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Dear Neighbors,

This September is Hunger Action Month. Even before the pandemic, well over a million New York City residents were food insecure. That number continues to rise, and food pantries are straining to meet the need.

There are many ways to help. For instance, all public school families received a one-time payment of $420 this summer, delivered via "P-EBT" cards, to compensate them for the school meals not received by their children. 

Hunger advocates across the city are asking families who did not need these payments to direct them toward hungry New Yorkers during this very difficult time. While you cannot pass your P-EBT card on to another family, or a food pantry or soup kitchen, you can use your card to help New Yorkers who are hungry. And of course, these options are available to all of us.

1.) Use your P-EBT card to purchase food for Upper West Siders:

Donate groceries to the West Side Campaign Against Hunger Food Pantry
  • Items must not be expired, opened, or damaged (ex: dented cans)
  • Items can be dropped off at 263 W. 86th Street, Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm. Website: wscah.org.
Items most needed:
  • White or brown rice (1 lb bags)
  • White or whole wheat pasta (1lb bags or boxes)
  • Cereal (low/no sugar options ex: cheerios, corn flakes, chex, etc)
  • Oatmeal (not flavored or individual packets)
  • Grits
  • Farina
  • Canned beans (black, red, pinto, kidney, white, etc...not refried beans or altered in any other way)
  • Dry beans (1lb bags)
  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned tuna or chicken (in water, no salt added)
Donate groceries to the Holy Trinity Soup Kitchen
  • Every day they serve coffee, sandwiches and hot food- either soup or a pasta to Upper West Siders.
  • Donations may be brought to the rectory- 213 W. 82nd Street, between Amsterdam and Broadway, Monday - Friday, 9:30 AM- 5:00PM. Website: htcny.org.
Items most needed:
  • Lunch meats: turkey, ham, etc, sliced cheese, canned tuna
  • Shelf stable milk
  • Things to supplement soup / pasta - canned beans, vegetables, rice
  • Individually wrapped snacks that will be a take a way for later: granola bars, nuts, cookies, chips, trail mix
2.) Donate funds (such as the value of your P-EBT card) to an UWS food pantry or soup kitchen.

This list is not exhaustive. Click here to find food pantries and kitchens across our area.
3.) Donate funds equivalent to the value of your P-EBT card to local food pantries via Share My P-EBT.

Thank you for supporting our community!
Support for UWS Tenants

Housing Clinic: Wednesday, September 9th
Tenants with legal and/or housing court-related questions are warmly invited to join us for our September Housing Clinic -- "Housing Court 101."
  • The clinic will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, September 9th, from 6 to 7:30pm. Please click here to register.
  • You can submit questions in advance when you register, and questions will also be taken during the event via Zoom's chat function. The presentation will be led by TakeRoot Justice and Goddard Riverside Law Project.
 
If you are facing a possible eviction, help is available. You can access free legal services on our website, by looking under "Housing." 

As we have noted previously, NYS Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks issued a directive on August 12th mandating that no existing or new residential eviction warrants be executed until October at the earliest. The order continues a suspension on proceedings in all new eviction cases brought by landlords after March 17.
Important Community Updates 
 
Naturalization Fees
Beginning October 2, many U.S. immigration fees will increase. Fees for naturalization applications will increase from $725 to $1170, and naturalization fee waivers will be eliminated.

In preparation for these changes, CUNY Citizenship Now! is prioritizing citizenship cases and case types that are currently eligible for means tested fee waivers until October 1st. Appointments for N-400, N-600, I-90, I-765, N-565, and any case where a participant is eligible for a Fee Waiver, are being taken first by CUNY Citizenship Now!. Other less urgent cases may have to wait longer for appointments during this period. Learn more here.

Reminder: Childcare Survey for Public School Families
This Fall, most NYC Dept of Education schools and early childhood programs will operate on a blended learning model. Each week, students will have some school days in person, and some school days remotely.  

Learning Bridges is a new program that will provide free child care options for children from 3-K through 8th grade on days when they are scheduled for remote learning. The program will:  
  • Be operated by community-based organizations and other partners 
  • Provide opportunities for children to connect to their remote learning activities  
  • Include time for art, recreation, and other age-appropriate activities 
  • Follow the same rigorous health and safety precautions as schools  
If you are interested in the Learning Bridges program, please complete this survey. Please do so even if you do not yet know your child’s school schedule. The survey is meant to assess interest and is not a formal application. Families can call 311 if they are having difficulty completing it.

More information will be shared by the DOE (for children in 3-K and pre-K) or the Dept of Youth & Community Development (for children in grades K-8) about a potential placement in the coming weeks. Programs will become available on a rolling basis beginning at the start of school.  

Bus Fare Collection Has Resumed
A reminder that front-door boarding and fare collection have resumed on all local and SBS Buses. MetroCard Mobile Sales Vans have also resumed service. The vans are not selling MetroCards at this time but consumers can obtain other assistance, such as help with applying for a reduced fare card, or transferring balances to a new card. Learn more here. To see the mobile sales van schedule in our area, click here.

Absentee Ballots
Many of you have contacted our office with questions about obtaining an absentee ballot for the November presidential election. Click here to learn how you can request a ballot from the NYC Board of Elections. We will follow up with more information shortly.

2020 Census: NYC Needs You
It is absolutely essential --for fair representation in government, equitable public funding, and much more-- that all New Yorkers participate in the 2020 Census. Go to my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to complete your census today -- it's fast, easy, and confidential. New York City’s future depends on it.
Free Vision Screenings
 
The SUNY College of Optometry is providing FREE vision screenings at their University Eye Center on Tuesday September 15th, from 4pm -- 5:40pm, and Thursday October 22nd, from 4:30pm -- 6:10pm. Location: 33 W. 42nd Street.

Screenings are by appointment only -- limited spots available. Phone (212) 938-4001, Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday 8am-4pm.

All ages welcome. If a patient is under 18 months, they will be seen via the College's "Infant See" Program and receive a regular appointment for a free full eye exam instead of a screening. Please phone for more information.
We're Here to Help

My office assists people with housing issues, seniors, the disabled, the recently un (or under) employed, the food insecure, and all those suffering the many consequences of this pandemic, to help in any way we can.

Please call (212) 873-0282, leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible; email [email protected]; or check our website, HelenRosenthal.com. We update it on a daily basis with information about public benefits, non-profit resources, and health facts Upper West Siders need to get through this crisis. 

Warmly,



P.S. Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested, or have them subscribe to my e-blasts here. Also, follow my social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram.
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