Volunteers said they were thrilled to honor the community’s older residents at a Mother’s Day brunch held for members of the Woodhaven Senior Center at Tropical Restaurant on Jamaica Avenue.
Photos courtesy the Queens Borough Democratic Club
The Queens Borough Democratic Club, led by its founder David Adorno, hosted a Mother’s Day brunch for members of the Woodhaven Senior Center on Saturday, May 17.
Acutely aware of the challenges seniors have experienced as a result of the closing of their center following the collapse of a neighboring building last year, the members decided to organize a brunch at the Tropical Restaurant at 88-18 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven.
Jaime “Jimmy” Illescas, the restaurant’s owner, donated mixed rice, chicken, vegetables, sweet plantains, and guava cake for the more than 30 seniors at the event.
“I am always happy to help in the community, especially when it’s for those who are most in need, like our seniors,” Illescas said.
Older and younger residents spent time together at the brunch. Photos courtesy the Queens Borough Democratic Club
Club members joined forces with the United Bangladeshi American Youth Association and the Bangladeshi American Community Development Youth Service to provide the seniors with the celebratory brunch. Volunteers from UBAYA – including some as young as 4-years-old, served the seniors.
“I am humbled to be helping the seniors of my community – not just because of my history working with them, but also because my mother is also a senior, so I know the struggles they go through firsthand,” said Miriam Colon, a social worker who works with seniors in Washington Heights and one of the event organizers from QBDC.
The event concluded with Adorno thanking the seniors and the volunteers. As the seniors left, they were given care packages from the Visiting Nurse Service. Stephanie Andrade also donated roses for all in attendance and gave them out as the seniors left the venue.
