Gerald J. Ryan Outreach Center

11/22/2022

03/23/2021

We are pleased to re-post this announcement from Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierrre regarding our own treasure, Naycha Florival, an amazing asset at the Outreach Center. This is a well-deserved recognition! Congratulations, Naycha!

"Please help me congratulate Naycha Florival 💐, as we honor her today!
"Naycha Florival has dedicated herself to enriching the young minds in her community. For 10 years, Naycha served as director of religious education at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Wyandanch, where she worked with hundreds of children in various youth ministries. Naycha is currently the youth director at the Gerald J. Ryan Outreach Center. She also directed the Gerald J. Ryan Outreach Center’s After School Program and Summer Camp, which she herself attended as a child, for 12 years. Naycha has ministered hundreds of children throughout her career and works hard to instill a lifelong love of learning in her students, many of whom are currently enrolled in college. She lives in Central Islip and is the loving mother to two children, Rolanda and Zackory Bozor."

07/03/2020

I was invited to participate in a televised interview with Fr. Frank Pizzarelli, and to speak about our parish's Gerald J. Ryan Outreach ministries.

Join Fr. Frank Pizzarelli for an important discussion on poverty and homelessness with the legendary Fr. Bill Brisotti, along with a young dynamic parish out...

05/05/2020

“How long do I have to wait for results?” “Who can I call for help?” “Why can’t I get tested right now?” “What happens next?” These are some of the questions asked every day at COVID-19 testing sites.

04/21/2020

Update from Joe Gibbons:

Friends,

We have been busy all week at the Outreach Center providing food and diapers to our clients. Many of our clients have been laid off and are living day to day; fortunately we have food and we were able to help 121 families last week, over 484 people.

The Wyandanch COVID-19 test site at the HRH Care Community Health Center started last Thursday, it is very well organized and running smoothly; the number of people being tested is surprisingly high considering that the site has been open for only two days. I have spoken with Vanessa Baird-Streeter who gave me an update on the test site operations. Hard work and cooperation by many organizations has made this a success. One woman told me she called for her mother and got an appointment to be tested 3 hours later! Another woman told me since she has a car they set up an appointment for her at the Huntington test site for the same day; This means that the sites are load balancing when necessary and this is just smart. As the families receive the food bags at the Outreach we ask them how is everyone feeling at home especially Grandma, we continue to spread the word as we hand out the COVID-19 test site flyers but many people already know about the site and have told me how well everything is working.

We simply do not know the future of the Outreach Center since we survive on donations, but we will "proceed with confidence" that somehow this will all work out.

Have a good week.

Joe

04/15/2020

COVID-19 testing in Wyandanch starting tomorrow, 16 April, regardless of insurance or immigration status. Must call for appointment 1-845-553-8030
Pruebas COVID-19 en Wyandanch, empezando mañana, 16 abril, no importa estatus migratorio o si cuenta o no con seguro médico, hay que llamar para cita, a 1-845-553-8030;
Tes pou COVID-19 disponib nan Wyandanch, kòmanse demen 16 avril, kèlkeswa asirans oswa estati imigrasyon, dwe rele pou randevou, 1-845-553-8030

04/14/2020

COVID-19 Testing is available in Wyandanch. By appointment only. All are welcome to call, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

Tele: 845-553-8030.

04/01/2020

COVID-19 Update 4/1/20

Friends,

It’s with a heavy heart that I share that as of Wednesday, April 1st, the Outreach Center will suspend food distribution for two weeks. At that time, we will evaluate the situation and act accordingly. For the past few weeks, we have distributed frozen meat, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables to over 320 families on an emergency basis. Simply stated, without the proper supply of N 95 masks and other protective gear, we are unable to adequately protect the staff, myself, and our families from contracting COVID-19. Of course, if Father Bill, DSS, or any of our sister churches or charities contact us with a family in dire need, we will take care of them. A local shelter contacted Noelle this afternoon, and we were able to provide some cases of dry goods, meat, rice and milk. Wyandanch residents can go to the High School or La Francis Elementary School for breakfast and lunch.

Current status of our Spring Programs:

Soccer Clinic - Registration is suspended at this time.

Summer Camp - TBD - we are hopeful about opening, as many of our children are homeless, shelter and foster children.

Golf Outing - The May 21st Outreach Center Summer Camp Golf Outing (our largest yearly fundraiser) will be rescheduled for the fall. I will announce the new date shortly and will edit the registration website to reflect the new date and time. Please join us in the fall if you can; we need your support. If anyone would like a 50/50 book for our new drawing date, please send me your address and I will send out a book with a self addressed return envelope. Of course, the people that have already sent back their 50/50 books will be in the drawing.

Thank you, as always, for your support. These are crazy times, but we will get through this together.

Be safe.

--
Joseph Gibbons

03/19/2020

Friends,

The Wyandanch School District sent a robo text to the parents of all the students informing them that the Outreach Center is open and distributing emergency food. Yesterday 58 families came to the Outreach Center and each family received meat and three bags of food. Ivonne, Noelle and I are handling the distribution and are adhering to all recommended safety guidelines and maintaining appropriate social distancing.

We will endeavor to stay open as long as possible, based on: adequate food inventory, available staffing and client safety, or until we are advised to prepare to "shelter in place".

Please keep an eye on the elderly.

Interesting times! Thank you.

Joe