8 OCTOBER 1, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Ridgewood teen receives citizenship award
BY DEAN MOSES
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Altruistic teenager Jamie Longo
traveled from her Ridgewood
neighborhood to the Redfern
Houses in Far Rockaway to donate
women’s menstrual products on
Monday, Sept. 28.
The pandemic has not only made
it more difficult for low-income
communities to afford food but also
other necessities, such as feminine
hygiene products. As the Far Rockaway
area experiences a spike in
COVID-19 cases, 15-year-old Longo
aimed to ease the burden by delivering
essentials to the doorsteps of
those in need.
Partnering with the Period Movement
to donate 6,000 pads, 4,000
tampons, 2,000 pantyliners and
100 mini menstrual kits, Longo arrived
flanked by her mother and
younger brother, touting bags of
sealed donations. The majority of
these products were purchased by
the young activist with aid from her
mother, Connie Altamirano, while
additional items were provided to
aid in their efforts.
“I did some research. I saw that
pantries weren’t supplying these
products, so I dug a little deeper and
realized how much this was needed.
There is an epidemic in period poverty,
because so many people have
to choose between food and period
products. That is really sad. Since I
found that out, I started this so they
don’t have to choose,” said Longo.
After supplying boxes filled with
menstrual products to the Redfern
Houses Volunteer Resource Network,
Longo took the time to stay
and hand out the donations to passing
residents, allowing them to pick
from the vast stock. This community
giveback is the latest in series of contributions
Longo and her 11-year-old
brother, Jacob, have been providing
to Queens residents, dating back
to May when they helped restock
the Hungry Monk food pantry. In
an attempt to continue supplying
impoverished New Yorkers, the
young Ridgewood native has set up
a GoFundMe page, garnering funds
so she can restock all the previous
donation sites.
State Senator Joseph Addabbo also
made a special appearance, surprising
the teen with a bouquet of flowers
and a community service award,
commending her for “outstanding
community service.”
“Whenever you get a chance to
work with role models like Jamie
and Jacob, it is a highlight. People
are in need due to COVID-19 and we
are having people feel those needs
here. Jamie and Jacob are paving the
way to help others,” Addabbo said. Ariana Mistretta and Stephanie Ferro collaborated with family, friends and local community leaders for the
fi rst ever Alzheimer Middle Village Walk on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village in
honor of the their grandfather Sal Ferro, who is suff ering from the disease. The event raised more than $3,000
and proceeds were donated ot the Alzheimer Association under the name “Team Nonno Sal.”
Photo by Dean Moses
The event culminated with the
siblings announcing that they will
be uniting to give away both food
and women’s hygiene products on
Oct. 24 at the Hungry Monk, located
at 6851 60th Ln., Ridgewood.
Their noble work has not gone
unnoticed by community leaders.
Maggie Larkins, the founder of the
Resident Elder Youth Engagement
Corporation, was so impressed by
Jamie and Jacob that she decided to
pay it forward.
“We have an intergenerational program
here where the youth and the
seniors work together. On behalf of
the Resident Elder Youth Engagement
Corporation we would like to donate
$100 to your efforts,” said Larkins.
If you would like to learn more about
Jamie Longo’s efforts, please visit her
GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.
com/ f / f y99d-donat e - femininehygiene
products-to-shelters.
WALKING FOR A CAUSE
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