FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 11, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
сoronavirus
Western Queens civic leader arranges delivery of fresh produce to help those in need
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
As the COVID-19 pandemic began
to permeate across the borough in late
March, a grassroots group of volunteers
mobilized to feed families in need in
Woodside and Sunnyside.
More than two months later, the collaboration
Queens nursing home director grapples with challenges faced during pandemic
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
When Annmarie Ramos was tasked
with the challenge of leading over 250
staff members amid the COVID-19
outbreak at the Holliswood Center for
Rehabilitation and Nursing in Hollis, she
made sure everyone received adequate
supplies and proper training to care for
patients vulnerable to the virus.
“It was important that the staff , residents
and family members knew directly
what the virus was and were given
accurate information by the CDC and
DOH,” said Ramos, director of the nursing
home. “As every phase went by, there
were another set of challenges and constantly
staying updated making sure that
things were taken care of.”
Th e 314-bed facility, located at 195-44
Woodfull Ave., has had approximately
60 deaths related to COVID-19. All residents
and employees were tested for the
virus, whether they were asymptomatic or
symptomatic, according to Ramos, who
started working at the center two-and-ahalf
months ago, before the fi rst COVID-
19 case was confi rmed in the city. Based
upon the diff erent test results, the center
utilized the information to further cohort
residents inside the building, Ramos said.
Th eir goal was to make sure that they
were fi ghting COVID head on.
Additionally, the center had also accepted
over 20 recovering COVID-19 patients
that were discharged from the hospital
under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order. On
May 10, Cuomo reversed the directive,
which had been intended to help free up
hospital beds for the sickest patients as
cases surged. So far, the center is witnessing
a decline in the number of cases; more
than 120 residents have recovered from
the virus, according to Ramos.
“Our residents are doing fairly well.
We’ve had a number of residents that
have recovered from COVID, and residents
that thankfully were never infected
or became COVID positive, which is great
because it shows that all of the education
and in-servicing worked.”
At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak,
Ramos conducted a training session
with staff members in every department
answering questions and concerns
about the virus, as well as discussing
the new guidelines and regulations. For
example, Ramos said, they had learned
how to properly put on and take off
the personal protective equipment (PPE),
which was a big change for everyone at
the center.
“We did follow the extended wear
because there were shortages and we
were lucky to have PPE to be utilized,”
Ramos said. “Our facility and corporation
made sure we had adequate supplies.” For
Ramos, it was highly important for her
to maintain her composure while staying
alert on the latest developments of the
COVID-19 outbreak.
“If I looked like I was frazzled or wasn’t
in control … it would feed off to the
staff ,” Ramos said. “I’d wonder if anything
changed since I went to sleep or will I
have another email to take care of something
else. What’s the new thing and how
are we going to get it done within the time
frame?”
As for communication with family
members, the center has encouraged the
families to call to speak with their loved
ones through video chatting and robo
calls.
Overall, Ramos said, they’re in support
of testing and making sure everyone
is safe, and communicating with the
governor and the CDC on decision-making
protocols.
“You know, let’s involve the parties and
say, ‘Hey guys, how are you going to do
this and is it feasible?’” Ramos said. “As
the numbers are going down and things
are in place, we would love to be involved
asking our opinions, such as having someone
from the nursing home tell them what
we’re experiencing in-house so that it’s not
just statistics and numbers.” Ramos added,
“Th e number of resident deaths is public,
however, the number of recovered
patients isn’t public knowledge. It’s just
for them to get a fair look at everything
that’s going on and to get the information
from within.”
According to Ramos, they’re doing
everything they can for the residents who
have become extended family members.
“I think it’s important for the outside
community to understand that we develop
long term relationships with these residents,
and when they’re sick it aff ects us as
well, and when they pass on, it’s defi nitely
a void that’s left with us that’s not easily
fi lled,” Ramos said.
of local civic associations, religious
groups, community leaders and residents
continue to cater to specifi c needs
in the neighborhoods by providing meals
and helping to stock food pantries in the
area.
On Th ursday, June 4, the Woodside/
Sunnyside Community COVID-19 Relief
Group was resupplied when a tractor-trailer
arrived at Skillman Avenue and 46th
Street. More than 65 volunteers began to
unload more than 1,400 boxes of fresh
produce aft er the group’s co-founder, Brent
O’Leary, was able to coordinate the eff ort.
Brent O’Leary hands off a 30-pound
box of fresh produce to fellow community
leader Ty Sullivan.
“An old friend connected me with a
farm in Maryland who said they were
willing to give me all the boxes of fresh
fruits and vegetables that I am willing to
pick up for free,” O’Leary said. “Th ey are
paid for by the U.S. government under
the USDA Farm to Family Program. I just
needed to arrange transportation.”
O’Leary was able to fi nd a truck driver
who was willing to do so at a reasonable
price. He drove to Maryland and fi lled up
his 53-foot truck.
When the truck arrived in Sunnyside,
the 65 volunteers from the Mosaic Church,
the Woodside Sunnyside Runners Group,
the Steamfi tters Union and community
leaders Ty Sullivan and Eddie Avila
formed a human chain and unloaded the
1,395 boxes of produce into a staging area
provided by Th e Skillman, a restaurant on
46th Street and Skillman Avenue.
Much of the produce is being distributed
at the Mosaic Church at 46-01 43rd
Ave. and Woodside on the Move at 51-23
Queens Blvd.
More of the produce was directed to other
food pantries such as Esperaza de Vida in
Maspeth and the Mutual Aid Societies of
Ridgewood and other locations in western
Queens. O’Leary, who serves as president
of the Hunters Point Civic Association
in Long Island City, announced his run
for City Council last year. He is hoping to
replace Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer,
who is term-limited out in 2021.
“In these diffi cult times, it was an amazing
and uplift ing experience to see so
many groups and people come together
and work hard to help out those in need,”
O’Leary said.
Photo courtesy of Annmarie Ramos
Courtesy Brent O’Leary
Brent O’Leary hands off a 30-pound box of fresh produce to fellow community leader Ty Sullivan.
/WWW.QNS.COM
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