We are glad to share updates from our ministries and schools supporting their communities and students.
RSHM LIFE Center
To ensure that children were able to engage in online learning, we loaned out our laptops to families in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown who did not have computers at home. Andrea even posted a new News Video. The kids were taped by their parents at home and she spliced it together they’re talking about staying safe and what we’re doing. It’s on our Facebook page here.
Our After School Program instructors, supplied by the schools with each grade’s online learning assignments, work with the students via phone and Facetime. This one-on-one remote tutoring encourages the children to keep up with their schoolwork; and the much-needed reassurance from instructors they know and love provides some normalcy. Our instructors check in with the parents weekly, gently gauging the employment and economic impacts of the pandemic on each family. Last Thursday, in partnership with area restaurants, we distributed 443 meals to food- insecure families. Today we will distribute 1,488 pounds of shelf-stable groceries provided by Feeding Westchester. This Friday we will double that distribution. We hope to continue this outreach as long as the crisis continues.
Their legal offices are working remotely and keeping up with the latest regulations affecting immigrants.
Centro Corazón de María
Sr. Mary Beth Moore is helping to organize a HOTLINE service for the Hispanic community which will provide specifics about the location of health testing sites and emergency food distribution locations as well as information about benefits (unemployment, food stamps, emergency medical care) for which they might be eligible. The process of applying for benefits is challenging at this time since agency staff are working from home and online applications are preferred. Language barriers and the lack of access to computers with the closure of local libraries offer particular problems for online applicants. Sr. Mary Beth and her staff are recruiting volunteers to assist members of the immigrant community to complete online applications when needed as part of the HOTLINE service. Stay updated with their helpful announcements on Facebook here.
Marymount University, Arlington
From Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University Arlington
Our Malek School of Health Professions donated critical PPE to the Virginia Hospital Center, a good deed mentioned by The Washington Post, InsideNoVa.com, WDVM-TV and the Arlington Catholic Herald in their ongoing coronavirus coverage. Way to make Marymount proud!
The faculty in the Biology & Physical Sciences Department donated gloves and safety goggles to Emerson Clinical Research Institute.
The CEO of the Institute is Dr. Fabian Sandoval, a Marymount University alumnus, and he’s also spreading the word about our Student Emergency Fund and encouraging others to donate. It’s great to see the entire Marymount community coming together and helping our fellow Saints, and I’m excited to see this continue.
Marymount Schools in Europe
Our four schools in Europe are doing incredibly creative and innovative work online. We thought you would enjoy this video here from the Villa in Rome showing how they are keeping students and teachers connected virtually for fun as well as study!
Marymount Convent in Tarrytown, NY
The sisters at Marymount Convent cannot carry out at the moment many of their volunteer activities but some have been able to make masks which are most appreciated by the nursing staff at the Convent and RSHM LIFE Center workers. Some RSHM were also able to help distribute food at the LIFE Center. They continue their ministry of prayer and spiritual support for all.
