Rockville Centre Letters to the Editor, Week of Jan. 17

Posted

Nonprofit

inundated

after Sandy

To the Editor:

Regarding Scott Brinton’s column “Saving the world, $10 at a time, part II” (Jan. 10-16): I am happy to hear that Brinton is back in his home –– all of it.  I am still drying out, but am definitely on the mend.

  After reading Brinton’s column, I was inspired to write a note about the nonprofit organization that I work with. Just before the storm, I was asked to be the executive director of the Long Beach Latino Civic Association. I agreed to a part-time position to oversee existing programs and develop future projects that would relate to our mission of environmental justice, civic participation and cultural awareness. My first day was Oct. 29. I have worked 60 hours a week since then!

  We organized a task force and collaborated with many groups to host several events and programs to date:

n Through the “Warm the Spirit” program, we organized a coat drive, served hot lunches, offered free clean-outs and helped storm victims register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

n At Thanksgiving, we served 350 meals and gave out bags of food and cleaning products.

n Through the Long Beach Holiday Toy Drive, we helped to organize and distribute toys.

n Through the Adopt a Family Program, we matched families in need with families who wanted to give household cleaning products.

n At the Three Kings Party, we offered refreshments, toys, and bags of food and cleaning

products.

  We have also shared our offices with other agencies in need of phones and computers. We have given All Hands Volunteers our office space to use as a base of operations. We have hosted the New York Legal Assistance Group on a bi-weekly basis. And we will hold a bilingual registration/appeal meeting on Jan. 17 at St. Mary of the Isle to help those who still need to register with FEMA. 

  As the new year begins, we see that there is so much need –– housing, employment, food and mental-health counseling. Since the storm, we  have seen our client list quadruple. We would like to move our offices to a larger, ground-floor location. We would certainly appreciate any $10 donations we could get! Our website is  www.lblatinocivic.org.  

  

Elizabeth Connolly

Executive director

Long Beach Latino Civic Association Inc.

The INN:

Feeding the Island’s neediest

To the Editor:

I read with great interest Scott Brinton’s column on contributing to nonprofit organizations, “Saving the world, $10 at a time, part II” (Jan. 10-16), and his inquiry about readers’ favorite groups. Thank you for this opportunity to share information about the INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network). Started in 1983 as a single soup kitchen, the INN now maintains 19 soup kitchens throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as emergency shelters and a long-term housing

program. 

For more than two years, I have volunteered in Hempstead at the Mary Brennan INN — the first and largest of this amazing organization’s endeavors. Our goal is to serve “hungry and homeless Long Islanders with dignity, respect and love.” I invite your readers to learn more at www.the-inn.org.

Elizabeth Rowe

Oceanside