Community Star of the Week: NY Project Hope

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The impacts of COVID-19 have affected everyone over the last year. While some populations have been struck harder than others, the disease and its aftermath have left its mark over a variety of demographics.
In response, NY Project Hope has created different initiatives to help combat and offer support to local communities during these trying times, with a focus on mental health. With agencies spread all over the state, NY Project Hope is focused on providing helpful resources. The Association for Mental Health and Wellness, one such agency, includes an emotional support helpline with a crisis counselor and referral to resources to those residing in Suffolk County.

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"Right now, my co-team leaders, Rachel Berg and Dani Silverstein, and I are leading our crisis counselors in providing outreach within the community," Team Leader Stephanie Lawrence said. "We're promoting linkages with community providers, offering support and referrals to those that have been impacted. One of our main focuses is providing the tools necessary to address the emotional and psychological challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic, as well as acknowledge the overall scope that has befallen the Long Island community. We've been looking at underserved and low-income populations, partnering up with food pantries and various places in the community that provide clothing, food, and financial assistance, especially because everyone has been impacted by COVID in the last year. We're really trying to address and fulfill the fundamental needs of everyone the best that we can."
The emphasis of NY Project Hope is to provide resources for anyone and everyone who has been impacted by COVID-19; services are free, confidential and anonymous. With daily life still mostly remote, NY Project Hope is respecting social distancing guidelines, but hopes to be able to move forward with some more engaged in-person initiatives to help provide workshops and community programs.
"Our programs will be prioritizing psychoeducation with the help and guidance of our crisis counselors to help explain how all of these changes have affected our lives," Berg said. "Whether it be emotionally, physically, behaviorally or cognitively, trauma can affect us in all different facets.
Silverstein further stated, "we're hoping to provide workshops and community programs to help those who have been affected. Education is essential in helping those understand not just the ramifications but also developing the tools to effectively cope and address their feelings."
In the meantime, NY Project Hope's website offers an abundance of information related to COVID-19. Everything from the emotional support helpline, information on the vaccine and its distribution, details on financial assistance, food pantry locations, NY State guidelines and more can be found at
https://nyprojecthope.org/
. Inquiries and questions regarding these initiatives can be directed to the team at
[email protected]
.