#QueensSTrong

S A C S S ' 20th Anniversary

V I R T U A L G A T H E R I N G OCTOBER 22, 2020 2020 & BEYOND RECOVERY, RESILIENCE, & VISION FORWARD Our community of 15,000+ families has suffered and endured so much in 2020. Our vision forward is to bring them a beautiful, permanent community space and provide them with the tools and support they need to recover and flourish.

Since we MISSION opened in Our mission is to 2000, we empower and integrate have helped underserved South Asians and other more than immigrants into the 100,000 civic and economic g people. life of . n o r T S s MAY SACSS n 2000 FOUNDING

e South Asian Council for Social e Services (SACSS) was founded in 2000 in response to critical issues u raised around the tremendous barriers to social services faced by Q ’s fast-growing South # Asian community. W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 SACSS DURING COVID WE REMAIN #QueensSTrong

Many thanks and respect from the core of my heart to you and your organization for giving support which was beyond my expectation. Except you nobody thinks/cares about us. Covid-19 is a pandemic, and has impacted not only the human health thread but also the financial thread. - SACSS client

nd respect from the core of my heart to rganization for giving support which y expectation. Except you nobody out us. Covid-19 is a pandemic, and has nly the human health thread but also the . - SACSS client, undocumented immigrant

It was amazing I really enjoyed volunteering there! - Diyorbek, a volunteer W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 SACSS DURING COVID

IN THE 14 WEEKS OF LOCKDOWN: MARCH-JULY

BEFORE DURING NOW

FOR CURBSIDE ONSITE FOOD HOME FOOD 1288+ FOOD PANTRY DELIVERY FAMILIES DISTRIBUTION

BEFORE DURING

FOR IN PERSON ONLINE PEER PHONE 300+ SENIOR SUPPORT EVENTS COUNSELING SENIORS

BEFORE DURING

IN-OFFICE PHONE-BASED ONLINE ASSISTED HEALTHCARE ACCESS ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FILING 655 INDIVIDUALS AND WE CONTINUE TO SERVE EACH WEEK

WE REMAIN #QueensSTrong W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 OUR ANNUAL IMPACT

WE SERVED 15,000+ PEOPLE IN 2019

SERVED 1st South Asian Food Pantry FOOD PANTRY Free Nutritious Staples 5,970 Weekly Supply MEMBERS

Access to Senior Benefits - SUPPORTED SENIOR Healthcare, Counseling & More SUPPORT Interactive Workshops 1,800 Recreational Peer Activities SENIORS

Access to Healthcare & Rights ASSISTED HEALTHCARE Assistance in 11 Languages Cultural Competence 5,000 Outreach and Education INDIVIDUALS

Free Basic & Advanced ESOL TAUGHT ESOL & Computer, Internet, and COMPUTERS MS Office Skills 175 Job & Academic Readiness INDIVIDUALS

Voter Registration, Census ENGAGED CIVIC Awareness, Phone Banking 2,500 ENGAGEMENT S.Asian Voices in Community Development IMMIGRANTS

SOUTH ASIAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES

W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 | S A C C S S @ S A C S S N Y . O R G T W E N T Y Y E A R S O F E M P O W E R I N G S O U T H A S I A N S A N D A L L N E W I M M I G R A N T S

“I was not sure if I qualify for health insurance because of my income. Now I have Medicaid which takes care of all my healthcare cost. I can, without any stress, take care of my kids, my health and don't have to worry about huge medical bills. Thank you SACSS!” - Ms. N

My husband’s salary isn’t very high, so the pantry gives us food. It’s very helpful.” - 26-year old MK # STrong

"After returning from , I felt my life was broken in every aspect. But one day I stepped into the SACSS office & enrolled into different programs…I realized this is a new beginning of a happy life. I have not enough words to say of appreciation for SACSS!” -Mr. S W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 | S A C C S S @ S A C S S N Y . O R G

#Queens A PLACE OF OUR OWN STrong WITH A NEW, PERMANENT SPACE, SACSS WILL: Accommodate more people who rely on the SACSS food pantry; Provide breast cancer screenings in a dignified setting; Provide our seniors with engaging activities; Expand our computer training and job development programming. SACSS'S 2020 YES! I WILL #Queens CELEBRATION JOIN STrong AS A: VISIONARY: $15,000 Plaque with sponsor name in the welcome/reception of SACSS's new community center Premier placement on sponsorship wall of welcome room in new community center Invitation to the “QUEENSSTRONG” exclusive pre-ribbon cutting event at the new community center Logo on all promotional materials for capital campaign, and gala, including during event champion: $10,000 Premier placement in the highly-trafficked food pantry wall in the community center Invitation to the “QUEENSSTRONG” exclusive pre-ribbon cutting event at the new community center Prominent placement on all promotional materials for gala & capital campaign effort changemaker: $5,000

Premier placement in the upstairs terrace of the new community center Invitation to the “QUEENSSTRONG” exclusive pre-ribbon cutting event at the new community center Acknowledgement on all promotional materials for gala & capital campaign effort advocate: $3,500

Acknowledgement on all promotional materials for the gala Placement on sponsors tree in the welcome area of SACSS's new community center ally: $1,000

Acknowledgement on all promotional materials for the gala Placement on sponsorship wall of welcome room in new community center

Name:______name for promotion:______Address:______City, State, Zip: ______Phone: ______Email:______AMOUNT ENCLOSED/PLEDGED: ______MY COMPANY OFFERS MATCHING GIFTS PLEASE ACCEPT MY PLEDGE, A CHECK WILL FOLLOW. PLEASE CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD (CHECK ONE): AMEX VISA MASTERCARD. CARD#:______Exp. Date:_____ CODE:____ Please send completed form and payment to: SACSS, 143-06 45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355. All contributions are tax deductible less the value of the event.

W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 | S A C C S S @ S A C S S N Y . O R G INVITE:JOIN ME & SACSS FOR #Queens

Dear friend, STrong

Andrew Cuomo. Hari Kondabolu. Awkwafina. They all have their roots in Queens.

Raziah Begum, a widow and nanny from Bangladesh; Patricia Rivera, a laundry worker, and Ronny Barzola, a delivery person -- they all make Queens their home. We know their names from an April New York Times article on how COVID19 has devastated the lives of thousands of Queens residents.

These names and stories only make the headlines occasionally. But the lives of Queens residents are intimately linked to all of ours: restaurant employees, beauty salon technicians, airport staff, hospital workers, drivers, nannies, laundry workers, and thousands of other Queens residents are risking their lives to provide services across the city. Yet, with the economic downturn, particularly the “service sector recession,” the reward for this risk is minimal: as businesses stay closed, high-income people spend less, and dramatically slash the take-home pay of low-wage workers.

Despite these huge challenges, this primarily immigrant community of never quitters has shown their resilience and determination on their road to recovery. We at South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) have had the pleasure of serving this community for 20 years. We and our community are #QueensStrong!

This year is a big year for SACSS. It is our 20th year anniversary and we have embarked on a capital campaign to open a new, larger permanent community center for our community.

We are organizing a virtual celebration and fundraiser, #QueensStrong, on Thursday, October 22nd at 8 pm EST, and we invite you to join our efforts to make the event a smashing success for Queens, NY.

Since we opened in 2000, we have become a trusted, stalwart source for S.Asian and all new immigrants. We now serve more than 15,000 people a year struggling to feed their families, pay their bills, stay healthy, and prosper. SACSS is a reliable solution and source of comfort. 20 years of empowering South Asian & all new immigrants

Seniors report feeling more isolated and see SACSS’s programs as a means for INVITE:JOIN ME & SACSS FOR #Queens STrong But as the impact of COVID-19 unfolds each day, we are seeing the need for a larger space more than ever: Seniors report feeling more isolated and see SACSS’s programs as a means for much- needed social interaction. As more businesses close, and people lose their livelihoods, there is a greater demand for our food pantry -- which we need to expand. The need for counseling is rising, and with the long-term nature of the pandemic and loss of loved ones, we anticipate clients needing ongoing mental health care. The people we serve will need help accessing high demand benefits, such as health care, unemployment, food assistance and other public assistance and services. With unemployment so high, more community members will need to get employment ready and apply for jobs. Moreover, SACSS’s continued visible presence in Flushing is a symbol of hope and of help — and our new, larger, warm community space will reinforce this.

Yet, there is reason to celebrate: our community members' resilience, their faith in our commitment to them, and the weekly joys of being able to make a difference. This is how and why we are #QUEENSSTRONG! You’ve probably experienced the pride our communities feel in Queens from visits to Flushing with your family, or dinner at one of Jackson Heights’ many wonderful restaurants. Help us to raise a toast to this pride.

We invite you to serve as a Benefit Committee member to help us champion Queens and our event to success. The event will help SACSS open its new community center. Benefit Committee members are simply asked to: Secure at least one sponsorship, and Bring friends/family to the virtual event.

Your leadership behind the 20th anniversary #QUEENSSTRONG event will bring the passion, commitment, and support we need to provide our dynamic community a permanent space and the programming it deserves.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email me so we may set up a time to speak. We look forward to working together on this exciting new venture!

Warmly,

Board of Directors, SACSS 20 years of empowering South Asian & all new immigrants

W W W . S A C S S N Y . O R G | ( 7 1 8 ) 3 2 1 - 7 9 2 9 | S A C C S S @ S A C S S N Y . O R G