N E W S
J U N E 12
Whitestone group looks
to expand senior outreach
BY CARLOTTA
MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com
@QNS
The We Love Whitestone
Civic Association is taking a
new approach to better connect
with its elderly neighbors
notifying them of upcoming
events in the community.
The association is composing
a list of volunteers to
print and distribute its meeting
notices and event fliers to its
neighbors, friends and others.
They’re also encouraging
local businesses to print and
post civic meeting notices in
their storefronts, according to
Alfredo Centola, president of
We Love Whitestone.
The need to get the community
involved stemmed
from a discussion one day at a
local supermarket with several
women who have lived in the
community for over 50 to 60
years, said Centola.
“They mentioned how they
used to be involved but the
opportunity is no longer present
for them,” said Centola.
“I said, ‘No, that’s not so, we
are always looking for volunteers,’”
said Centola.
While issuing the women
business cards, Centola said
12 LEHAVRE COURIER | JUNE 2019 | WWW.QNS.COM
he realized that they might not
have a Facebook account and
rarely check their emails.
“So I asked, three out of
four weren’t on Facebook
and two out of four had their
grandkids check their emails
with them — granted this isn’t
every senior in our community,
but there is a large enough
segment … that’s when it hit
me!” said Centola. “How do
we reach them? How do we
help them? How do we get
them involved?”
The organization is welcoming
suggestions on what else
can be done to get the rest
of the community involved.
All Whitestone residents are
encouraged to send a note to
the organization via email:
WELOVEWHITESTONE@
GMAIL.COM /
WELOVEWHITESTONE2@
GMAIL.COM.
Residents can also mail
a note to the following
address: We Love Whitestone
Civic Association PO
BOX 29, Whitestone, NY,
11357, or contact the organization
on its website at
WELOVEWHITESTONE.
COM.
The We Love Whitestone
Association has been operating
in the community for
five years with thousands of
members engaged in events
and meetings, according to
Centola. So far, the group has
organized the holiday lights in
the village, Halloween Trunk
or Treat, movie night in the
park, a popular Family Fun
Day event in conjunction with
the 109th Precinct in Francis
Lewis Park, and several other
community events.
This month, the organization
will be co-hosting a free
pet chip event, a drug addiction
presentation with baseball
legend Darry Strawberry and
a District Attorney Meet the
Candidates Night forum.
L E H A V R E
Photo via Getty Images
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