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City community centers offer vital services

It has come to my attention that the One Stop Richmond Hill Community Center, at 110-08 Jamaica Ave. in Richmond Hill, is in danger of permanently closing after serving the community for more than 30 years.

This is an open letter to our elected officials to try and help this center survive. This center serves the Richmond Hill community with a variety of free services, including after-school tutoring in reading and math for students from grades 2 to 5, a mommy and me program for parents and their children ages 12 months to 3 years, an ESL and immigration program for residents over 18 and an after-school computer technology and videoconferencing program that offers students in grades 3 through 5 an opportunity to communicate with astronauts in space through our relationship with NASA.

The center also provides, free to the community, an outreach worker who offers Home Energy Assistance Program, HeartShare and EnergyShare application assistance, as well as proper agency referrals for quality-of-life issues.

While we are in a time of economic crisis, it is important to support community centers that provide vital services to city residents.

Heidi Harrison Chain

Candidate

City Council District 29

Forest Hills