Julius to present at their graduation. Our quest for donations (both supplies and money) for School Supplies has been highly successful. Michele is preparing to start purchasing from Staples this week to provide underserved students the necessary supplies needed to start and continue either in-person learning or virtual learning (you still need supplies). We thank all our donors, including Dennis McKeon, Dr. Stilwell, South Shore Pantry [this is wonderful reciprocation], and Zion Lutheran Church. We shared a small quantity of dropped-off supplies with Kristine Garlisi (LOVE campaign for Nicotra Foundation) as they were collecting to give to P.S. 78. Macy’s has gifted us 400 prom dresses. This overwhelming donation will be split between Dennis McKean’s “Where to Turn” prom events and Rosalind Diaz at Literacy, Inc. for the young girls in her geographical area of need. Dennis is also saying that “In Phase” fashions on New Dorp Lane has gone out of business and is offering him “Mother-of-the-Bride” dresses/gowns. Our hearts break for these retail stores and all the restaurants struggling. It’s all so sad. Don’t forget we are looking to award an innovative thinker in our group $250 in our contest to listen to new ideas for initiatives. The deadline is Halloween. Tell us what you’d like to see as a new project (see flyer at end of this summary). Dennis McKeon’s name comes up again as he announced purchase of a huge Theater Prop shop. Dennis is extremely active in our community arts programs and this is an important addition to the programs’ live productions. He also asks that if any of us has vintage clothing and theater props to add to the collection that we contact him at: Dennis.McKeon@where-to-turn.org or 718-619-2371. We continue to ask you for used laptops you no longer need; we have so many requests and we’d like to help out these kids and adults needing a laptop. Little Library – I thank you for all the books you have donated to my Little Library (side of my house) but I’m going to put a temporary Moratorium on taking more books as my garage is literally FULL. I think I’ll be good until the New Year for sure. NEXT MEETING – Our next monthly meeting (via Zoom) will be Wednesday evening, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. As I mentioned during our verbal meeting, there can be no Ice Cream Social this year; there can be no Halloween costume parties (for all the kids we try to serve); we won’t be able to congregate (personally) for big Thanksgiving dinners, but we still have much to be Thankful for. We have extraordinary individuals in our SIGC and here’s what they are doing: CAROLYN CORBO and CHRISTINE HANNA are handling our PET PROJECT Fundraiser….take a well-defined photograph of your pet, send it to Carolyn. She will digitize it, mat it and have a finished product for you practically overnight. See the flyer attached here to get the full information. Proceeds will be used for the programs I am going list right below. LITERACY, INC. will be collaborating with us to continue our Summer Literacy Program; we are looking to continue it through Fall, Winter and Spring. Yes, our Summer Program (funded by Dollar General’s $2,000 grant to us) was overwhelmingly successful and we are going to forge ahead. All the “educators” from the SIGC are returning with three additional ladies signing on. The children will be younger for this program (4 and 5 years old) but the concept will be the same. Learning to read, comprehend and enjoy Reading. MARYBETH MCCARTHY AND CHRISTINE HANNA are partnering to collaborate with Literacy, Inc. to offer a S.T.E.A.M. Program for underserved fifth graders. MaryBeth is a retired Science Teacher and Christine is an Artist (she will do the “A” portion of the project). We are so humbled that these highly experienced and motivated teachers are willing to volunteer their time and expertise to the Giving Circle’s efforts to assist underserved children. BIGGEST, MOST EXCITING NEWS FOR LAST GURU KRUPA FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED US $10,000 TO FUND P.S. 21 AND P.S. 57 for our Weekend Food Backpack Program beginning this new school year. Guru Krupa is joining our other donors so we can cover these two schools, plus P.S. 31, P.S. 74 and I.S. 49. This program has burgeoned almost out of control (which is sad as it indicates such food scarcity needs in our schools) and we are so grateful for the huge support it is receiving from these generous donors. As we’ve reported previously, Northfield Foundation, and a number of private donors have stepped forward. The schools involved have all made contingency plans which will allow delivery of every week’s foods get to the children/families involved whether they are being schooled in person or virtually at home. |
 |
 |