Group Of Volunteer Visitors From Indian Based DSNDP Global Non Profit Celebrates Earth Day Last Saturday With A Roosevelt Island Cleanliness Drive Picking Up Garbage Left By Others

Some visitors to Roosevelt Island leave a dirty mess of garbage and others come to Roosevelt Island to help clean up and take away the garbage left by others.

A group of volunteer members from the Dr. Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan (DSNDP) organization, celebrated Earth Day on Saturday April 27 in NYC with a cleanliness drive picking up garbage on Roosevelt Island. 

Most of the DSNDP volunteers travelled from Toronto. I spoke with with one volunteer from New Jersey.

According to the New Jersey volunteer, DSNDP is:

... a nonprofit organization based in India. We are a worldwide organization and one of our causes is that we work towards making the environment better and making the world a better place. What better occasion than to be celebrating this on Earth Day weekend?... 

... We are here at Roosevelt Island. It's a small group of around 8 to 10 people but the whole event has around 400 people who have traveled all the way from different states of the US and Canada and Mexico.... 

We have a presence in 18 states where we've already done so many events. Tree Plantation, Cleanliness Drive, Blood Donation - you name it and we have done it. 

We are very passionate about it. This is a great opportunity for us to tell you about our cause and just spread our word. Hopefully, more people are able to contribute to this cause....

... Our philosophy in Sanskrit or Hindi we say Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which basically means the whole world is a one big family. We try our best to bring a sense of community among us our own members and even others. Anyone can volunteer in these events so if anyone's interested definitely reach out. You can also take a look at our website DSNDP.com if you want to know more about us... 

There was not alot of Trash on Roosevelt Island Saturday morning. When we spoke at the half way point of their garbage cleanup, 10 people had picked up  about 10 bags of trash in total.

This morning was a different garbage story. A Roosevelt Island Tipster shares this photo and reports:

Walking this morning- what is up with all the overflowing garbage? Tourists for the cherry blossoms? What a mess! I walked down to Cornell Tech this morning and had to stop at Duane Reade; the can near its doors was full, along with another near the parked cars walking toward the tram. The sanitation is usually good here; I know there is an increase with tourists now but I’ve never seen so much trash early in the AM.

The good news was that the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) had the area cleaned up 

today before 11 AM.

RIDA President And Roosevelt Island Resident Wendy Hersh Working With Evangel Church 9 Million Reasons Collecting Clothes For Migrant Families Seeking Asylum Being Housed In Long Island City - Can You Help Too, Ask Your Building Management To Provide Storage Bins For Resident Clothing Donations Says Ms Hersh

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President and local resident Wendy Hersh continues to do what she does best - helping people in need. Either providing help feeding the Roosevelt Island community at the Friday Free Food Pantry or collecting clothes for migrant families seeking asylum.

Last Saturday, Ms Hersh was collecting clothing donations from a storage bin at the Rivercross Building with two volunteers from the Long Island City based Evangel Church Nine Million Reasons organization. The clothing is for migrant families seeking asylum in the United States and currently being housed in LIC.

According to City Hall, at least 45,000 migrants have arrived in the city since last spring, which Mayor Eric Adams said has been the main driver behind record-high homelessness at city shelters. https://t.co/9sy55ZFmrh

— WNYC 🎙 (@WNYC) February 15, 2023

Ms Hersh hopes that other Roosevelt Island building owners will allow clothing storage bins placed in their building so that residents can easily donate clothing to migrant families housed across the East River in Long Island City.

According to Ms Hersh:

CBS New York reports on NYC Mayor Eric Adams blueprint for addressing the migrant asylum seekers issue.

According to this March 7 press release from Mayor Adams:

Mayor Eric Adams today released “The Road Forward: Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” a comprehensive approach outlining the next phase of the city’s response to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis resulting from the surge of asylum seekers arriving in the five boroughs since last spring. As the number of asylum seekers arriving in New York City since last April tops 50,000 — with more than 30,000 currently in the city’s care — Mayor Adams announced he will create the Office of Asylum Seeker Operations (OASO) to focus solely on coordinating the city’s continued response with a focus on resettlement and legal services, as well as a new 24/7 arrival center for asylum seekers. The blueprint also outlines new strategies the city will pilot to train asylum seekers for employment, including a program with houses of worship to provide asylum seekers with a place to stay and connection to services, in addition to a partnership with SUNY Sullivan to provide job training and housing for asylum seekers as they await work authorization. Finally, the city will continue to advocate for the state and federal governments to provide additional financial and operational support to better manage the asylum seeker crisis moving forward.

“Over the past year, New York City has faced an unprecedented humanitarian crisis caused by global forces beyond our control,” said Mayor Adams. “We have moved mountains to help the tens of thousands who arrived as our shelter population has increased at a dramatic rate. As we continue to respond, I’m proud to announce, “The Road Forward,” our blueprint to address the asylum seeker crisis and outline the work that lies ahead. New Yorkers know that the asylum seeker of today is the citizen, the leader, and the innovator of tomorrow, and I’m proud that New York City is leading the way, turning a crisis into an opportunity for progress for the entire country....”

 

Here's more info on the RIDA Roosevelt Island Free Friday Food Pantry and the Nine Million Reasons volunteer organization.

UPDATE 8:20 PM:

“The current approach is beyond what the City of New York can reasonably sustain without meaningful changes,” the Comptroller’s office said in a new report.

✍️ @fisvyo https://t.co/IboIQviYjW

— Documented (@Documentedny) March 14, 2023

NYC is projected to spend over $4B through FY 2024 on shelter and services for new arrivals.

Our new analysis, "Accounting for Asylum Seekers", breaks down contracts and lays out steps towards economic stability.https://t.co/pQodd4MiiH

— Comptroller Brad Lander (@NYCComptroller) March 7, 2023

Roosevelt Island Celebrates I Love My Park Day This Morning At FDR Four Freedoms Park - Volunteers Assembled Colorful Adirondack Chairs To Be Placed On Great Lawn And Were Joined By Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, NY State Parks Commissioner, Park & Trails NY And Woolrich Outdoors Foundation

On a cold and rainy May 7 Saturday morning,  Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy CEO Howard Axel, NY State Parks Department Commissioner Erik Kulleseid,

Woolrich Outdoors Foundation representative Allesandro Villa and Parks & Trails NY Director of Development Linden Horvath joined with a group volunteers at FDR Four Freedoms Park to celebrate I Love My Park Day by 

assembling 50 Adirondack Chairs 

to be placed on the park's Great Lawn for visitors to enjoy thru May and maybe longer.

According to Parks & Trails NY:

I Love My Park Day, held the first Saturday in May, attracts thousands of volunteers from across the state to participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks, historic sites and public lands. Join us to celebrate New York's park system and prepare our public lands for spring by cleaning up park lands and beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trail and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects

A rainy Saturday won’t stop Roosevelt Islanders from coming out and beautifying our parks and green spaces.

I loved joining NYS Parks Commissioner and CEO of Four Freedoms Park Conservancy Howard Axel for Love Your Parks Day. pic.twitter.com/5cIrCyAdug

— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) May 7, 2022

A little rain did not get in the way of #ILoveMyParkDay 2022 at #FourFreedomsStatePark! Thanks for joining us @RepMaloney. And thanks to @PTNY for organizing, @WoolrichInc for supporting, Four Freedoms Conservancy for hosting, and volunteers and @NYstateparks staff for helping!!! pic.twitter.com/NZb4E0sEL9

— Erik Kulleseid (@ErikKulleseid) May 7, 2022

Roosevelt Island Wildlife Freedom Foundation Volunteers Celebrate Earth Day Last Friday With Trash And Litter Clean Up At Southpoint Park - "I'm Here To Help Heal The Earth" Says Young WFF Volunteer, "I'd Love To Keep My Island Clean" Says Another

Roosevelt Island resident and Wildlife Freedom Foundation (WFF) President Rossana Ceruzzi together with an enthusiastic group of volunteers 

celebrated Earth Day last Friday, April 22, with a clean up of trash and litter left at Southpoint Park. They also gave away reusable bags and biodegradable and compostable dog waste bags.

pic.twitter.com/rOpTSqQ4uR

— Wildlife Freedom Foundation (@wffny) April 22, 2022

Answering the question "why are you here today", the WFF volunteers said:

• I'm here to help heal the earth,
• I live here on this Island and my my original intent with the joining Wildlife Freedom Foundation was helping out all these animals here but Rosanna told me about this clean up project we have here for Earth day and I'd love to keep my Island clean. Keep the Earth clean. Stop all this littering stuff.
• I care about the environment and the animals and we can clearly see that the garbage does harm our animals
• I'm here today to help the ecosystem.

The WFF Roosevelt Island Earth Day celebration was done in cooperation with the NYC Department of Sanitation.

Here's how 2022 Earth Day clean up was celebrated in other parts of NYC.

More info on the Roosevelt Island Wildlife Freedom Foundation at their website, Instagram and Twitter page.

Roosevelt Island Navigators Host First Bake Sale Fundraiser To Support People Of Ukraine At Farmers Market Last Saturday And Welcome Parents Of RI Resident Just Arrived From War In Ukraine

NY State Governor Kathy Hochul:

... today announced the launch of a new website containing resources offered by New York State and its partners to help Ukrainian people and their friends and allies here in New York. This follows the Governor’s announcement warning consumers about scams and cybersecurity threats amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In an additional show of support, the Governor also announced the Ukrainian flag will be flown on the Capitol building, the Executive Mansion, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services headquarters....

New Yorkers always stand together to support those in need.

Ukraine's resilience against Putin's tyranny is an inspiration, and so many New Yorkers are already stepping up to support them.

Learn more about how you can help our Ukrainian neighbors: https://t.co/7sIOLFTZ4R. pic.twitter.com/CrhyYWOnPR

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) March 24, 2022

The Roosevelt Island community came out last Saturday to show their support for Ukraine too. According to Roosevelt Island Navigators Troop Leader Rachel Dowling:

On Saturday morning at the Farmer’s Market the Roosevelt Island Navigators Troop 223 came together with the RI community to host a bake sale for the people of Ukraine.  

After a false start the Saturday prior due to the snowstorm, locals were undeterred in our determination to do something to show our support to the victims of Russia’s brutal war on their country.  Fresh baked goods were put into freezers last week when the weather turned foul, to hold them till this past Saturday, and many fresh cupcakes, cookies cakes and brownies were baked as well.  

For this first fundraiser I wanted to support a friend’s Ukranian family who had all traveled to Lviv from different parts of Ukraine to escape the violence.  They have set up a fund to help them help the people of Ukraine. The situation has been dynamic and the needs have evolved, as is the nature of war. Most recently they were able to use the funds to have a large truckload of humanitarian aid shipped from Italy.  They have also been setting up a field hospital, as I understand.

The island’s generous spirit shone through on Saturday, and we raised $463.00 dollars for Cori and Kostya Bilyayev’s “Miles of Smiles” fund.  

 This fund is ongoing. Cori’s husband will now be registering with the military.  We pray for all of their continued safety and for the peace and welfare of all the people of Ukraine.

The interest from the community was so strong we plan to hold another fundraiser, this time perhaps raising money to support the Ukrainian military.  We made some great connections with some Ukrainian residents of Roosevelt Island. One young woman, Katya, and her dog Loki, introduced me to her parents, 

who had literally just arrived from their war torn country the night before.  They were so grateful, and it was heartbreaking to witness their shock and pain from horror that is all too real for them.

Let us welcome our Ukranian refugees, and continue to help Ukraine.

Please contact Rachel Dowling at racheldowling66@yahoo.com to find out how to get involved with the next fundraiser April 2nd. 

Statement from @NYCMayor Eric Adams and Commissioner @MCastroMOIA thanking @POTUS @JoeBiden for Welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees to the United States. pic.twitter.com/Jg5Iu81Wtk

— NYC Immigrant Affairs (@NYCImmigrants) March 24, 2022

Learn About Volunteer Programs With Our Roosevelt Island Neighbors At Coler Care Facility Thursday March 10 Via Zoom Hosted By Angelica Patients Assistance Program - Also, Join Coler Open Doors Reality Poets Relaunch Of Nursing Home Lives Matter Efforts Saturday March 13

Friend Of Coler volunteer Julia Ferguson reports:

TOMORROW THURSDAY 6-7 p.m. Community Engagement with Angelica Patient Assistance Program Roosevelt Islanders are invited to find out more about volunteering with for programs with our neighbors at Coler. This zoom meeting will take place next Thursday, March 10th 6-7 p.m. We will hear from Coler residents as well as meet Angelica Board members. Please RSVP directly to this Evite here:

More on Friends Of Coler here.

On March 13, the Coler Open Doors Reality Poets are hosting a Zoom Event relaunching  their Nursing Home Lives Matter efforts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by OPEN DOORS (@opendoorsnyc)

You were with us in the snow at the rally
You were with us in the dark at the vigil
You mourned the loss of our brother Roy
And so many others

Now, join us on Sunday, March 13th, at 6pm
For a virtual event to relaunch #NursingHomeLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/zeaq5MrFWg

— OPEN DOORS (@opendoorsnyc) March 5, 2022

Powerful a nursing Home Lives Matter Message Projected on wall of Roosevelt Island Coler Nursing Facility last night at end of vigil remembering those who died and in support of those still in lockdown during Covid 19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/95xPgWNhKT

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) March 15, 2021

Residents gathered outside Coler Nursing Home on Roosevelt Island for a Covid-19 vigil, commemorating 1 year since the shut down.
Signs were saying "Nursing Home Lives Matter" and "Isolation Kills Too".

📹 By @ScooterCasterNY & @yyeeaahhhboiii2 (FNTV https://t.co/MKhP0Go9IL) pic.twitter.com/PampIwias9

— Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) March 14, 2021

You're invited to both virtual events to help Coler residents.

Roosevelt Island Friends of Coler Volunteers Formed During Dark Days Of Coronavirus Lockdown Continue To Help And Support Neighbors At Coler Long Term Care Facility - You Can Help Too

The Friends Of Coler are a group of Roosevelt Island residents that came together in 2020 to help the patients and staff of NYC Health & Hospitals Corp (HHC) Coler Long Term Care Facility who had been under a lockdown during the Coronavirus pandemic. The Friends Of Coler are continuing to provide friendship and support to our neighbors at Coler. According to Friends Of Coler, they are:

... a network of neighbors, friends and family who care deeply about the people who live and work in Coler Rehabilitation & Nursing Care Center and who support connections between the Roosevelt Island community and Coler residents/staff.

                                                                        Image From Friends Of Coler You Tube Video Screenshot

 Friends Of Coler volunteers Julia Ferguson and Nicole Izsak report:

Dear friends in support of Coler,  

Happy February 2022! Roosevelt Island children's groups spread lots of kindness this month! Youth of all ages created over 200 beautiful handmade Valentines cards that were given to Coler Recreational Therapy for 2/14 distribution on Sunday afternoon 2/13 while also visiting a few friends.  

Roosevelt Island Youth Center cards were filled with full page drawings as well as wishes for both residents and staff. RI Girl Scout Troops made creative pop-up cards with handwritten messages of hope and the "Daisy" troop made special hearts that became a banner. Island Kids cheered everyone with hand signed and decorated posters, and Roosevelt Island Navigators brought in beautiful cards as well.  

Save the date for March 10th 7:00 p.m. when Angelica Patient Assistance Program will present a zoom to talk about resuming programming and volunteer opportunities at Coler moving forward in 2022.  

Pre-pandemic traditions at Coler included a Sweetheart Ball sponsored by Angelica Patient Assistance Program. With the Omicron variant still present and group gatherings still restricted in January/February this year, Angelica found a work around with Coler Recreational Therapy! They distribute Popeye's meals and Valentine's treats this year on Monday February 14th. One resident mentioned that the combination of the Super Bowl and the Valentine's event made for a very good February weekend! Coler residents and staff have also welcomed a new CEO this month: Stephen Catullo, MBA.  

May more good news continue for all,

Ms Ferguson adds:

The work that RI Youth Center children and staff, Island Kids children and staff, RI Girl Scout troops and leaders, and RI Navigators put in was careful and so heartwarming. It is so in line with the kindness and generosity that does exist in our community. And we even had a small troop of Girl Scouts from Staten Island who heard and sent in greetings!

 I asked Friends of Coler:

How have the Coler folks been doing recently with COVID issues? Any problems?

Coler resident Peter Yearwood says:

We are doing pretty good at Coler. No major issues to report. There was an outbreak of Omnicron but we are over that and all is well.

Meet Mr Yearwood who is a member of the Coler Open Doors Reality Poets.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by OPEN DOORS (@opendoorsnyc)

The Open Doors Poets have teamed with documentary filmmaker Alexis Neophytidis to show what it was like at the Coler facility during the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic. Take a look at the trailer for their upcoming documentary, Fire Through Dry Grass to see for yourself.

Fire Through Dry Grass – Trailer from The Big Chair on Vimeo.

Also, meet Momo, a canine Friend Of Coler. 

Here's Friends of Coler bringing some cheer and helping to celebrate 2021 Valentine's Day outside Coler during the lockdown.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @rooseveltislander

 

Please contact Friends Of Coler if you wish to join, meet and help our neighbors at Coler.

Roosevelt Island Disabled Association Food Pantry Looking For Strong Volunteers To Assist Unloading Boxes From Trucks Into Cultural Center Thursday And Friday Mornings - Can You Help?

 Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh reports

The Roosevelt Island Disabled Association is looking for volunteers to assist with unloading boxes from truck into cultural center on Thursday and Friday mornings. You must be able to lift and carry heavy boxes and due to RIOC guidelines, you must be vaccinated. Please contact Wendy hersh at whersh@nyc.rr.com.

                                                                         Image Of Food Pantry Boxes Being Unloaded In 2020

Ms Hersh adds:

The RIDA Food Pantry will continue serving the community each Friday from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM, at the Cultural Center (548A Main Street). Due to the weather, the new line location for winter: Please line up in front of 546 Main St., with line the going south, and kindly follow the below guidelines: 

• Bring Identification. 
• If you do not feel well, stay home. 
• Please practice social distancing while waiting in line. 
• Wear a mask. 
• Bring a shopping cart or bag. 
• Proof of vaccination will be required for entry each visit.
• If you have not been vaccinated, you will be given a bag at the door. 
• Be courteous and considerate to. volunteers and each other!

Ms Hersh showed us the Roosevelt Island Food Pantry when it was located in the Senior Center last February.

Are You Committed To Climate Action? Join The Cornell Climate Stewards Volunteer Training Certificate Program To Become Roosevelt Island Climate Science, Adaption And Mitigation Leader - Expect Significant Jump In Extreme Weather Over Next 20 To 30 Years Warns New UN Report

As previously reported, Engaged Roosevelt Island was formed in 2019 with the help of a grant from Cornell Tech:

... to promote environmental understanding and boost sustainable practices on Roosevelt Island. Throughout the year there will be engagement events to foster collaboration with residents, community groups, schools, building managers, island businesses, RIOC, RIRA and elected officials toward a cleaner and healthier neighborhood....

Following up on their February 5,2020 Eco-Ambassador program,  Engaged Roosevelt Island announced today:

Hello Engaged Roosevelt Islanders!

We are excited to make you aware of a wonderful opportunity to continue the work of Engaged RI.

Become a Climate Steward!

As you know, the mission of Engaged Roosevelt Island is to foster environmental understanding and boost sustainable practices on Roosevelt Island. You will remember that back in February of 2020, a number of you attended our event where we discussed ways that you could become an “Eco-Ambassador”  -  someone who is interested in hands-on work to further our mission. Becoming a Climate Steward is a wonderful way to do that. Sign up to become a Climate Steward!  Please see the details attached and below to see if this VERY INTENSIVE program is right for you and how you can participate.

Thanks so much.

The Engaged Roosevelt Island Team

Cornell Climate Stewards Training   

Thursday evenings from 6:00pm - 8:00pm via Zoom  

From September 9, 2021 – December 9, 2021 
(12 weeks – skipping November 11^th & 25^th)  

  

Registration is now open! Space is limited. There are 10 spots available. 

This opportunity will be extremely valuable to the Engaged Roosevelt Island Eco Ambassadors.   

   

Cornell Climate Stewards is a volunteer training certification program created to help local residents become climate science, adaptation and mitigation leaders for their community. It provides training on these subjects and more through Cornell Cooperative Extension to interested volunteers in New York. The 2021 training will be led by Cornell, CCE, CUCE-NYC, and Sea Grant staff from across NYS.   

   

The program equips local volunteers with effective communication techniques and strategies to work with local governments. To complete the certification process post training, the volunteers will assist in developing projects in their neighborhood to become more climate smart.    

 

For registration details, click HERE. 

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 27th, 2021 (or earlier if course becomes full).

Roosevelt Island Cornell Climate Stewards have a difficult, but essential, job ahead.

Already, the consequences have been stark: deadly heat waves, devastating floods, raging wildfires.

But that’s only the beginning, according to the report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of scientists convened by the UN. https://t.co/1wYFtTxFPW pic.twitter.com/vd4f4ZcKg5

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 9, 2021

The new @IPCC_CH Report shows what we have known for a long time — greenhouse gases from human activity are unequivocally driving the climate crisis.

The race toward net zero carbon emissions cannot wait. Our reductions must be rapid, cross-sector, large-scale, and immediate. https://t.co/kj7bZ4u3tO

— NYClimate (@NYClimate) August 9, 2021

Here's the UN Climate Change report.

Learn more about Engaged Roosevelt Island

and click here to register for one of the 10 Cornell Climate Stewards spots.

Be Part Of A Smart Sustainable Solution, Volunteer With Roosevelt Island Haki Compost Collective Food Scrap Drop Off Site - Greet New Friends, Training Session Saturday July 24

The locally based volunteer group Haki Compost Collective (Haki) organized and manages the Roosevelt Island  Food Scrap Drop Off Site

located every Saturday in front of the Rivercross building (531 Main Street).

next to the Farmers Market.  

According to the Haki Compost Collective:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 

All are welcome. Interested in learning more about compost? Want to be part of a smart sustainable solution? Every Saturday from 9am to 2pm neighbors volunteer next to the farmers market at the food scrap drop off bins in short shifts meeting and greeting new friends. If you have never done a shift before, you're cordially invited to this Saturday's 7/24 training session at 10:30am (please RSVP to hakicompost@gmail.com) 

If you don't have time for this Saturday's training, let us know and we can schedule a different day for you. All the best, Corinna on behalf of the Haki Compost Collective hakicompost@gmail.com

Last June 19, the Big Reuse Compost Bike Tour visited Roosevelt Island and learned about Haki Compost Collective's Roosevelt Island Food Scrap drop off site from Haki volunteer Christina Delfico .

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Haki Compost Collective (@hakicompost)

Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Distribute Food At RIDA Food Pantry And Deliver To Neighbors Who Can't Leave Their Apartments - RIDA Food Pantry Will Soon Need A New Roosevelt Island Home

Last Friday May 14, Roosevelt Island Troop 3001 Girl Scouts volunteered at the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) Food Panty 

currently located in the Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Senior Center (546 Main Street).

According to Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3001 Co-Leader Aiesha Eleusizov:

The Girl Scout cookies we donated on Friday to the RIDA Food Panty is through the Girl Scouts of Greater New York’s Gift of Caring program, which enables Girl Scout Cookies to be purchased for donation to service organizations – a great way for people to support Girl Scouts’ entrepreneurial efforts while spreading joy to those in need. This year, all donated cookies—about 250,000 boxes—will be distributed to food pantries in NYC, recognizing the rising food insecurity caused by the economic effects of the pandemic. 9 Million Reasons - the organization that provides the food for Roosevelt Island's pantry - received 30 palettes of Gift of Caring donated Girl Scout cookies - who then distributed them to pantries all over NYC, including the ones we received here on Roosevelt Island.

On Saturday, May 8, girls from Troop 3001 also volunteered handing out Girl Scout cookies 

at the 9 Million Reasons pantry in Queens. 

The Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts distributed food in the Roosevelt Island Food Pantry

 and made deliveries for those unable to leave their homes. 

I spoke with RIDA Food Pantry organizer Wendy Hersh, Girl Scout Troop 3001 Co-Leader Yitza Martinez and Girl Scout Emily Eleusizov last Friday. Here's what they had to say.

 

Ms Hersh reported that the Senior Center will soon be re-opening so the Food Pantry will have to vacate the Senior Center space it has been using since the Coronavirus Pandemic began. 

Will the Roosevelt Island Food Pantry be able to continue operating and serving the community? According to Ms. Hersh:

... We're looking for some spot that we can move into to keep the Pantry going...

Ms Hersh added that they are also looking for some strong volunteers to help with loading and unloading boxes of food. If you're interested in volunteering at the Roosevelt Island Food Pantry, please contact Ms Hersh.

Yitza Martinez shares more photos of the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts volunteering at the Evangel 9 Million Reasons Food Pantry and RIDA Food Pantry.

Ms Hersh adds: 

Great Pantry Day ...having the girl scouts assist us this evening was such a blessing.

and:

Thanks to Maria Carrante for her generous donations today of bread and pastry from Martha's Country Bakery on Ditmars Blvd in Astoria. 

What a treat!!!