New Yorker’s Helping Others
There are amazing people in our great big city who are doing things to help those in need. While we all wonder about our present and future, these individuals go above and beyond to address a problem and start to fix it.
One of these amazing people is Chris La Cass, founder of the Pandemic Kitchen. Navigating the streets of New York, Chris observed countless people on the street who do not go to shelters and are in need of food.
A logistics expert and a man with a big heart, Chris wanted to help solve this problem by building a distribution method to get food to these struggling New Yorkers.
He signed up several restaurants to cook hot meals, got a bike and truck donated, and now brings thousands of meals to homeless people daily.
No, it is not a 501(c)3 organization. Chris wanted to create a very quick response to a devastating situation.
It’s a “boots on the ground, what do we need to do to fix this problem today?” mentality.
Chris La Cass and the participating restaurants preparing the meals are working tirelessly to help feed hungry New Yorkers.
Even a small donation provides several meals. Go to https://pandemickitchen.nyc/donate
When you loose a loved one, grief follows. Grief is a ferocious emotion.
For those of us who have suffered the pain of a death during this pandemic, the grief seems even worse, due to lack of a wake, a funeral, and a gathering of family and friends providing support, as well as a proper and dignified send-off.
Jan Warner knows about grief all too well. When she lost her husband ten years ago, she wanted to stop living herself. She was able to find her way back to a life that embraced her grief and her joy, and realized the best way through was to help others.
Jan has written a book that addresses this very topic. “Grief Day By Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living with Loss”, is a practical book along with personal thoughts from Jan.
A new live entertainment platform is launching this week. Broadway on Demand will provide the opportunity to watch live theatrical productions and shows in a community-like experience. This Monday evening, the channel will air a star-studded event featuring over 50 Broadway stars and celebrities to benefit Covenant House.
Put that on your calendar.
To hear conversations with the people who have created these initiatives or projects, listen to my radio show “Bagels and Broadway” Saturday morning at 9 on AM970, online, Alexa and following airing, on podcast.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
