The Center unveiled its new elevator and celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Wednesday, June 11th
The Catholic Charities Northside Older Adult Center in Brooklyn has been working hard to install a brand-new elevator to improve accessibility for its members, made possible with a $365,000 New York City Grant and the generous support of New York State Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.
With the elevator back in service, the Catholic Charities Northside Older Adult Center is excited to resume the programs and activities previously held on the other floors but had been suspended due to the elevator’s prior malfunction.
To celebrate this milestone, the Catholic Charities Northside Older Adult Center hosted a special event, made possible through the generous support of Council Member Lincoln Restler, that served as both a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new elevator and a celebration for Northside’s 50th Anniversary.
Reverend Monsignor Alfred P. LoPinto, Catholic Charities and Affiliated Agencies President and Chief Executive Officer, attended the celebration to commemorate Northside’s continuing success.
“Fifty years is quite an accomplishment, and we’re delighted at Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to sponsor this site and ensure that everything goes well, and you have the support you need. I know the elevator was a big battle for a number of years, and it finally got resolved. We want to thank Assembly Member Emily Gallagher for advocating to get this center the elevator it needed,” Monsignor LoPinto said.
The older adults that frequent Northside enjoyed a delicious lunch, followed by a jazz concert with dessert to celebrate the new elevator and 50 years of community.
The older adults were joined by staff, including Gladys Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Family Stabilization Services; Samira Alieva, Vice President of the Senior Services Program; Marta Kustek, Northside Older Adult Center Program Manager; and Michelle Nicole Lopez, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Assistant Council in Legal, who helped apply for the funding of this elevator project.
Northside Older Adult Center has been recognized for its rich cultural diversity, serving as a welcoming space where individuals come together to share meals, stories, and experiences. The center has a full schedule of classes, including painting, gardening, crocheting, photography, music, dancing, and general arts and crafts. One of the center’s greatest treasures is its Painting Club, where older adults receive instruction from artist Tina Eisenbeis. Each year, the center hosts a Painting Exhibition that attracts members of the community and local media.
“This is one of the oldest senior centers in the city of New York and that is very important because this place has been a model in other communities for what to put together for seniors,” Monsignor LoPinto said. “You’ve done great artwork, you are maintaining the garden outside, and all of the other things you’ve been able to accomplish in the way of keeping the neighborhood, and that’s an essential part of what the senior center does. It gives our seniors an essential place to gather and stay where they’ve lived their lives for a long time.”
In addition, the center’s social worker addresses a wide range of needs, offering support and guidance on Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, housing, transportation, and more. The center provides a variety of health and educational seminars to help keep older adults informed about the resources available to them.
For more information about Catholic Charities’ Older Adults Centers, visit https://www.ccbq.org/older-adult-centers/.
PHOTO CAPTION: From the left: Reverend Monsignor Alfred P. LoPinto, Catholic Charities and Affiliated Agencies President and Chief Executive Officer; Samira Alieva, Vice President of Senior Services Program; Michelle Nicole Lopez, Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens Assistant Council in Legal; and Marta Kustek, Northside Older Adult Center Program Manager. (Photo credit: Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens)