Gift will Be Directed to ‘Safe at Home’ Program, to Support Seniors in the Town of Hempstead
July 16, 2020 (Deer Park) – Over the past four months, United Way has responded to the needs of Long Islanders experiencing unparalleled hardship. Through the generosity of a multitude of donors supporting United Together, A Response Fund for COVID-19, nearly 10,000 families in Nassau and Suffolk Counties have received financial assistance.
Now, as the organization transitions from response to recovery, the focus will be on Long Islanders that are most vulnerable and at risk, especially seniors.
With a gift of $25,000 from RXR, United Way’s Safe at Home program can now begin. This health and safety program will support seniors in the hard-hit neighborhoods in the Town of Hempstead, including Uniondale and the Village of Hempstead. Local agencies Choice For All and Uniondale Community Development Council are partnering with United Way to execute the program.
Social distancing protects the health of seniors, but also severs ties to critical resources. In the Town of Hempstead, the over-65 population has nearly doubled since the 1970s; an estimated 14.1 percent of the Town of Hempstead’s residents are now over 65.
United Way will work in partnership with its community agency network to select interns to train as Care Specialists. Acting as “boots on the ground” they will focus on care and providing linkages to supportive services, purchase essentials, delivery of food and family support. Safe at Home will allow seniors to remain in the comfort and safety of home, where they are best protected while maintaining social relationships.
“RXR’s support demonstrates their commitment to the future and well-being of Long Islanders. They are experts at rebuilding and developing infrastructure, so it only seems natural that they are our supporters of Safe at Home,” said Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island. She added, “This investment is critical to helping protect and safeguard our region’s most fragile and our partnership is a great example of a United Solution.”
“As Long Island begins to reopen, the reality is that seniors, who have been disproportionately impacted by the Coronavirus, will have to remain sheltering in place for some time,” said Scott Rechler, CEO & Chairman of RXR. “We are grateful to United Way for continuing to address their needs, as well as to all the Long Islanders who have stood up in support of our communities at this tenuous time. Though we haven’t been able to rush to each other’s aid in the same way we would in other crises, Long Islanders, like RXR Volunteers, have shown their mettle through this. Together, we will emerge on the other side a stronger Long Island.”
The Safe at Home program is targeting the following Town of Hempstead community hotspots which place culturally diverse senior citizens at great risk, including Elmont, Freeport, Hempstead Village, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Valley Stream and North Valley Stream. In these community hotspots, 22 percent live alone; 33 percent have a disability.
Greater detail on program information can be found below:
- Protect seniors from COVID-19 with safety kits with PPE and sanitizers and ensure that they practice safe hygiene.
- Help to manage everyday tasks such as stocking up on groceries, preparing or ordering hot meals, coordinating transportation to medical appointments and connection to medical alerts.
- Help seniors communicate with loved ones and health care professionals with virtual devices.
- Facilitate in-person screening assessments (physical health, emotional health, depression, Alzheimer’s and Dementia).
- Report any notable health or mental health changes to family or designee.
- Facilitate health, safety, accessibility and universal design home check screenings for seniors. If needed, coordinate minor home or accessibility repairs.
- Prepare seniors when going out in the public or accompany them to the doctor’s office because all seniors will eventually have to go out in public for a medical appointment or another necessary errand.
For seniors in need of assistance, contact 211 Long Island for information and referrals related to support services. Dial 2-1-1, or outside of Nassau and Suffolk Counties 1-888-774-7633 and visit 211longisland.org. 211 Long Island operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To learn more about or to support Safe at Home, visit www.unitedwayli.org/safeathome.
Leading funders of UNITED TOGETHER: A Response Fund For COVID-19 include Bank of America, New York Jets, Rauch Foundation, National Grid, M&T Bank, The Countess Moira Charitable Foundation, Brookhaven National Lab/Brookhaven Science Associates, PSEG Long Island, The AmerisourceBergen Foundation, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, MSC Industrial Supply Co., Northville Industries, RXR, People’s United Community Foundation, Esquire Bank, National Grid Foundation, Island Outreach Foundation, TriState Capital Bank, The Randi & Clifford Lane Foundation, City National Bank, GEICO, Limroy Lane Community Charitable Foundation, Inc., Wells Fargo, United Way Worldwide, CVS Health, Deloitte, Iroquois Gas Transmission System, King Kullen Grocery Co., The Sunshine Foundation, UPS, BlackRock, CNA, Flushing Bank, Philadelphia Insurance, Ridgewood Savings Bank, TA Mechanical Group Inc., Utica National Insurance Group, Kelso & Company, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, ACIT, CHUBB, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, Long Island Federation of Labor, LECSA, New Empire Group, Ltd., New York Community Bank Foundation, Transervice Logistics Inc., Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock and Branch 6000, National Association of Letter Carriers.
Interested philanthropic partners should contact United Way of Long Island’s President & CEO, Theresa Regnante at tregnante@unitedwayli.org or 631-940-3701, or Chief Development Officer, Craig Fligstein at craig@unitedwayli.org or 631-940-3752.
Photo Caption: RXR, who helped fund United Way’s Safe at Home, joins United Way of Long Island, Choice for All, and the Uniondale Community Development Council for the program launch. Safe at Home fosters support for seniors who are unable to leave their homes so as not to compromise their health and safety. Participants will receive food and household goods delivered to their door along with a special kit that contains essential items including PPE. Pictured Left to Right: Theresa Regnante, President & CEO, United Way of Long Island; Michael Maturo, President, RXR; Jacob Dixon, CEO, Choice For All; Lorraine Danser, Executive Director, Uniondale Community Development Council; and Rebecca D'Eloia, Senior Vice President, Project Executive, RXR.
About United Way of Long Island
United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We recruit people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. LIVE UNITED® is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. United Way of Long Island is part of a worldwide network spanning across 41 countries and territories, including more than 1,200 local organizations in the U.S.. For more information about United Way of Long Island, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About RXR
RXR Realty is a leading real estate owner, investor, operator and developer committed to building socially, economically and environmentally responsible communities.
###