May 2022 Newsletter

IN ADDITION TO OUR SPONSORS WE RELY ON OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS FOR COLLECTIONS. IS75 COLLECTED OVER 400 BOXES OF CEREAL IN MAY. OUR FRIENDS AT PCCS WERE ON PICKUP AND DELIVERY DUTY, THEY SORTED AND DROPPED OFF TO EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS. THESE SERVICE PROJECTS ARE TWOFOLD, RAISING AWARENESS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND THESE DONATIONS WILL ALLOW US TO USE THE MONIES SAVED TO PURCHASE THE OTHER MUCH-NEEDED ITEMS TO FILL THE BACKPACKS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HOST A COLLECTION PLEASE CONTACT MICHELE.

AT EACH OF OUR MAY OPENINGS OF THE FOOD AND ESSENTIALS CLOSET, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT OVER 150 SERVICE MEMBERS (ACTIVE AND VETERANS) AND THEIR FAMILIES (TOTAL FAMILY MEMBERS 500.) THIS MONTH WE HAD THREE NEW DONORS: $500 FROM SIGNATURE BANK, $500 FROM TUNNELS TO TOWERS AND $1000 FROM AN SIEDC MEMBER. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. LOCATED ON FORT WADSWORTH WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM BLUE STAR FAMILIES, THIS SITE IS OPEN TWICE A MONTH.

IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL REQUESTS THAT CAME DIRECTLY TO US THIS MONTH WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PROVIDED 40 MOTHERS DAY GIFT BAGS FOR CHILDREN TO BRING HOME TO MOM. THESE GIFT BAGS INCLUDED HAND LOTION, PERFUME, NAIL POLISH, NAIL FILE, CHOCOLATES AND OF COURSE A CARD.) WE WILL BE MAKING SIMILAR GIFT BAGS FOR FATHER’S DAY. WE ALSO HAD A BIG ASK COME THROUGH THIS MONTH FOR MCKEE HIGH SCHOOL. PROM SEASON IS UPON US AND WHILE THE BOYS WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH PROM FEES THEY DID NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE ATTIRE. LORI FICARRA, RECEIVED A CALL TO HELP WITH SUITS AND IMMEDIATELY GOT TO WORK ON MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT WE WOULD HELP TO FUND A COLLECTION TO PAY FOR TUXEDO RENTALS. LORI WAS ABLE TO USE HER CONNECTIONS TO GET US A BETTER RENTAL FEE AND THEN HAVE THE BOYS COME IN TO GET FITTED. IN TOTAL THERE WERE 27 TEENS WHO NEEDED OUR ASSISTANCE. THE GIVING CIRCLE MADE A SIZABLE MONETARY DONATION AND LORI RAISED THE REST OF THE FUNDS UTILIZING HER SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS. WHILE WE CANNOT SHARE PHOTOS I HOPE YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO REALIZE THE IMPACT THIS IS MAKING IN THE LIVES OF THESE TEENAGERS.

We will be hosting a summer dessert buffet at Canterbury House on June 22nd. We have asked DJ Matty to provide the music. We have also invited Alzheimer clients from Act Cares. These seniors have been kept at bay for so long, again due to the pandemic, and we want to be sure they enjoy an occasional treat.  If you are interested in providing dessert for the buffet, please contact Evelyn. MOTHER’S DAY GIVE AWAY THIS PROJECT WAS LOVINGLY TAKEN ON BY LORI FICARRA. LORI ORGANIZED A COLLECTION OF GENTLY WORN COSTUME JEWELRY AND GENTLY USED HANDBAGS WHICH WERE TURNED INTO GIFTS FOR OUR FRIENDS AT PH, CROSSROADS CHURCH AND FORT WADSWORTH. (SEE PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER)

ON JUNE 10 THE STATEN ISLAND QUILTERS GUILD WILL PRESENT A CHECK TO US FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THEIR QUILT SHOW RAFFLE FROM LAST MONTHS EVENT. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE THE LUCKY RECIPIENT OF THEIR HARD WORK AND ARTISTRY.

The winning ticket was purchased by Mike Kormanik. Mike chose South Shore Community Food Pantry to receive the donation of $250. 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 $60 (for six 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. WE ARE EXTENDED OUR SWIMSUIT COLLECTION THROUGH JUNE. OUR COLLECTION THIS MONTH IS NEW SWIMSUITS OF ALL SIZES, POOL SHOES OR SUMMER FLIP FLOPS AND POOL TOWELS (TOWELS CAN BE GENTLY USED).

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 Food Insecurity initiatives. 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 contact Evelyn or Michele before making ANY DONATIONS and dropping off on Evelyn’s porch. In the past few weeks books and clothing left without notice were left in the rain and had to be discarded. To ensure this doesn’t happen in the future, please call or email and wait for an acknowledgement before leaving bags unattended.

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

Our meetings are held at Oakwood Heights Community Church, 345 Guyon Avenue. The morning meeting is at 9am, in person only. The evening meeting is at 7pm, in person and Zoom. Please see schedule below for upcoming dates.