Nonprofit Talk: Sunnyside service organization fights for kids, families and seniors amid COVID tragedy

Judy Zangwill is executive director of Sunnyside Community Services. Photo courtesy of Judy Zangwill

By Judy Zangwill, as told to the Eagle

Judy Zangwill is executive director of Sunnyside Community Services. The nonprofit serves over 16,000 people of all ages annually in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx through a range of programs: youth and family programs that support progress up the educational ladder, help overcome educational attainment barriers, and work towards a career; senior services that promote healthy aging, provide socialization opportunities, and enable the older members to age in place; and, SCS Home Care that provides essential care for seniors and people with disabilities.

How has your organization navigated the pandemic? 

Before the city and state announced stay-at-home measures, we decided that in-person programming would halt on March 13 except for home care. We had been preparing for this for close to two weeks, making sure the staff had the technology to begin working remotely. In the first month, the fear and the stress was palpable. We learned of clients lost to COVID-19. Across our programs, 48 participants have passed. Keeping in touch and giving people space to share their emotions is so important during this time. We’ve created zoom coffee sessions to support staff and helps them connect.  

How are you now serving your constituents/clients/program participants? 

Most of our programming has moved to remote work with classes online; counseling and support groups by phone, and caseworkers are in constant communication with our most vulnerable clients. Our senior services intake team has fielded more than 1,300 inquiries from seniors looking for help. We might have seen 400 calls under normal circumstances. Five staff members usually handle this, but we now have 14 people dedicated to helping seniors access what they need to remain safe at home. Food insecurity is the top concern. We are delivering shelf-stable meals, connecting some seniors to meals on wheels and others to the City’s meal delivery program. We have also created a temporary food pantry to help families in our programs. 

How are you balancing the needs of your clients with the level of risk to your employees?

In the case of home care, our home health aides continue to commute to reach clients even when they are frightened. The aides are committed to ensuring frail seniors are well cared for at home even when social distancing is impossible. We have provided aides with PPE. Our nurses and staff call clients and aides before assignments begin to ensure neither is showing symptoms of Covid -19. Aides also had to deal with childcare issues when schools closed. It has been an incredibly difficult time for all, but the sacrifices made by home health aides have been incredible, so I would like readers to clap for home care workers at 7 p.m. tonight. 

What types of support do you most need now?

We have received support from individuals making donations from $5 to $5,000. Foundations have been generous with emergency grants to cover expenses like PPE, cleaning supplies, technology, staffing costs, and direct cash assistance to clients. Unfortunately, as soon as the money comes in, it is spent. Online donations are the best way to help us meet the needs of the people we serve. 

We also need our partners at the City and State level not to make any cuts to social services programs like SCS. New Yorkers need organizations like us now more than ever. However, we hear that we should be prepared for reductions as early as July, which makes it very difficult to plan. 

What programs/services have you had to cut or scale back on, and are there open positions?

There is a limit to how much we can do for participants in our senior center or the social adult day program. We are checking in with center members by phone, and they are getting regular meal delivery. They miss the classes and activities and most of all they miss seeing their friends. Social isolation was always a concern of ours, but that has only been heightened. I encourage everyone to reach out to older neighbors by phone or leave a note to say hello. 

We are cautious about filling open positions until we have a better picture of what our funding will look like at after July 1. There is so much uncertainty around government funding, which is the bulk of our budget.

 What do you think the future holds for your sector as a result of the pandemic? 

I think we will see that the need for organizations like Sunnyside Community Services is only going to be greater. The idea that City and State officials would cut services when people are losing jobs and are lining up for blocks for food is shocking. I am not sure how many community-based organizations can survive without government intervention. The non-profit sector has shown what it can do in a crisis, from setting up food pantries to providing cash assistance and helping families with homeschooling and so much more. We are a critical part of the City’s economic recovery.

Judy Zangwill is executive director of Sunnyside Community Services. Learn more about Sunnyside Community Services at scsny.org