BY JASON COHEN
For nearly a decade Miss
Abbie’s Kids Inc. (MAK) has
helped low income households
struggling with basic necessities
and provided access to resources.
However, this has all
been done without a home.
While it briefl y rented a
space for eight months during
the pandemic, it was too
expensive and required many
repairs. MAK Executive Director
Shanequa Charles understood
a permanent facility
was needed and recently
found one in Fordham.
The 20,000 sq. foot site will
allow Charles and her staff
to double the amount of programs
it can host. In an effort
to acquire this building, she is
launching a fundraising campaign
this month and asking
for the public’s help in raising
$3.5 million.
Charles, 41, knows the impact
she has had on the Bronx,
but wants to accomplish
more.
“What we are doing is
scary,” she explained. “It (the
community center) will benefi
t the community on many
levels. I saw for eight months
how it changed their lives.”
In the last few years MAK
has provided:
Sponsorships for over 200
children
Programming that has impacted
over 19,000 young people
and their families
Workshops and programming
for over 300 adults and
teens
Microgrants for 10 small
businesses
Weekly community education
training
Miss Abbie’s Kids is seeking fi nancial help in acquiring a community building for a community center.
Photos courtesy of Shanequa Charles
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 14 UNE 11-17, 2021 BTR
MAK Community Center
will have free and low cost enrollment
for community members
to engage, but will also
have a microenterprise component
that will have a natural
juice bar, marketplace and
a recording studio run by the
youth to foster entrepreneurialism.
It will also feature a weekly
open mic, fi nancial literacy
workshops, Narcan training,
overdose prevention, racial
equity workshops, a food
pantry, community meetings,
art class, civic engagement, a
judge shadow program, mentoring,
photography/videography,
COVID relief, summer
sleep away farming program,
creative writing and much
more.
Her goal is to have the community
center open by the end
of the year.
According to Charles, parents
have told her about how
impactful MAK has been on
their kids.
“People are excited about
the doors opening again,” she
stated.
To donate to the campaign,
make checks payable to: Miss
Abbie’s Kids, Cashapp: $Miss-
AbbiesKids, Venmo: missabbieskids@
gmail.com or Paypal:
MissAbbiesKids@gmail.com.
Nonprofi t to
launch campaign
to build
community center
PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING NOTIFICATION
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Presentation at 4:30 p.m.
Register: https://bit.ly/3hSN8ew
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Register: https://bit.ly/3yEsB3y
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
as federal lead agency, the New York State
Department of Transportation (NYSDOT),
as joint lead agency, and the New York City
Department of Transportation (NYCDOT),
as project sponsor and joint lead agency,
are preparing an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Shore Road Bridge
over Hutchinson River Project (the Project)
located in the Bronx, New York. The purpose
of the Project is to address the structural
including marine vessels, of the Shore Road
Bridge over the Hutchinson River.
The FHWA, NYSDOT, and NYCDOT invite
the public to participate in one or both of
the Scoping Meetings for the Project. Both
sessions will be held in an open house format
and members of the public are invited to join
NYCDOT representatives will be available to
provide project information, answer questions,
and obtain input via virtual Q & A.
Language interpreters will be available. To
request an assistive listening system or any
other accommodations to facilitate participation
!"
#$#%$$!
weekdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM
or email requests to ShoreRoadBridgeBX@
dot.nyc.gov. Please submit all special
accommodation requests at least 7 business
days prior to the scoping meetings (by 4:00
p.m., June 18, 2021).
Scoping comments may be submitted via
email to ShoreRoadBridgeBX@dot.nyc.gov,
or by U.S. mail to: New York City Department
of Transportation, Division of Bridges,
Shore Road Bridge Project Team, Attention:
Joannene Kidder, 55 Water Street, 5th Floor,
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For more information, please visit the project
website: www.ShoreRoadBridgeBX.com.
This Notice of Public Meeting has been
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NEPA. The Notice of Public Meeting has also
been prepared pursuant to Article 8 of the New
York State Environmental Conservation Law
(SEQRA), its implementing regulations found at
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for City Environmental Quality Review found at
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Please submit scoping comments by July 14, 2021.
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link
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/3yEsB3y
link
/www.ShoreRoadBridgeBX.com
link
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/3yEsB3y
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