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ACTION OF THE MONTH:
HELP US COLLECT GIFTS & BASIC NECESSITIES FOR OUR LGTBQ YOUTH
DROP-IN CENTER!
Drop off donations at any of these three locations:
Forest Hills Community Center
108-25 62nd Drive,
Forest Hills, 11375
Queens Center for Gay Seniors 37-06 77th Street
Jackson Heights, 11372
Generation Q
110-01
62nd Drive
Forest Hills, 11375
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Queens Community House
is a multi-service settlement house whose impact reaches more than 20,000 children, teens, adults & older adults every year.
Our mission is to provide individuals and families
with the tools to enrich
their
lives and build
healthy, inclusive communities.
For a full listing of programs and services, visit us at:
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We can always use your help!
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Thank you for supporting Queens Community House on #GivingTuesday!
We raised over $5,500!
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QCH wishes you Happy Holidays
from our
family to yours!
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SNAP Helps Extend the Holiday Budget
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While the holiday season is meant to be a joyful time, it can also be a time of great financial challenge and worry. S
ome families feel increasing anxiety about paying for the necessities - rent, utilities, gifts for the children - and of course, food. Unfortunately, many families are not aware of resources available to them.
This disconnect inspired the Robin Hood Foundation to launch "Start
By Asking," a bold, citywide, cross-organizational initiative to reach more than
800,000 New Yorkers who aren't receiving the benefits for which they're eligible.
As a partner in this initiative, QCH is offering free Supplemental
Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) eligibility screenings and enrollment support in areas in Queens where the need is high and the resource is under-utilized.
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides food assistance for low-income families of up to $5,580 a year.
"The SNAP application can be daunting, especially for home-bound seniors and families with language barriers," according to QCH Associate Executive Director Mary Abbate. "We assist families throughout the entire process, often making home-visits to ensure documents are in order and requirements are met." Enrollment support is free and offered in three languages.
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Queens Unites to Keep AIDS Conversation on the Table
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While AIDS no longer draws the media attention it once did, thousands of Americans still die every year from the disease. An estimated
1.1 million
people in the US are living with the disease, although about 15 percent of them don't know they have it.
On December 1, QCH, the Caribbean Equality Project, NYC Commission on Human Rights and Queens Pride joined together in recognition of World AIDS Day. The event took place in QCH's Kew Gardens Community Center and included a discussion of critical issues facing our local community around HIV/AIDS, dance and musical performances, and a candlelight vigil to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
"We must continue to advocate for prevention, treatment,
resources and supports" says Chynna Pitlock, Director of QCH's Queens Center for Gay Seniors. "It is important to raise awareness and ensure all generations we serve are informed, safe, and supported on all levels."
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Kids of New York Keeps Break Culture Alive
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On November 18, Ralph Casanova aka "King Uprock," brought his legendary
Kids of New York Break-dancing Battle to our Forest Hills gym. Youth ages 5 to 17 competed in a series of breaking and popping battles, and our Evening Teen Center (ETC) breakdancers spoke on the importance of preserving the bboy and bgirl culture. "
These events give a chance for the youth to learn about the importance of hip hop in our community," said ETC Coordinator Pemba Sherpa," and they allow for the older generation to pass on their experience to the next generation of dancers."
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A Community Celebrates Diversity at Dinner
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 On November 21, more than 150 QCH participants and staff came together to share in our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner. In addition to traditional turkey and stuffing, attendees got to enjoy homemade samplings of Chinese dumplings, Russian Stroganoff, and Argentinean empanadas and were given the chance to offer "thanks" to the crowd in their native language.
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