BWICA - MAY 25, 2022 VIRTUAL MEETING

Presentation: Older Americans Month Celebration  
Special Guests: 

• Council Member Crystal Hudson, Chair, NYC Council Committee on Aging

• Charise Lawrence, Brooklyn Government Affairs Officer, NYC Department for the Aging

• Lacey Tauber, Legislative Director, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President

• Edyne Zephirin, Medicare Policy Expert, CMS

• Leslie Sierra, Outreach Counselor, NY StateWide Senior Action Council​

• To connect via phone, call 646-558-8656, Meeting ID:848 2798 0486#

If you missed any 2022 meetings, you can view our recordings and information here:

• APRIL MEETING RECORDING

• MARCH MEETING RECORDING

• MARCH MEETING ROUNDUP

• FEBRUARY MEETING RECORING

• JANUARY MEETING RECORDING

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BWICA DECEMBER MEETING AND HOLIDAY 

IN-PERSON CELEBRATION

We had a wonderful time at our in-person December meeting at St. Gabriel's Senior Center!  Take a look at our

• HOLIDAY VIDEO

• PHOTO GALLERY​

Join NY StateWide Senior Action Council for their 50th Anniversary Convention and Celebration! in Saratoga Springs!

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• View the Tentative Event Schedule, Award Nomination Form, and Mail-in Registration Form

• Are you interested in becoming a CONVENTION SPONSOR? Click HERE for more information.

• Showcase your products and services at our Exhibit Hall on 9/13

• Call 518-703-2617 for more information.

MORE FREE AT HOME COVID TESTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

• If you already received 4 you can order another 4.

• If you never placed an order, you can order 8. 

• Need help placing an order - Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

• Order online HERE

COVID-19 VACCINES and UPDATES​​

• All individuals 5 years of age and older that reside in the United States are eligible to receive the vaccine. New Yorkers should  continue to wear a mask indoors and follow all other health guidelines.

• COVID vaccines are widely available at pharmacies, local health departments, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and other locations across the state. Visit Vaccines.gov to find appointments near you or contact your local pharmacy or provider.

• FDA fact sheets for recipients and caregivers on each vaccine are available: Pfizer-BioNTech/Cominarty; Moderna; Johnson & Johnson

• Click HERE to find out more information about the in-home vaccination program.​

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR FAKE COVID-19 TEST SITES AND AT-HOME TEST KITS

• Scammers are selling fake, unauthorized at-home COVID-19 test kits and setting up fraudulent test sites in an effort to get your personal, financial, or medical information. 

• Make sure to purchase FDA-approved COVID-19 test kits from legitimate providers. If you aren't sure if a kit is legitimate, contact your doctor or local pharmacy to confirm.

• Ignore offers or advertisements for COVID-19 testing or treatments on social media sites. 

If you suspect COVID-19 health care fraud, call the NYS Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-333-4374. 

BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS ​​

• Senior Debate Program: The Library is looking for older adults interested in coming together in ​a virtual community to engage in a fun activity:  DEBATE!  You don’t need any experience or skill as a public speaker - - you will learn the structure of Senior Debate and participate in practice sessions leading up to our inaugural Senior Debate Tournament! Click HERE for more information

• ​Older Adults - Technology for All - Contact Ms. Bakr by email rbakr@bklynlibrary.org or by calling 718-218-4914 for more information and help with registration.  See Flyer for more information

• Brooklyn Supports - Join BPL for coffee and connection to social support resources and benefits assistance. Contact Norah Scanlan, LMSW at 718.230.2044 or nscanlan@bklynlibrary.org  See Flyer for more information and list of participating branches.

• Social Support Services and Benefits Assistance.  See Flyer for more information

Services for Older Adults at BPL offers inclusive programming and services tailored to their patrons over the age of 55, including lectures, films, performances and educational programs that reflect the wide interests of today’s older adults.  Click HERE for more information.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT? Look No Further! Join the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program!

 

Are you searching for a rewarding volunteer assignment to which you can lend some of your time, skills, and talents? If so, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is here! Hosted in New York City, by the Community Service Society of New York, RSVP helps older adults aged 55 and older find meaningful volunteer opportunities (both remote and in-person) across the city. 

 

Our volunteers currently serve in many capacities such as mentoring children or teens; tutoring middle schoolers who need academic skill-building and homework assistance or adults preparing for TASC/GED exams or who want to learn English as a second language; providing financial coaching and benefits counseling to low-income New Yorkers; and making friendly visiting phone calls to isolated seniors, delivering meals to older adults, assisting at soup kitchens and food pantries, working with animals, and much more! 

 

Start your search today by sending an email to:

• iwanttovolunteer@cssny.org to connect with an RSVP Volunteer Manager! 

• Want to learn more? Click HERE. 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LAUNCHES THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

• The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices.

• Find out if you qualify

• How to Apply

• Flyer for more information (english)

• Flyer for more information (spanish)