NEWS

Need Help? Send requests early

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/

Now that we can finally see the ground, many of us are finding that the winter’s weather played havoc with our landscaping, steps, garages, roofs, and much more. CoFiA is already receiving requests for workers to help with repairs and cleanups. We are happy to pass the requests along–but please remember that we may not be able to find someone who is available in a day or two. Contact us at info@communityoffriendsinaction and Angelica will try to find an appropriate worker as soon as possible.

Please remember that accepting one job means the worker is not available for another at that time. We ask that homeowners guarantee at least a half-day’s work, at a rate negotiated with the worker. Transportation may also be needed, depending on where the job is to be done, as well as specialized tools if necessary. Workers have a wide range of skills, so please be specific in your request for what the job will entail.

Coat Drive concludes–thanks to all donors

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The warm outerwear drive for 2013-14 concluded March 10. The clothing was especially appreciated this year because of the bitter cold weather and the snow. Donations were collected at the Leonia Public Library, as usual, and–new for this year–at Temple Emeth in Teaneck. We could have used more coats, hats, and gloves since an average of 70 workers joined us for lunch for several weeks. Please put them aside for next year–warm work jackets, sizes small and medium, warm hats, and heavy work gloves.

Many thanks to everyone.

CoFiA receives grant from Leonia Community Chest

Untitled Carolyn Sobering, Chair, CoFiA, receives a check from Susan Shanno and Norm Smith, Leonia Community Chest, at Agency Night, 2014.

The Community Chest of Leonia has been very supportive of the work of the Community of Friends in Action, Inc., for several years. At Agency Night, March 13, the support was once again demonstrated in the award of a generous donation. Carolyn Sobering, Chair, and Margaret White reported on CoFiA’s work over the past year, including the serving of more than 1000 hot lunches during the cold winter of 2013-2014.

Thanks for Donations

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Joselino Chocoj, third from right, the leader of the Guatemalan Folk Dancers, Grupo Folklorico Tikal, recently suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. He came to a Monday lunch to thank the workers (who had taken up a collection for him), CoFiA, and CoFiA members and friends, who also made contributions. Here is his letter of thanks:

Dear Friends:
Thank you very much to CoFiA and to everyone of the people who gave a donation so that I can have a recuperation, which will be so much easier.

I have had a cerebral hemorrhage. I asked God to give me another opportunity for life. I consider it a miracle that I lived and that I have received more than I had hoped for.

Thank you to the doctors, nurses, my wife, my family, my friends and all of you who have been part of my recuperation. The doctor has said that my recuperation will be three to six months but since I don’t have disability he said I should be home for at least two months.

Thank you very much for your generosity.

Sincerely, Joselino Chocoj

Hooray! Senate Refuses to Consider Ending Refundable Child Tax Credit

The week of February 14, the Senate refused to consider an amendment that would have denied millions of low-income immigrant children access to the refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC). Proposed by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) the amendment would have raised taxes exponentially on families that earn an average of $21,000 a year.

Workers who are ineligible for a Social Security number file their taxes using an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number). Under current law, ITIN filers are eligible to claim a a tax credit for their children. More than 2 million families file their taxes using an ITIN.

Senator Ayotte’s amendment to current law would eliminate this credit, and would disproportionately harm Latino, low-wage workers, and children–more than 5 million children. Of these 4 million are U.S. citizens, but all, including children of undocumented parents who pay taxes using the ITIN, deserve our support.

The amendment was opposed by a growing coalition of advocates in the faith community, labor, children’s rights groups, immigrant rights advocates, and anti-poverty allies. Kudos to all who prevented this mean-spirited amendment from taking effect.

Lunch Program Update

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The Monday lunch program held at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church has hosted guests ranging from 33 people in November to 71 in early January. During the cold weather numbers have averaged about 50 people per week.

Lunch program with health dept008

A dedicated group of between 12 to 15 volunteers turn out every week–rain, snow or sunny weather!–to put together a hot meal that is served between 12 and 1. La Esperanza bakery donates rolls every week, and the Palisades Park bakery contributes other baked goods.

CoFiA at Leonia Pres. 9.12006
Pete Shanno makes lots and lots of coffee (100 cups on January 6–and that was not quite enough!)

The volunteers operate as a well-oiled machine, with the work getting done efficiently and calmly, no matter how many hungry people turn up on a given week. And they have fun as well. One week a volunteer who was vacationing in Florida called just to say hello! Former volunteers, young people who have worked with us in the past, CoFiA members who are not working on a particular day–often drop by to lend a hand and catch up with each other and the workers.

Our faithful staff people Elias Garcia and Angelica Martinez provide interesting programs, important information, and individual assistance for workers who have problems. The lunch program is a major venue where wage theft issues are brought, and turned over to the wage theft committee for possible resolution.

Our ongoing thanks to Tina Lindquist and Pastor Peter Bauernfeind of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, and to the pastors of the Korean Lutheran Church with whom we share the space, for the warm welcome they give to the workers and the program.

Teaneck Temple Helps with CoFiA Coat Drive

The Social Action Committee of Temple Emeth, 1666 Windsor Road in Teaneck, is collecting warm winter clothes in response to the CoFiA solicitation on behalf of the workers. The drive will continue through the month of February.

Clothing placed in the boxes at the Leonia Public Library is taken to the CoFiA lunch program every Monday and made available on a first-come-first served basis to the luncheon guests. A CoFiA member brought a dozen sets of new long underwear one week and they were all taken immediately!

This weather is difficult for all of us, but imagine if getting work required standing on the street in single-digit-degree weather! Thanks to all our friends who join us in this effort.

Testimonials from happy homeowners

winter 2014

 

 

Here are some nice reports from a homeowner who used the CoFiA Workers Link service to get help with snow shoveling. The workers are pretty busy, so if you need someone, call as soon as possible!

“For all of you who still have shoveling to do (or may have tomorrow) we had a great experience calling Community of Friends in Action (Cofia)(201-598-2253). Made the call, worker was here in 10 minutes, set a fair price, did a great job. He was also a fine human being.Highly recommend the service for all kinds of odd jobs.”

Another CoFiA member said her husband was out clearing the sidewalk and one of the CoFiA workers (and an ESL student) came by and offered to help. He did their whole LONG sidewalks and driveway. “He was so nice and spoke good English,” the homeowner said. We’d have him any time!