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April 10-April 16, 2020
Queens Centers for Progress works to keep
group homes running with acts of kindness
BY BILL PARRY
It was just over a month ago
when hundreds attended the
Queens Centers for Progress
24th annual “Evening of Fine
Food” fundraiser at Terrace on
the Park to benefit the agency
that provides support to children
and adults who have developmental
disabilities.
“All hell broke loose just a
week later with the arrival of
the coronavirus emergency,”
QCP Director of Development
Wendy Phaff said.
Every day since has brought
new challenges as the human
services agency continues
to operate nine group homes
across the borough that house
78 individuals.
“Five of these homes are
currently under quarantine
due to staff or residents testing
positive,” Phaff said.”Let
me tell you about one special
heroine, Jessica Dubinsky,
who volunteered to leave her
husband and two teenage kids,
to care for our individuals in
a quarantined home. Jessica’s
birthday was on March 24 and
the residential director at the
home asked for someone to pick
up a small cake for our staff in
quarantine. An hour later, a
cake and a balloon appeared at
the doorstep to Jessica’s home
and with tears, she greatly
accepted this kind gesture.”
A member of the QCP staff,
Corey Thompson, who had been
working tirelessly for weeks
made the delivery himself. It
isn’t just the QCP staff that is
going the extra mile during
trying times.
“Every day brings a beautiful
kindness that people are
showing us. The community
and businesses are taking
care of us,” Phaff said. “MumsKitchenNYC
and P’s Bakery
and Catering who took part
in our Evening of Fine Food
have been preparing meals for
our homes. The Queens Borough
President’s Office and
Fresh Direct have provided
groceries. A florist in Manhattan,
Empire Cut Flowers,
had a huge delivery just when
the emergency made them
shut down their business and
instead of letting all of those
flowers wither and die they
sent them to our homes to
cheer everyone up.”
The 600 staff members of
QCP have also volunteered
their time to make sure that
hundreds of homebound individuals
who live all over
Queens are provided meals and
groceries.
“Of course it’s not all rainbows
and unicorns,” Phaff said.
“We’re also running around
trying to gather Personal Protection
Equipment because we
are required to wear them in all
of the homes so we’re competing
against hospitals, nursing
homes, and other group homes.
We spent $70,000 on PPE in the
last two weeks. The cards are
always stacked against us. It’s
been an interesting month that
seems like a year.”
QCP is hoping for more acts
of kindness such as meal donations
for 15 people at a time,
to source more PPE going forward
or to offer cash donations
to keep these group homes
functioning. The agency is also
hoping for registered nurses to
volunteer their time.
Anyone interested in donating
can email wphaff@
queenscp.org or call her at
646-801-8786.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
QCP staff at one of the quarantined homes were happy to receive donated flowers.
Photo courtesy of Queens Centers for Progress
Vol. 8, No. 15 28 total pages
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