November 2021 Newsletter

HAPPY THANKSGIVING This month we received the good news that our Con Edison grant application was approved and we are being awarded $5000 to continue our Weekend Food Backpack Initiative. We are currently running this program in 6 schools and supporting 75 families.

Josue has completed 2 additional murals this month, Emma’s Place and A Very Special Place both chose amazing images for Josue to showcase his incredible talents. You can see more images on Josue’s social media accounts. Instagram and Facebook: JM Custom Art Studio

Our Literacy and STEAM zoom programs held their training session for volunteers and are ready to begin this month. It has been explained to us that the earlier a child is introduced to reading, the better readers they become. So instead of the first and second graders we mentored in the previous years, this year the kids are K and first grades. We have a very strong roster of nearly 20 SIGC mentor/readers who will take on a child assigned by Literacy Inc. on a one-to-one set-up. The mentors and children have the same books, worksheets, materials and they work an hour a week together. The children not only learn reading fundamentals, they bond with a new friend. It’s fun to watch their progress and enthusiasm.

We sponsored a paint and pizza party for 35 fourth graders at P.S. 20. This is one of the offerings from Josue’s art studio and we chose a Halloween theme. Josue is bi-lingual which will also be helpful at this school.

This month we presented ten Food Pantries with $500 in Shop Rite gift cards to help fill their shelves for the upcoming holidays. Island Auto then announced a matching donation. Thank you to all their employees who made generous monetary donations during the month of November. Additionally, St. Charles Boy Scout Troop 88 collected ten cases of canned food which went to United Praise Church, Zion Lutheran Church donated Thanksgiving sides for one of our school partners and The Tides donated food and clothing to South Shore Community Food Pandry.

Bob Sweeney is dedicated to our Homeless Initiative and has asked for thermal long underwear and shirts for the winter in addition to hats and Dunkin gift cards. These items have been ordered and Bob will be ready to distribute as the weather turns colder.

Joe Meizlik, an Army veteran himself, put together a well-organized drive by a few days before Veterans Day to honor Mr. Tulli who is a member of the Greatest Generation; he fought in WWII and exemplifies the deep loyalty and dedication to his country that we should all work toward. The SIGC awarded (11) $50 gift cards to Mr. Tulli and his comrades as a small Random Act of Kindness.

The winning ticket was purchased by Lillian Escobar. This months winnings of $325 will be given to the American Cancer Society in memory of her friend, Richard Collins. The winner donates to his/her favorite charity; it is not kept by the ticket holder. To participate, go to our website and donate via Venmo or PayPal. We suggest putting $50 (for five months or $100 for 10 months).

To make a donation please use the following: Venmo:  @StatenIslandGivingCircle PayPal: SIGivingCircle@aol.com Checks may be mailed to: Staten Island Giving Circle PO Box 120301 Staten Island NY 10312

Each month we will share and highlight our monthly service project flyer, see below. This month we are collecting long sleeve shirts and hooded sweatshirts for children and adults, (all sizes) to be distributed throughout the community in the winter months. The attached flyer lists locations for the collection.

We get inquiries for teens looking to score service hours to satisfy school requirements. We have been recommending the students organize a collection of food (cereal, granola, fruit cups) to be used for our Weekend Food Backpack Program. Students can create flyers, host the collection and deliver to the recipient for their service credit. Please contact us for a list of items needed.

PLEASE PUT A HOLD ON CLOTHING AND BOOK DONATIONS. WE HAVE RECEIVED GENEROUS DONATIONS OF BOTH AND NEED TO FIND HOMES BEFORE WE CAN ACCEPT ADDITIONAL DELIVERIES.

Michele Yacovello 917.733.7937 myacovello@gmail.com Evelyn Kormanik 718.980.4862 sigivingcircle@aol.com