In these challenging times, our community is facing unprecedented loss, anxiety, and fears as a result of the global pandemic CoronaVirus (COVID19). Southeast Queens has experienced a significant number of community members testing positive for CoronaVirus and the virus is running rampant in the African American community. In the face of our challenge, there is resilience.
The Southeast Queens (SEQ) Wellness Ambassadors initiative is spearheaded by a team of local residents including Melva Miller, Nantasha Williams, Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant, Erica Ford, Kevin Livingston, Franck Joseph, and Katherine Thompson, Clarisa James, Jessica Douglas, Emmlynn Taylor, and David Tanis. The volunteer initiative has the political support of Senator Leroy Comrie and Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman who also serve as core members of the leadership team. In partnership with local senior centers, the Southeast Queens Wellness Ambassadors goal is to facilitate wellness check in calls with Seniors in the community by providing conversation, and asking Seniors if their immediate needs are being met at this time of crisis. The initiative started on April 1st, 2020. There are currently 63 community volunteers working on the initiative. In the first week of the initiative, 234 calls were made. The initiative works most directly with the Robert Couche Senior Center and both offices of Services Now for Older Persons (SNAP) in Office of Southeast Queens. The goal of the program is to service as many seniors as possible with wellness calls and we we are in need of additional volunteers.
From the frontlines of this initiative, the volunteers have shared their experience of participating in the Southeast Queens Wellness Ambassadors. Names of the Seniors have been changed to respect their privacy. Our volunteers reflect on their experience:
Damani Bobb is a Freshman in college and a Youth Worker living in Rosedale, Queens.
My experience with being a Wellness Ambassador is a very interesting one. It keeps me in good spirits giving back to my elders. Checking up on the Seniors of Southeast Queens makes me feel like I’m making someone’s day. Some of these elders need someone to talk to, just by giving them a call and just saying “hi” will make their day. Even during a pandemic like this one, I believe it is essential to give our elders a call.Â
Liza Derry and her daughter Linda Derry give back to their community as a family
Volunteering with my daughter Linda Derry has been very inspiring. I speak with them on speaker while she writes down the answers. The seven I have been assigned are all sweet and we feel as if they are all our grandparents. This second week’s call was more inter personal with conversations including doing planks, the cold rainy weather and nationalities. Doing something as simple as making a phone call is rewarding and so far they have all been grateful for the wellness checks and we are better for it too.
Taja Moore is a Program Director and Para Professional working in South East Queens.Â
Ever since the quarantine started, I was under a lot of stress like everyone all over the world with COVID19. I couldn’t imagine being restricted to the house all day, unable to go out and have fun with my friends and family. But I’m doing it, not like I have much of a choice. As stressed I felt, I know there are people going through worse.Â
Elderly people within the community who were about to go out are now restricted to their homes and some of them have no one to converse with. I am happy to be a part of this initiative with Wellness Ambassadors. Reaching out to the elderly people within the community and making sure they have necessities such as groceries, medicine and I even offered them companionship. With making a few phone calls, it made me realize how fortunate I am to be able to reach out and make someone’s day better because there are people who have no one to reach out to or have anyone reaching out to them. I spoke to quite a few people offering them either help with groceries being delivered or just having someone to talk to. Some were interested and others weren’t. But, while making the calls I spoke to a man named James. James is 97 years old and he drives around, makes his errands and takes care of a family member who is an alcoholic. He gave me so much strength, emotionally and mentally. James told me that I added the cherry on top of his cake because he went to the grocery store and someone offered to help him shop. He declined but the person was persistent and put something in his James’ jacket. When James got home he realized the person who offered to help him, put $50.00 in his jacket. He said he was shocked and he didn’t need the money but the gesture was nice. He was very humble and told me he would like someone to talk to every now and again and I will definitely keep in touch with him. Hearing him laugh and smile through the phone for the few mins really made me feel like I was making a difference in someone’s life and that feeling alone was priceless.
Tianna Tettis is a Program Coordinator in Southeast Queens and a Graduate Student.
I have had the wonderful opportunity to become a Southeast Queens Wellness Ambassador for the seniors in that area . This is an opportunity to be able to help seniors during this very difficult time where all of us as a community must stay home to prevent the spread of COVID19.This is especially true as it pertains to seniors as they are at higher risk as to worse effects of COVID19 .As a wellness ambassador my main purpose is to check on the seniors on a weekly basis via phone and make sure that they have their essentials during their time in quarantine and make sure that they receive those essentials by going through the proper channels so that they receive it .I ask them questions that pertain to the their general health and well being, in addition to their mental health .For example, we ask if they have their medication or if they have food . I really enjoy speaking to the seniors during this very difficult time. Not only does it lift their spirits but mine as well to make sure they are doing well . They also enjoy the conversation and to know that someone is checking on their well being . For instance i have a senior whose wife was diagnosed with COVID19 ,which means that he is separated from his wife as she fights the virus. Making sure that his basic needs are met so that he can deal means a lot to me  Â
The Southeast Queens Wellness Initiative has a goal of serving many more seniors. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill out our form here. Join the movement!
