Dear Friends and Neighbors,
On the frontlines of food insecurity we have ECAP (Eastchester Community Action Partner) at 142 Main Street in Tuckahoe fulfilling a larger and larger role in assisting those who are newly unemployed as they struggle to meet basic nutritional needs for their families.
There has been a 50% increase in traffic at ECAP. And, of that 50% increase there has been an, even more notable, 80% increase in daily repeat visits from families with children.
ECAP Food Pantry workers, with a helping hand from the National Guard, make up bags of nutritious food for breakfast , lunch and dinner making certain that no one goes hungry. Hours are Monday and Wednesday 10am-2pm for bagged groceries and Monday-Friday 8am-10am for the Tuckahoe School lunch program.
ECAP relies on constant support from organizations like Feeding Westchester for a regular first Wednesday of the month distribution of produce.And, because this situation will not end in the foreseeable future ECAP Food Pantry is gladly accepting donations from generous neighborhood associations like Interlaken Gardens, with whom I worked with the past week, moving over 1,100 pounds of collected boxed, bagged and canned goods.
I give a big shout out to Interlaken resident Khris Tahmin, the architect of this project, who first publicized and later organized this effort. Khris has successfully created a template for other neighborhood associations in Eastchester and Tuckahoe who are planning similar food drives. Because of limited storage capacity please contact ECAP Director Denise Chin (914) 337-7768 before planning your next food drive. She will put your collection on the calendar.
Funding very early childhood (“zero to 3”) education and development is one of the best investments government can make. It helps our current economy by keeping parents who need or want to work in their jobs, contributing to society and staying off welfare. In the long-term benefits of quality day care have been measured and proven time and again to show a high, quantifiable rate of return. I have fought relentlessly, and successfully, every County budget cycle for more money for working families that depend on day care centers and the hard-working employees in these programs.
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Our friends at the Child Care Council of Westchester, who advocate so strongly all year round on behalf of day care centers and the families, have prepared some important information about child care scholarships that front-line and other essential workers may qualify for, as follows:
Governor Cuomo announced the CARES Act Child Care Scholarship Program to cover the child care costs of income-eligible essential workers. You may qualify!
To be eligible, a worker must be employed outside the home in an essential occupation, have income under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, and either has or would like to enroll a child or children in a child care program regulated by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
Family Size
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Gross Household Income Eligibility (Maximum)
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2
|
$51,720
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3
|
$65,160
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4
|
$78,600
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5
|
$92,040
|
6
|
$105,480
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The CARES Act scholarships have been extended to cover the period from April 20 to May 3, so please apply today. Learn more and complete the CARES application, Click Here.
The Council also has child care scholarships for essential workers who meet higher income eligibility standards. That program is funded by the Westchester Community Foundation and the RXR COVID Relief Fund. To learn more and complete that application, Click Here.
Please forward this e-news to family and friends who may be interested in this information.
Sincerely,
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