Congregation at Shelter Rock donates $120K to organizations for COVID-19 relief

Rose Weldon
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock has donated $10,000 to 12 local community organizations on Long Island. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset has announced that 12 Long Island organizations are each receiving $10,000 in unrestricted funds to address the COVID-19 crisis.

The groups were notified of their gifts and expedited payments are underway, according to a statement from the congregation.

Organizations considered for support were nominated by congregants and screened by a task force of seven members for COVID-19 relief work that directly addressed food insecurity, homelessness, mental health or loss of parents or guardians, with special consideration given to groups assisting undocumented individuals.

Donations went to community service organizations the Community Chest of Port Washington;  Littig House Community Center in Port Washington; North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center in Manhasset and Roslyn Heights; Choice for All in Roosevelt and Freeport; Community Action of Southold Town; ELMCOR in Corona, Queens; and Housing Help Inc. in Greenlawn; the food pantries St. Aloysius Interfaith Food Pantry in Great Neck; the Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead; and La Jornada in Corona, Queens; as well as Pride for Youth of Nassau and Suffolk in Bellmore, an LGBT youth organization, and the Safe Center Long Island in Bethpage, a nonprofit shelter for survivors of domestic abuse.

Julie Meer, executive director of the Community Chest of Port Washington, said the organization was “incredibly grateful” to the congregation at Shelter Rock, and the donation would go to the Port Washington COVID-19 Community Response Fund.

“It has certainly been a challenging year,” Meer said in a statement. “We have seen such pain and hardship faced by residents, businesses, and organizations. One thing that has remained constant, though, is the truly extraordinary generosity of our donors. This donation will be used to make COVID-19 emergency grants for food needs, housing costs, and other expenses for Port Washington families.”

Andrew Malekoff, executive director of the North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which is conducting therapy remotely at present, praised the congregation for a “dedication to social justice programs” in a statement.

“They have a profound knowledge of the importance of access to mental health care,” Malekoff said. “The pandemic has created a heightened level of anxiety and depression among many children and teens, and it’s more important than ever that we are able to provide therapeutic services for all who need them – and we never turn anyone away for inability to pay – thanks to the generosity of community supporters like the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock.”

Berta del Carpio, director of social ministry at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Great Neck, which manages the food pantry in conjunction with the Society of St. Vincent De Paul and Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, said that the pantry was grateful for the donation.

“There are so many more people to help, and this donation will help us to serve them,” del Carpio said.

The congregation has often performed its philanthropy through its Veatch Program. This announcement, however, marks only the second time that the funds have come from the operating budget of the congregation; the first time was earlier this year, also in response to pandemic-related needs.

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