Community came together, and the impact was incredible. The Queens Community Closets Launch & Resource Fair filled Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans with generosity, connection, and hope. Families were able to receive free clothing, household essentials, food, baby items, and other much-needed resources, while also connecting with organizations offering career support, health resources, and community services.
It was the launch of Queens Community Closets, a new coalition bringing partners together to make sure resources reach the people of Southeast Queens. Neighbors of every age stopped by to stock up on pantry and household items, pick up baby essentials and cribs, and, most importantly, connect with the organizations that can support them long after the tables are packed away.
Watch the highlights:
Resources Under One Roof
What made the day special was how much was available in one place. Health screenings, financial guidance, foster-care support, fire safety, and family services all sat side by side, so a single visit could turn into a dozen new connections.
Some of the partners who showed up for the community:
- AWS Medical Group brought access to care directly into the community through hands-on outreach.
- Queens Hospital offered health teaching and on-the-spot screenings for blood pressure and glucose.
- The NYC Department of Health shared its program pairing pregnant mothers with a nurse who visits and supports the family until the baby turns two.
- Community Mediation Services, through the Whole You NYC program with Public Health Solutions, connected families to food, housing, and transportation assistance plus care management support.
- Primerica Financial Services helped families take steps toward becoming properly protected, debt-free, and financially independent.
- Nourishing Hearts, co-founded by Helen Lee and Nakia Brown, shared programs for foster and at-risk youth, foster families, and anyone interested in opening their home to youth in need.
- The FDNY Fire Safety Unit signed families up for free smoke detectors, installed in every bedroom by retired firefighters.
A Coalition Built for Southeast Queens
The event was made possible by a coalition led by the Showing Hearts Foundation and Queens Community Closets, with support from State Senator Leroy Comrie and his team, who helped secure many of the resources and vendors that filled the park.
“I’m honored to be State Senator for the 14th Senate District in Southeast Queens. I’m here today at Roy Wilkins Park, which is in the middle section of my district in St. Albans, with a coalition of people that are giving away resources to young parents and to people of all ages—everything from food to cribs, and also information and opportunities for them to link up with various city and state agencies to find out information about health concerns or personal concerns. I want to thank the coalition that put this together: Showing Hearts Foundation and Queens Community Closets, which is a new group which will be a coalition of all of these groups that are here today to try to make sure that resources are given to the people in Southeast Queens.” — State Senator Leroy Comrie
That spirit of showing up for your own community ran through the whole day. As one volunteer put it, the work is personal:
“It kind of reminds me a little bit of my younger self, and I see myself in all these younger children. I see my mom in a lot of these women. That’s why I’m here. I want to help.”
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to every volunteer, partner, sponsor, and community member who helped make this event possible. Thank you to Senator Comrie and his team, to the corporate partners and vendors who came out, to the volunteers who gave their time, and to everyone who came and allowed us to be of service. Your time, generosity, and support are what make initiatives like this a success.
Events like these remind us that a little generosity can create lasting change for countless families. We hope to see you all again.
Get Involved
The Showing Hearts Foundation works alongside community organizations across Queens to educate, empower, and uplift underserved youth and families. Want to be part of the next one?
- Learn about Queens Community Closets: explore the new coalition and its resources
- Volunteer: find upcoming opportunities and sign up for our next event
- Donate: every gift helps us keep showing up for our community
- Follow along: @showingheartsnyc on Instagram
Together We Can Change The World.