Dear CRDC,

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend. Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, may you have the continued love and support from friends, families, and neighbors through these extremely difficult times. We will get through this together!!! If you need any kind of assistance, please do not hesitate and reach out to us. We do all have each other, albeit online or a phone call away. We truly are #AloneTogether and we must continue to #StayHome and follow all safety precautions. 

Things you can do to keep active:

• Find out how you can help New Yorkers affected by COVID-19 and how you can receive COVID-19-related assistance: NYC.gov/helpnownyc
• Stay up to date on COVID-19 information, resources, daily life & coping: https://www.cdc.gov/ 
• Home Delivered Meals for Seniors; The Department for the Aging (DFTA)-funded Home Delivered Meals Programs continues to operate for existing clients only. If you are a registered member of a senior center, you may be able to get direct meal delivery instead. To learn more, go to the Senior Centers page. If you do not receive home delivered meals and are not already enrolled at a senior center, you can get information about emergency food and the GetFoodNYC delivery program on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources and Support page.
• Join us for a virtual meeting on Zoom on April 23rd at 7pm for our General Meeting. We will hear from Speaker Corey Johnson who will give us the latest updates on the Coronavirus and beyond. Stay tuned for a link to sign up with. Everyone is welcome to join us.
• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans.  For small business loans, the best way to proceed with this program is to fill out the application online and then contact your banker for help.  If you continue to get nowhere, e-mail Sylvia Di Pietro at [email protected] and she will coordinate for you to speak to someone in Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s office for help.
• New York City #BikeMatch: Have a bike? Need a bike? In NYC, bicycles are essential transportation for many who need to get around during the coronavirus outbreak. This might include traveling to essential jobs, running crucial errands, or participating in mutual aid for vulnerable people who cannot leave their homes.  Transportation Alternatives is connecting New Yorkers who have an extra bicycle to New Yorkers who need one. Whether you have a bike or need a bike, fill out the form and you will be matched. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVT_3C2fXGwG286jckm4OuTSTGTGy0p_iJWUXRWPKs6-Pgng/viewform

 CRDC President, Mindy Rosier-Rayburn participated in @TransAlt #BikeMatch program.  Berman loved his new bike!     

 See our Tweet here; https://twitter.com/CRDCNYC/status/1247276563432947718

• If you haven’t filled out your Census yet, you can do so here ----> www.my2020census.gov Takes less than 10 minutes to fill out. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.
• Neighborhood Check-In Initiative; With many New Yorkers isolated and distant from loved ones, it's more important to check in on our neighbors. Senator Brad Hoylman's office is conducting an ongoing initiative called Neighborhood Check-In. Sign-up if you’d like to help. 
• Resources for People With Disabilities; The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities has launched a web page to inform New Yorkers with disabilities about COVID-19. There is information about food and supplies, social security benefits, home health care providers, and more.
• Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that he will use his executive authority to allow all New Yorkers to vote by absentee ballot for the June 23 elections, to prevent long lines at the polls that could put people at risk of being exposed to the coronavirus. Elections that day will include party primaries for many seats and special elections open to all voters within the relevant districts. Read about it here.
• Virtual Town Hall: Know Your Rights: On Tuesday, April 14th at 6pm-7:30, register now  to hear topics  including resources for immigrant communities during this health crisis and the Public Charge Rule; NYC workplace laws; emergency rule making price gouging illegal; financial counseling; human rights laws; and updates on COVID-19.
• Something to make you smile...   https://www.facebook.com/mythoughtsaboutstuff/videos/700082074063440
• CRDC’s Awards Brunch has been postponed.  We are hoping for a June date, and are working towards that. We will keep you updated. Everything at the moment is fluid.

• Read these two  beautiful tributes to Judy Richheimer, former CRDC President and a staple of our club and our community for decades. She passed away from the Coronovirus recently: Chelsea News and NY1 

Once again, if you need any help during this crisis, please reach out to me. We will get through this!!!

Best, 

Mindy Rosier-Rayburn

CRDC President