We enrich lives and strengthen communities through services and engagement for individuals of all ages, beginning with those most in need.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Summer 2025
Sunnyside Community Services has been serving communities since 1974
Home Care That Makes All the Difference
After her mother Lou had a stroke, Leslie knew that her mother would need some support. But Lou had spent decades in her Queens neighborhood and wanted to stay in her home.
Lou’s situation is by no means an unusual one. Forty percent of adults age 65 and older need assistance with daily living activities, and an estimated 70% will need assistance at some point in their lives. But most Americans prefer to live at home as long as possible instead of living at a nursing home or other facility. This is where Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) home care comes in.
“It’s only because of Sunnyside Community Services that my mother was able to remain in her
Home Care in the U.S.
home and in her community,” said Leslie. “The level of care and the love she receives from the aides – it’s not just a job for them. It’s a person they care for deeply.”
At SCS, our home care team works with each family to create a personalized care plan. Services include in-home care with home health aides or personal care
assistants, and assistance with Medicaid long-term care planning. We also offer specialized programs such as our supervised Social Adult Day program for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.
“The dedication, kindness, and professionalism of the home care aides— especially her main aide, Liliam, who has worked with her full time for nearly a decade— have been invaluable in ensuring my mother’s well-being, peace, and dignity,” Leslie said. “Caring for a loved one is never easy. Knowing she is in the hands of compassionate and reliable caregivers brings great comfort.”
Our care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more, call 718-784-6160, ext. 551.
Above: Lou with her aide Liliam.
Dear Friends,
Letter From Our Executive Director
On June 1, Queens came together for the annual Queens Pride Parade, which celebrates the LGBTQ community. Sunnyside Community Services was proud to be there, with staff, participants, and supporters marching side by side to stand up for equality, inclusion, and love.
Events like Queens Pride and SunnyPride remind us of the strength that comes from standing together and they reinforce the values that bind our diverse community.
For more than 50 years, Sunnyside Community Services has been committed to uplifting our neighbors. We’ve always believed in standing up for the people of Queens, and we always will!
I know you share our belief in building a stronger, more caring Queens. I hope you will continue to stand with us because when we show up for each other, we all thrive.
Sincerely, Judy Zangwill
Elder Abuse Awareness Event
In April, we hosted a special event to raise awareness about elder abuse and the resources available through our Elder Justice Program. The event featured remarks by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and Commissioner of the NYC Department for the Aging Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez. If you think someone is experiencing abuse or neglect, please call or email our Elder Justice team at 718-392-0836 or elderjustice@scsny.org. All inquiries will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.
older adults being supported by SCS programs so they can continue to live at home.
Above: SCS Elder Justice Director Asia Piña-Smith speaks at the Elder Justice event.
Photos above, on left, and on the top of the previous page: SCS staff and supporters participated in the 2025 Queens Pride Parade and Festival.
Celebrating Volunteers
We depend on volunteers to bring our programs and services to more than 16,000 people each year. Recently, we celebrated National Volunteer Week with an evening of dinner, music, dancing, and a special ceremony honoring five of our dedicated volunteers.
Spa Day
High school students from the Cosmetology Club at the Academy of Finance and Enterprise in Long Island City provided manicures for members of our Center for Active Older Adults. The Center offers lunch and activities for people aged 60 and older, including fitness classes, meditation, and Bingo. For more information, call 718-784-6173 ext. 411, email info@scsny.org, or visit www.scsny.org/events.
Empowering Caregivers
Our annual Caregiver Conference was held in late April at the Queens Botanical Garden. Hosted in partnership with NewYorkPresbyterian Queens and the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the event educated participants on the latest research and strategies for caregivers. For more info on our caregiver supports, call 877-577-9337.
Left: Students from our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program took a field trip to Astoria Park for brunch and a soccer game.
Above: Youngsters created unique artwork that celebrated their mothers for Mother’s Day.
of service provided by SCS home care programs each year.
Above, from left to right: Volunteers Victoria Fann, Massimo Turcios, Rosaura Vazquez, and Ana Rios, Executive Director Judy Zangwill, and Volunteer Diana Zych.
43-31 39th Street
Sunnyside, New York 11104
Board of Directors
Lisa Deller, President
Steve Leamer, Vice President
Javier Divorato, Treasurer
Nikita Airen, Secretary
Hector Baez
Joseph Conley
Leslie Heredia
Amit Kalra
Roy Kleinert
Ronak Lathia
Gerald Lederman
David Levin
Dina Marenstein
Sharmeela Mediratta
Leo Mensah
Ned Steele
Executive Director
Judy Zangwill
Support Us Today
Give today and help support individuals and families with life-changing initiatives such as immigration legal assistance, elder abuse prevention, caregiver support, home health aide training, after-school programs, activities for older adults, and more.
To donate, visit www.scsny.org/donate, call 929-335-7849, or mail a check to:
Sunnyside Community Services
Attn: Development Department
43-31 39th Street
Sunnyside, NY 11104
Contact Info
PHONE: 718-784-6173
TDD/TTY: 800-662-1220
FAX: 718-784-7266
EMAIL: info@scsny.org
WEBSITE: www.scsny.org
Social Media
Sunnyside Community Services (SCS) is a community-based nonprofit centered on the belief that every person deserves meaningful support to achieve their aspirations — especially struggling families and individuals of all ages. SCS serves a diverse community of over 16,000 people of all ethnicities and income levels throughout Queens.