LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens
Council, Inc. upon the occasion of its 33rd Anniversary and recognizing
their socially oriented services

WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to
the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their past
contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and valuable
asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor those
illustrious organizations of the State of New York whose purposeful
endeavors serve to enhance the quality of life for the cherished senior
citizens 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 commend
the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc. upon the occasion
of its 33rd Anniversary and recognizing their socially oriented
services, to be celebrated at a Gala on Thursday, April 30, 2009, at
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc.,
(RBSCC), a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1973, as a
senior service provider in the Ridgewood and Bushwick communities; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, the RBSCC has grown tremendously and its
mission has extended far beyond that of its early years; today, its
agencies provide a vast array of social services to residents of all
ages within the Bushwick, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Ridgewood, Glendale,
and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, The Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Center, offers programs that
seek to enhance the lives of senior citizens, aged 60 and over, through
the provision of social services and advocacy; the Center endeavors to
facilitate social interaction and companionship through the provision of
recreational, cultural, and educational activities; and
WHEREAS, Since 1979, the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizen Homecare
Council, Inc. has offered a viable alternative to institutionalization
for the disabled and frail elderly; licensed by the New York State
Department of Health, on a daily basis this program assists nearly
twelve hundred Medicaid eligible individuals; and
WHEREAS, While the specific services provided vary from client to
client, home attendants perform, but are not limited to the following
activities: personal care including feeding, assisting in ambulation,
bathing, toileting and grooming; light housekeeping chores including
laundry, ironing, marketing, and meal preparation; assisting with home
management and other health-related services; and
WHEREAS, The Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center has become an integral
part of a thriving community and now serves both the young and old; the
Center seeks to improve the quality of life of community residents who
are age 60+ by offering extensive social services, which are aimed at
improving recreational, cultural and personal well-being; and
WHEREAS, The Respite Center is truly a "home away from home" with
bright, warmly decorated rooms and comfortable surroundings; the program
is designed to assist families of the elderly in maintaining their loved
ones at home by providing caregivers with temporary relief from their
24-hour responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, Offering a truly unique setting, the Respite Center provides
Social Adult Day Care, a program affording clients with ongoing medical
monitoring, assistance with personal care, meals and snacks, recreation
and companionship; it also offers Residential Care, which offers all the
same services as Social Adult Day Care, but, it is longer term; and

WHEREAS, Named in honor of a dedicated and loyal advocate of senior
citizens and their issues, the Diana H. Jones Senior Center has a long
history of serving the Williamsburg and Greenpoint communities; in oper-
ation since 1969, the Center came under the sponsorship of the RBSCC in
1997; and
WHEREAS, Like RBSCC's other senior centers, the primary goal of the
Borinquen Senior Center and the Atlantic Senior Center is to enhance the
well-being of community residents who are 60 years of age or older;
programs and activities are aimed at not only the provision of social
services, but the promotion of fellowship and the shared enjoyment of
recreational and cultural stimulation; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the RBSCC sponsors many annual events, which
over the years of its operation have become traditions in the Bushwick
community; in an effort to give seniors a relaxing and enjoyable day out
of the city, the RBSCC sponsors two annual picnics at Sunken Meadow
State Park; nearly 10,000 senior citizens participate in July and August
of each year; and
WHEREAS, Decades ago, founder Vito Lopez became cognizant of the fact
that holidays are very lonely and sad times for the elderly in our
community; to prevent seniors from having to go through the holidays
alone, he began annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Celebrations at
the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Center; and
WHEREAS, On Thanksgiving, an elaborate turkey dinner with all the
trimmings is cooked and served by staff and community volunteers; danc-
ing and live music further the festive mood; additionally, homebound
seniors who are unable to attend the Center receive the same special
holiday meal; and
WHEREAS, On Christmas a special full course meal is prepared and
served, again by staff and community volunteers; through year-round
fund-raising efforts, the RBSCC assures that each senior attending the
celebration receives a gift from Santa Claus, who always makes a guest
appearance; homebound seniors receive gifts along with their holiday
meals as well; and
WHEREAS, The success of the RBSCC can be attributed to the hardworking
staff, administrators, and volunteers of its agencies who have done so
much to provide social, physical, and spiritual well-being to senior
citizens; and
WHEREAS, This significant milestone is an excellent opportunity to
recognize the special contributions of the RBSCC and the dedicated indi-
viduals who strive to better the quality of life for senior citizens in
the community; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions and individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought
to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the
citizens of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc. upon the
occasion of its 33rd Anniversary and to recognize their socially
oriented services; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc.