Friends,
With the constant increase in new clients, I am very concerned as to how we can continue to maintain our current level of food distribution. What started out as a mild concern, is now a big issue. On a typical Tuesday or Thursday, our busiest days when the clothing room is also open, we service at least 54 families for food. This means at least 54 chickens, in addition to pantry items such as peanut butter, jelly, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, soup, spaghetti and sauce, eggs (when we can afford), and fresh vegetables. Our food costs have increased significantly due to volume as well as rising food prices; at current prices of $12 each, chickens for just these two days cost more than $1200 on a weekly basis. This is why we need your help.
The Thanksgiving food distribution and Christmas toy registrations are going well, and again, we are seeing a full 40% increase in the number of families registering.
Special thanks to St Anne’s parishioners for their continued support. This is going to be a fun event!
Noelle, in partnership with NYU Langone Children’s Hospital, is spearheading a new ENT program for hearing tests for low-income children. Under this program, NYU Langone physicians will train Outreach Center volunteers and staff in hearing loss screening techniques for identifying those children requiring follow-up care. The team will track screenings and referrals and will measure awareness among parents.
Because hearing is so closely tied to learning and social adaptation, it is critical to identify hearing loss early, says Moses Mansu, DrPH <https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/excellence-health-equity/leadership-faculty>, the program’s director. “If you’re able to intervene early, you have an opportunity to manage the problem and it is less likely to affect children socially.” We believe this is a worthwhile community service effort.
If you did not get your Flu shot yet, come to the Outreach Center on Friday, October 25 and get one together with me! The Catholic Health van will be here serving the community.
The Outreach Center will again be hosting a Job Fair on Wednesday, October 30th from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM in the Parish Hall. This Job Fair, run by the Town Of Babylon, the Wyandanch Community Resource Center, and Suffolk County Dept of Labor is always very well attended and a positive community event.
With the approaching cold weather, we are receiving daily requests for winter coats and blankets. If you have gently used, clean winter coats for any age or gender, we will gladly take them.
The good news is that not many of our clients have fallen sick and are experiencing general good health this fall. I attribute some of this to the great weather we have been experiencing here on Long Island.
We will continue to provide food, clothing, and a host of social services as long as we are able.
Thank you.
Joe
