Friends,
I am in constant awe of the breadth, depth, and reach of services to the community that the Outreach Center is able to provide and the number of people we are able to touch and serve on a weekly basis.
A quick, sincere “Shout Out” to Rich Schaffer and Tony Martinez who could not have been more supportive to the Outreach Center over the past two COVID years; they are always a phone call or email away to bring our community initiatives to fruition. Their response time to my calls and emails is always quite incredible, and they are faithfully here to help anyone in need. If they could not correct or champion an issue, they advise me who could or where to go. Example: I contacted Rich and Tony in January 2021 to see if I could host a community-based pop up and after their counsel and support we hosted a Pop Up in February and March!
Some Data Points:
- We are now seeing a significant, almost alarming, increase in new clients who come in for food supplies and winter coats. Last Wednesday, October 20th, we served 10 new families of all ethnicities, which represents 40 individuals, including 28 children. I am mildly concerned with the additional food we will need.
- We are now experiencing an influx of Spanish-speaking Haitians with Chilean passports! They walk from Chile to the US border, a more than 4,500-mile dangerous walk, which takes an average of 4 months. Typically, a family member will sponsor the bus ride from the border to NY where they live. Interesting in that they all have proof of covid vaccines. We provide food, winter coats and clothes, and then refer them to Catholic Charities for immigration support. Other local charities are experiencing the same; honestly, I am not sure where they are going to live.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas registration is humming along nicely for both regular clients and new families. We extended the sign-up dates so less people are waiting online and social distancing.
- The Spice of Life ladies are meeting again in the parish hall; it’s nice to see some sense of normalcy restored, as it has been quite a while since they met and socialized. The average age of this group is 89 years (oldest is 100) and more ladies are joining. I spoke to the 27 ladies who were present last week giving an Outreach update and the only ‘ask’ they had was to arrange booster shots for them. I am working on it.
- We are also working to host an immunization vaccine site. There are many Wyandanch children not going to school due to not having their current vaccines needed. More to come on this. We are working with Jason Richberg’s office and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.
- A big thank you goes out to Felix Berenstein of Berenstein Textiles, a long time Outreach Center sponsor, for his generous donation of 5,000 masks to the Wyandanch School District. I received a call from the School District asking if we had any masks to donate to the children, staff, and teachers in the elementary, middle and high schools. The Outreach donated masks to the schools in the past, but we are now ourselves running low. Felix came through for us, as he says, “For the children of Wyandanch”. A Wonderful act of kindness! If you need to buy masks in boxes of 1,000 give Felix a call at 212-354-5213 https://berensteintextiles.com/
Check out our new and improved website! Please patronize our sponsors as they generously support the Outreach!! Rothco, LandTek, Harbor Seafood, and Snug Harbor Jewelry. Put some shrimp on the barbie!!
All of this good work could not go on every day without the large and small supporters that help us keep the doors open, service the community, and give a voice to the children who have none!
Thank you.
Joe
