Every day people living in Southeast Queens are joining the fight of the global pandemic, COVID-19. We applaud the frontline health workers (Doctors, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, Psychologists, Nurse Aids) at 7PM every night since the Shelter In Place was set March 16, 2020. As we approach 50 days quarantined we must recognize ALL essential workers. It is the essential workers that have shown up to work in grocery and hardware stores. They have delivered mail and driven buses and trains in the midst of this global pandemic . These essential front line workers are heroes too and should be recognized.
Marsha Duke has organized a Go Fund Me Page to provide free food to Frontline workers. Duke grew up in Rosedale, Queens. She believes we must take care of our blue-collar workers, who are dying at a higher rate because they do not have the luxury of working remotely. According to Duke:
The Frontline Food Bank will provide boxes of groceries to those non medical Frontline workers in need. We want to raise funds to have grocery boxes, like the one in the picture, be available every Thursday for the month of May at a location in Queens, NY for pick up.
Marsha Duke has a goal of raising $2000 and has already raised almost $250 from community members. Please give to her campaign and let’s contribute to the wellness of our greater community.
Food Insecurity and Mental Health are issues that need to be addressed, especially in communities of color. The Southeast Queens(SEQ) Wellness Ambassadors has been addressing this issue for almost a month now connecting with over 720 seniors providing wellness calls and checking to see if they have access to free meals. The SEQ Wellness Ambassadors has over 50 volunteers from Southeast Queens helping with this initiative. Sharmayne Jenkins shared her testimonial this week working with the SEQ Ambassadors:
Sharmayne Jenkins, SEQ Wellness Ambassador
Sharmayne Jenkins, SEQ Wellness Ambassador
The bright light within this COVID storm has been volunteering with SEQ Wellness Ambassadors. The joy I feel assisting to ensure seniors of Southeast Queens are safe and provided for, is only surpassed by their gratitude when food, and other needs have been met through the organization.
In addition, Councilman Donovan Richard’s office held a virtual meeting for local community leaders to give a COVID19 update. Richard’s office provided the opportunity to have free dinners delivered to Seniors by applying by calling: 212-244-6469
We are all in this together. It’s comforting to know there are wonderful people in Southeast Queens willing to serve their communities.
