Author: Dan Rose

For the last week, Flushing residents have had another COVID-19 testing site close to home.

On June 6th, New York City opened a coronavirus testing site at Leavitt Field. The site is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The testing is set up under a tent in the field’s parking lot.

 

“I am pleased that more constituents will have access to coronavirus tests as more testing sites become available in my congressional district,” said Congresswoman Meng.

“Queens has been the epicenter of this pandemic, and as I’ve been saying, more testing is vital to combatting the outbreak. I thank the City for launching this new testing location, and I will continue fighting for needed COVID-19 resources for our communities.”

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is asking the Flushing community to support their programs that assist neighbors in need.

Since 1899, CCBQ has helped build communities and serve neighbors in need with mercy and compassion. The organization sponsors more than 160 programs and services for children, youth, adults and seniors.

Their programs have helped those who are mentally ill, isolated or have developmental disabilities. CCBQ is also one of the largest faith-based providers of affordable housing in the country.

CCBQ is affiliated with organizations such as Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services, Catholic Migration Services and Saints Joachim & Anne Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, all of which provide a range of services to the most vulnerable in our communities.

The impact of CCBQ’s programs can be felt across the boroughs, from behavioral health center clinics to immigration integration programs and senior housing.

Lately, some of the most important work has been providing food assistance through food pantries at parishes, home-delivered meals and even pop-up events. From Corona and Elmhurst to Bensonhurst, CCBQ has provided thousands of meals to people suffering at home from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Now, CCBQ is asking the Flushing community to support the work they do through donations. Thanks to the donation of a benefactor, Catholic Charities is matching gifts up to $400,000.

Donations of $50 will become $100, and $100 donations will become $200, and so on.

According to CCBQ, 91 cents of every dollar will go straight into programs that “reduce poverty, bring food and comfort to those less fortunate, uplift our youth and assist our elderly neighbors.”

To donate to CCBQ, visit their donation page here: www.ccbq.org/give-donate/.

Acting Borough President Sharon Lee appointed 339 people to serve in Queens’s 14 community boards on Tuesday.

Of the 399 appointees, 76 are first-time members who have never served on the board, but have shown a commitment and understanding to the community’s needs.

The two-year term for these appointees run from May 31, 2020 to March 31, 2022.

The office received 595 applications, including 252 from applicants who had never served on a community board. More than 340 were from those who were reapplying at the end of their 2020 term.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee announced in late March that community board members whose terms end on March 31 would continue for an additional 60 days.

Here are Borough President Lee’s appointments for the 2020-2022 term for Community Board 7, which serves Flushing:

• Charles Apelian
• Michael Cheng
• Nicholas Corrado
• Fred Fu
• Doreen Gatanas
• Pablo Hernandez
• Jeff Huang
• Lawrence Hughes
• Eugene Kelty
• Esther Lee
• Betsy Mak
• Barbara McHugh
• Michelle Miao
• Millicent O’Meally
• John Park
• Yacov Pshtissky
• Paul Rifino
• Warren Schreiber
• Kevin Shields
• Matthew Silverstein
• John Tsavalos
• Clarissa Wong
• Dian Yu
• Jie Zhu

Last week, the Robin Hood Foundation allocated a $20,000 emergency grant to the Flushing Interfaith Council to support its COVID-19 community relief efforts.

The council includes the Flushing Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, the Free Synagogue of Flushing, the Hindu Temple Society of North America, the Muslim Progressive Traditionalist Alliance, the Sikh Center of New York, and other organizations.

“Our members are already active in enhancing efforts to provide food in several local pantries,” said Nancy Bruno of Church on the Hill. “But this grant will enable us to coordinate food services with social services, counseling and direct emergency funds.”

Flushing has been hard by the novel coronavirus, especially deaths in senior centers and the financial losses for small businesses.

Community members who need assistance can submit their requests to help@flushingfriends.org.

Assemblyman Ron Kim, former Assemblywoman Ellen Young and more than 20 small businesses and nonprofits teamed up to hand out more than 60,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) today at Flushing Library.

The PPE was donated by GuangXi Overseas Chinese Kind Foundation, American Guanxi Federal Association and the American Chinese Asean Chamber of Commerce.

“With the pending reopening of local small businesses and nonprofit organizations serving the Flushing community, it is very important that they get the necessary PPE for their workers and staff,” Kim said.

Local businesses can also text 646-879-3728 with their names and address to request protective masks.

Organizations that participated in the distribution event included:

• CPC NanShan Senior Center
• Flushing Senior Day Care
• Taiwan Center Senior Center
• Nanoom House
• Qingdao Restaurant
• Malaysian United Group
• Holly Civic Association/Evergreen Community Garden
• Hindu Temple Society of North America
• Ok Ryan Restaurant
• BAPS Swaminarayan Temple
• Shri Shirdi Saibaba Temple
• Eagle Senior Daycare Center
• Evergreen Senior Center
• Bland Houses Resident Association

Who says you can’t get married during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Last week, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic officiated a socially-distanced wedding ceremony for Tony Jin and Yunyi Bao at Fort Totten Park in Bayside.

The constituents’s original wedding was cancelled due to the pandemic, so they reached out to the Fresh Meadows lawmaker to officiate through Project Cupid, which allows for remote weddings during the pandemic.

 

“Even the coronavirus cannot stop Cupid,” Rozic says. “Even during the hardest of times, I was honored to spread a little joy and hope for this Queens couple.”

Learn more about Project Cupid here.