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Co-op City Times / October 17, 2020
Caregivers Outreach Mentorship Empowerment
The gift of caring We are all given gifts, talents, and abilities to be a blessing to others. Some may have a gift of charisma, gift of speaking, gift of creating projects, gift of working with their hands and others, the gift of caring. Family caregivers are individuals who embody the gift of caring. The question that is most often asked from someone looking at a caregiver is “how are you able to keep up with the daily challenges of being a caregiver?” It forces the person looking at a caregiver in action to question their ability to take on the role of a family caregiver. For a person who has never undertaken the role of a family caregiver, it is often expressed as a sigh of relief, “thank goodness.” The gift of caring is expressed long before someone takes on the role of a family caregiver. It can be seen in that child who always wants to help with a task, “mommy’s little helper.” That child who sees another child crying and asks, “Are you ok?” The gift of caring can be seen on a professional level in an occupation that provides caring services to another, for example, home health aide, doctor, nurse, social worker or teacher. It was through the COVID pandemic that essential and frontline workers demonstrated the gift of caring in their unwavering efforts to care even if it meant jeopardizing the lives of their family and self. The gift of caring can be seen in individuals who are walking in their purpose. It is a natural inborn ability to care about the well-being of another. It is the abil-
ity to care and continue to care. Family caregivers who are walking in their purpose realize that they are not walking alone. They realize that their strength, energy, and endurance are not related to the present circumstance, but something much greater. Family caregivers may not have the loudest voice in a room filled with people. They may not be seen as assertive, popular or the center of attention. They may not win an election or seek fame. Family caregivers are humble, giving, caring and will set aside self for the benefit of another. They are tenacious and have endurance, faith, and hope. They quietly go forth touching the lives of all in need of service. They are the gifts that God has placed on this earth to be constant reminders that “the greatest among us is that of a servant,” Mathew 23:11. Look out for COME’s monthly Zoom “Let’s Talk” informational caregivers’ session that will begin in January 2021. Do you know a family caregiver, adult or youth, who has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? Nominate them for the Leon David Simmons Caregivers Award in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month. Visit the website for more information, www.comeoutreach.org, call 718-379-3159 or Fax 718-379-3160. Our free 14th Annual Family Caregivers Recognition Gala will be via Zoom this year. For more information, please give us a call. –Diane Cooper
Building 20 Association
Hello to my fellow Building 20 cooperators. It’s been almost a year since the building association elections. First, I want to apologize for not reaching out sooner, but the pandemic has affected all our lives in many ways, my family and I included. I hope that by the time you read this message, you and your family are managing well during these difficult times. When I accepted the position as president of the building association, I decided to be fully committed to my responsibilities. The executive board and I are ready to put in place plans that we wish to not only share with you, but welcome your suggestions as well. We want to ensure that as a community, we make our homes a better place to live and welcome those who have the same goals in mind. What is to come… Mission statement and bylaws A top priority is to revise the association’s mission statement and by-laws to reflect our current goals and needs. My executive board and I will be reviewing the current by-laws to determine what needs to be updated. When a draft is devised, I will schedule a general meeting to review and vote on the final version before it becomes official. 2020 Halloween Although we are experiencing difficult times and must exercise caution and
safety, we want our children to feel and know that we cannot forget the little things that make them happy. As we did last year, we will have a table set up in the lobby of Building C on Saturday, October 31, that will be manned by residents giving out goodies to our children. A flyer will be posted in the next week providing residents with the specific hours of operation so stay tuned! Thanksgiving Another idea that was discussed is to have a raffle to raise money for the association. The prize will be a basket filled with various items. Flyer will be posted in the next week providing residents with the specific hours of operation so stay tuned! Christmas and other recognized religious holidays in December We would like to celebrate these holidays in our community room. General Meetings It’s always a good idea to have meetings when there is something significant to share with members of the association. We will discuss the frequency of meetings later. I will provide you with more updates as ideas and events come up. I hope that you all get involved because changes cannot happen without your participation and support. I welcome your comments and suggestions and I thank you for your attention and support. God bless you and your families and be well! –Darlene A. Keesley
Building 10 Association
Greetings, fellow cooperators. New Cooperators – Welcome, all new cooperators. We look forward to seeing you at the next general membership meeting. Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “In NYC no one should suffer in silence.” If you or someone you know needs help, call 911 in an emergency, or call NYC’s DV Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673). For more information or to connect to services, call 1-212-788-3156 and ask for NYC Family Justice Centers. Halloween Candy Collection – We will be accepting candy donations for Halloween from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the Building 10 Association room (located in the rear of Building 10B) on the following dates: Wed., Oct. 21, and Wed., Oct. 28. Halloween Candy Giveaway – The Halloween candy giveaway will be held on Saturday, October 31, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Building 10 Association room. 2020 Census – The deadline for the 2020 Census has been extended until October 31. If you have not participated in the 2020 Census, there is still time. Participation in the 2020 Census is critical to our community receiving our fair share of resources. You can respond through the mail, online at my2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020. Vote – We have an especially important election on November 3. You may request an absentee ballot at https://vote.nyc/page/absentee-voting or you can call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692). Early, in-person voting, will begin on October 24. Visit https://vote.nyc for more information on your early voting location. Covid-19 – COVID-19 is still spreading in our community. Remember, when you wear a face mask, you protect others. When I wear a face mask, I protect you. We must work together to combat this virus in our community. Laundry room etiquette – Please remove your laundry from the washers and dryers promptly at the completion of the cycle. Keep our laundry clean. You can report broken machines at www.cscsw.com or call 877-264-6622. Reminders – Remember to turn on your car headlights when driving in the garage and please follow all directional signs. Please discard used face masks and gloves in trash receptacles. Please wipe up spills in hallways, elevators, and lobby floors.
Facebook – The Building 10 Association is on Facebook! The page is “Building 10 “ABC” Association.” Like our page and get notified of all the happenings in and around Building 10. Email Address – The Building 10 Association’s email address is Building10Assoc@ gmail.com. Please use the email or Facebook to contact the building association with your concerns and suggestions. We would like to wish all October “babies” an incredibly happy birthday. To the homebound and sick, we wish you a speedy recovery. To all who have lost a loved one recently, we give our deepest condolences. Have a great week. –Jewel Crawford-Duncan
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