Chelsea Nonprofit Honors NYCHA Residents for Helping Neighbors During Pandemic
At its 64th annual celebration of its founder, the nonprofit Hudson Guild honored NYCHA residents who took action during an unprecedented time to assist their neighbors in the Chelsea community with essential services.
The virtual awards ceremony was held on December 9 to commemorate Hudson Guild founder Dr. John Lovejoy Elliott by recognizing Chelsea neighborhood leaders for outstanding service within the community. Hudson Guild, which was established in 1895, is a multi-service community agency that works with those in need who live, work, or go to school in Chelsea and the West Side of Manhattan.
“This year has been a challenging one for everyone. Yet, I am continually inspired and amazed by the people in our community who come together in times of need,” Hudson Guild Executive Director Ken Jockers said of the 2020 award winners.
The NYCHA honorees this year included Senior Service Award winner Zhao Feng Sa and the resident associations of Elliott-Chelsea Houses and Fulton Houses, who were presented with the Dorothy Epstein Community Service Award. Also recognized was 18-year-old Amherst College student Neviah Waldron, who was awarded the Guild’s Youth Service Award.
Mr. Sa is a resident of Elliott-Chelsea Houses who immigrated to New York City from Guangzhou, China, in 1987. An active member of the Guild’s Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), Mr. Sa joined the center in 2013 and has been dedicated to attending nearly all of its Chinese-related activities and programs over the years.
“I am so grateful to the senior center for presenting this award to me,” he said.
In bestowing the award, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried noted that Mr. Sa is very involved with Hudson Guild’s Chinese Club and that prior to the pandemic, he would go on group field trips, volunteer for various events, and share information with other Chinese-speaking clients. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said Mr. Sa is a “testament to the incredible diversity of our community and city.”
“His dedication to the Guild’s Chinese Club and engagement with other Chinese-speaking clients makes Hudson Guild stronger, better, and more inclusive,” Speaker Johnson said.
The resident associations (RA) at Elliott-Chelsea and Fulton Houses were both recognized with the Guild’s community service honor for coming to the aid of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Guild, the associations’ members provided support and services beyond their normal responsibilities.
“When the COVID-19 crisis hit, the tenant associations at Elliott-Chelsea and Fulton Houses snapped into action, and we worked with their teams to distribute tens of thousands of meals to seniors and families experiencing food insecurity,” said Erik Bottcher, Chief of Staff to Speaker Johnson.
Elliott-Chelsea RA President Darlene Waters, who accepted the award on the group’s behalf, said volunteers have been helping to bag and deliver food donations to the apartments that were provided by local restaurants, schools, and churches. They have partnered with Fulton Houses on the effort, which included making phone calls to residents in need to check on their well-being.
“This year has been the hardest of all with the pandemic, but we got through it, just as long as we knew that many people here got what they needed,” Ms. Waters said.
Miguel Acevedo, Fulton RA President, was also thankful to the volunteers who helped make sure that Fulton seniors and other residents had the opportunity to enjoy fresh meals nearly every day throughout the pandemic.
“This community came together to make sure we took care of each other,” he said.
Paying tribute to her constituents’ community service, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said, “There are very few silver linings of this pandemic, but the rise in volunteerism and people stepping up to support their neighbors is one silver lining.”
Photo caption: Elliott-Chelsea Houses resident Zhao Feng Sa was presented with Hudson Guild’s Senior Service Award this year.