January 2022 Newsletter
HAPPY NEW YEAR NEXT MEETING FEBRUARY 17th 7PM  TO HELP WITH THE RISING COST OF GROCERIES WE HAVE ASKED SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER SCHOOLS TO ASSIST US WITH CEREAL DRIVES. WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL, IS72 AND IS75 ON BOARD TO HOST CEREAL DRIVES IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. THIS SERVICE PROJECT IS TWOFOLD, RAISING AWARENESS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND THESE DONATIONS WILL ALLOW US TO PURCHASE THE OTHER MUCH NEEDED ITEMS TO FILL THE BACKPACKS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HOST A COLLECTION PLEASE CONTACT MICHELE.  AFTER MUCH ANTICIPATION WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO KICK OFF OUR LITERACY AND S.T.E.A.M INITIATIVE FOR 2022. THANKS TO OUR 20+ VOLUNTEERS, WHO HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH US, AS WE DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR THE REMAINING SCHOOL YEAR WITH LITERACY INC.  WE WERE ABLE TO HELP SEVERAL FAMILIES DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. THESE PARENTS/GUARDIANS CONTACTED THEIR SCHOOL OFFICIALS WHO IN TURN REACHED OUT TO US FOR SUPPORT. THIS INCLUDED: FOOD, CLOTHING, DIAPERS/WIPES AND DAILY ESSENTIALS.  BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY NATIONAL NEWS STORIES AND FOLLOWED BY A GENEROUS DONATION FROM ISLAND AUTO, WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH BLUE STAR FAMILIES WE WILL BE OPENING A STATEN ISLAND GIVING CIRCLE SPONSORED FOOD AND ESSENTIALS CLOSET FOR ACTIVE AND RETIRED MILITARY. THE PROGRAM, “NOURISH THE SERVICE”, WILL HAVE SHELF STABLE ITEMS AS WELL AS OTHER ESSENTIALS. LOCATED ON FORT WADSWORTH WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM BLUE STAR FAMILIES THIS SITE WILL BE OPEN ONCE PER MONTH.  IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, PARTNERING WITH SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY, WE COLLECTED BLANKETS AND ROBES FOR VETERANS IN STATEN ISLAND NURSING HOMES. THIS WAS A WONDERFUL SUCCESS AND WE THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY DONATION. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO DONATED HOLIDAY GIFT BASKETS, OVER 100 IN TOTAL,THAT WERE GIFTED TO CHILDREN, TEENS, SENIORS AND VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON.  SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PARISHIONERS OF OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE. WE RECEIVED AN ABUNDANCE OF WRAPPED CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND GIFT CARDS TO HELP MAKE THE HOLIDAYS A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. THE CHURCH OF ST ANDREW’S PROVIDED LOTS OF NEW BABY ITEMS THAT WE WILL BE GIFTING TO WELCOME NEW BABIES INTO THE COMMUNITY. BOMBAS DELIVERED THEIR ANNUAL DONATION OF 4500 PAIRS OF BRAND NEW SOCKS. THESE WERE IMMEDIATELY SHARED WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, FOOD PANTRIES, VETERANS, AND OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVE.  The winning ticket was purchased by Fran Sisto. A donation of $250 will be made to Amazing Grace Children’s Foundation. 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 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   |