2009-K1444
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Services
Now for Adult Persons, Inc. to be celebrated June 24, 2010
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
illustrious organizations within the State of New York whose focus and
intent have made a substantial impact on the quality of life in their
communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 30th Anniversary of Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, To celebrate this auspicious occasion, Services Now For Adult
Persons (SNAP) will be hosting its Gala Dinner Dance on Thursday, June
24, 2010, at Antun's in Queens Village, New York; and
WHEREAS, This year's SNAP Gala Dinner Dance honorees include: Lilliam
Barrios-Paoli, Commissioner of the Department for the Aging, recipient
of the President's Award; Peter Campanelli, Executive Director of the
Institute for Community Living, recipient of the Board of Directors
Award; The Samuel Field Y of Little Neck, recipient of the Fred Meyers
Community Partner Award; and Kirby Lindell, Community Activist, recipi-
ent of the Elizabeth Gambino Community Service Award; and
WHEREAS, SNAP has accepted the challenge of being dedicated to the
needs of older adults; it provides direct services to enhance their
quality of life, and also provides coordination of case plans and advo-
cacy on behalf of its clients; and
WHEREAS, SNAP was developed in 1980 through the Senior Services Coor-
dinating Committee's identification of gaps in services for older adults
in North Community Board 13; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the agency is to improve the quality of life
of older adults in the borough of Queens by providing linkages to commu-
nity resources and helping them to remain as independent community resi-
dents; and
WHEREAS, Currently, SNAP runs senior center programs in three sites
which include: SNAP of Eastern Queens, SNAP of Bell Park and SNAP Rose-
dale; more than 1,000 people a week receive a hot lunch and enjoy a wide
variety of educational and recreational programs; and
WHEREAS, Many classes are offered, such as: physical fitness, health,
dance, finance, foreign languages (Spanish, Italian, French, Hebrew,
Yiddish), English as a Second Language, college courses (Philosophy,
History, Creative Writing), drama, arts and crafts, choral groups,
current events, travel by video and many more recreational and educa-
tional discussion groups; and
WHEREAS, SNAP runs a very successful Caregiver Program to assist care-
givers in the sometimes overwhelming task of caring for elderly loved
ones; since its inception in 2003, this program has expanded to include
over 500 care giving families in Community Boards 10, 12, 13 and 14; and
WHEREAS, SNAP has a successful Friendly Visiting Volunteer Program
that not only provides socialization to homebound seniors, but also
provides volunteer opportunities to well seniors and community resi-
dents; and provides Case Management services and support to more than
1600 seniors a year in Community Boards 8, 11 and 13; and
WHEREAS, The SNAP Meals-on-Wheels program delivers up to 350 meals a
day to eligible seniors in Community Board 13; and the SNAP Transporta-
tion program provides over 16,000 one-way trips each year to doctors,
clinics, supermarkets, shopping malls, senior centers and other communi-
ty resources which is an important service in helping seniors remain
independent; and
WHEREAS, The majority of the SNAP participants speak English, but in
the last few years there has been an increasing number of both Asian and
Indian participants; SNAP, in coordination with India Home, began a
program to introduce the Indian population to the many services offered
at its senior centers; and
WHEREAS, SNAP has an ongoing relationship and student field placements
with the schools of Social Work of Hunter, Adelphi and Yeshiva Universi-
ties; there is also a strong relationship between the local public
schools and SNAP; two special education classes assist in serving meals
at the senior centers, and students from P.S. 133 and P.S. 33 raised
funds to benefit the SNAP home delivered meal program; and
WHEREAS, SNAP has a partnership with Ronald McDonald House,
Schneider's Children's Hospital and the Bernard Fineson Center at
Creedmoor State Hospital; the seniors provide cakes, quilts and gifts to
the patients and their families throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, SNAP works closely with all the not-for-profits in the aging
network and with all service providers in its community; these relation-
ships have proven to be helpful in understanding and negotiating the
social service system for the clients of SNAP; this is a valuable tool
because SNAP remains the most comprehensive service provider for the
aged located in eastern Queens; and
WHEREAS, The success of SNAP is in direct correlation to the efforts
of its volunteers, whose involvement is, and always has been, character-
ized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncom-
promising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the asso-
ciation and the population it serves; and
WHEREAS, SNAP reveals itself as an organization which continuously
strives to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of its community;
and
WHEREAS, In light of its dedication and successful efforts, it is the
sense of this Legislative Body to extend its highest commendation to
SNAP, and to wish it further success in all its future endeavors; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.
to be celebrated June 24, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Linda M. Leest, Ph.D., Executive Director, Services Now for
Adult Persons, Inc., Queens Village, New York.