As the Covid-19 crisis engulfs East Boston, the YMCA's pursuit of community wellness shines through

Shifting gears, East Boston YMCA stays true to its mission: Community Wellness; Cargo Ventures' donation arrives at critical point for YMCA

The historic landmark building where the East Boston YMCA calls home is quiet. Its 2800 members remain at home and not at its Bremen Street facility or at its satellite location on Ashley Street.

The exercise classes are gone, for now. So are the teenagers who check in over the weekend for programs. The applications for the Y's summer camp are up for discussion. And so are the swimming lessons, the YMCA's traditional staple, blocks away at the Umana Academy. Like many other social service agencies, the YMCA is facing a loss of revenues to support its programs.

But the YMCA is far from closed. And it is certainly not down and out. It is ground zero for providing community support in a neighborhood that is severely swamped by the COVID-19. According to the Boston Public Health Commission, East Boston has the highest percentage of coronavirus cases in the city.

The austere brick building which was once the Boston and Albany engine house and located along the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway has emerged a critical center of activity not only distributing food but also providing child care for front line workers.

"We're the only child care facility in East Boston for front line workers for free of charge," notes YMCA Executive Director and East Boston native Joseph Gaeta. Moreover, the Y is spearheading food distribution, along with the City of Boston and Project Bread, to make sure children and families receive healthy meals during the pandemic here in Eastie.

"A lot of our parents are doctors, nurses, EMTs, UPS drivers, Post Office employees and Stop and Shop workers. All of these workers are essential. Being able to provide our front-line workers a safe place for their children while they support our community is very important to us at the Y."

Little did Gaeta know that he'd be leading relief efforts in a major health crisis in his hometown. "I worked my way through every job to be executive director," he said. "I don't ever expect to distribute personal protection equipment (PPE) and face masks."

The YMCA has always stressed health and wellness in its programs. Some of the ones now in a holding pattern include not only the group and personal exercise routines but the LiveStrong programs for cancer patients and diabetes control. The transition to providing nutrition is natural for the East Boston YMCA.

Some of the Y's members are still paying their dues so that they can keep the programs going. Members are aware their dues enable free programs to feed people. "They know the money is going to feeding children," explains Gaeta. They are also busy making calls to check up on fellow members.

But unfortunately, the needs increase.

"Right when we think we have a steady stream to fill the need, it doubles the next day," says Gaeta, "We serve about 20,000 meals a week just out of Bremen Street," says Gaeta.

"Sometimes we run out and have to turn people away or refer them to another partner. Because of the generous donation from our friends at Cargo Ventures we are able to fill gaps and extend our reach to families directly when we do run out of our daily meals."

Cargo Ventures, the industrial real estate and logistics firm, stepped up to the plate with a major donation to the Y just when the crisis broke. The Cargo Ventures donation enabled the Y to purchase gift cards for its members and the community.

"Cargo Ventures is pleased to help out this extraordinary organization," says Pat Capogreco, the firm's liaison to the community. "The staff members at the Y are working hard every day so that needy families in East Boston are fed. They are doing a tremendous job. As in East Boston resident and employee of Cargo Ventures, I am grateful that I can get help for the YMCA."

The YMCA is also using its resources to extend support beyond East Boston. Gaeta says its Ashley Street location has doubled up as a citywide kitchen staffed with two chefs that provide meals. The first chef also provides halal meals for East Boston's growing Muslim population while preparing 200 to 300 meals each time he cooks. The second chef is working with the city of Boston to produce 500 meals not only for East Boston but Dorchester and Roxbury.

"It's hard to figure out what's next," says Gaeta. He notes that the summer camp might take place during Phase 2 of the governor's reopening plan and maybe some semblance of normality not much later for online fitness, perhaps as early as June 29. The summer camp program draws 300 local kids.

The agency supports a pre-school program for 93 children, weekly programs for 75 seniors and afterschool programs for 200 children.

Teleconferencing online has kept everyone connected and in shape. Members have access to virtual fitness options that are streamed live and archived for usage on-demand.

Visit the East Boston YMCA's web site here.

You can support the Y with an online donation here.

Read more local news at Eastboston.com.

Photographs courtesy of the East Boston YMCA.

Walsh announces distribution of $4 million to support small business in every neighborhood, in most impacted industries due to Covid-19

New platform created to help businesses source personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies to protect employees and customers as economy begins to reopen

(BOSTON - Thursday, May 21, 2020) - Continuing a policy of rapid, equitable, and transparent relief and support from the COVID-19 pandemic to all Bostonians, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that nearly $4 million in debt-free grants have been distributed to over 1,100 small businesses in every neighborhood across the City of Boston through the Small Business Relief Fund, including the $2 million distributed to businesses earlier this month. The businesses receiving grants represent industries most-impacted by closures, policies, or general loss of revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout every neighborhood in Boston. "I've said it many times: small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy, and they provide residents with the services they depend on every day," said Mayor Walsh. "Through the Small Business Relief Fund we have been proud to support Boston's small businesses with a swift and direct infusion of funds through a fiscally responsible and equitable system that will help businesses stay open, pay employees, and strengthen our local business districts." Of the nearly $4 million that has been distributed, the top five industries funded represent small businesses in the most-affected industries, including hospitality, personal care, arts and recreation, retail, and healthcare and social assistance (home childcare, family services, personal and home care aide, etc). Of the businesses receiving grants so far, 95% have 15 or fewer employees, 52% are owned by people of color, 49% are women-owned, and 46% are immigrant-owned. Grants from the Small Business Relief Fund have been crucial to the survival of many Boston businesses, and serve as a lifeline for businesses that experienced difficulty navigating or accessing financial assistance through the Federal CARES Act. A full list of businesses that have received funding is available here. "I want to thank Mayor Walsh and the Economic Development Office for all of their hard work and help. Natalia and the Small Business team made the entire process very easy and the steps that the city has taken to keep us informed, as well as assist those in need, has blown me away. I've strengthened my faith in this city because of this experience," said Kandace Cummings of Anita Kurl Salon in the South End. "Thank you for your support in this time of hardship, this gesture has made me feel part of a community," said Ramon Zapata, of the AlbertStyle Barbershop in Dorchester. Managed by the Mayor's Office of Economic Development (OED), this fund was designed to disburse grants through a streamlined process without having to assume additional debt, which can be used to address rent, fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses. Through a combination of City, Federal, and private funds, a total of $7.5 million has been made available to fully fund all remaining eligible grant requests that were submitted during the application process.  To further assist the City's small businesses, the City of Boston has created a new platform to help businesses source the personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies they will be required to have available in order to ensure the safety of employees and customers as industries begin to reopen. Along with industry-specific reopening requirements, the page includes a list of self-identified, local suppliers of PPE and cleaning supplies, information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' vendor database, and partner organizations helping to connect businesses with vendors. As business owners, employers, and employees navigate an evolving COVID-19-related assistance landscape, the Economic Development Office has created a Federal Assistance Guide, Financial Relief Handbook and FAQ document, all of which are continuously updated. Small Business conference calls will continue every Tuesday at 3pm to communicate policy updates, answer questions, feature relevant City of Boston departments, and troubleshoot the ecosystem of funding available from the state, federal, and private industry.  The City of Boston has created a number of useful guides and resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The Open Businesses in Boston and Support Boston Restaurants platforms have helped businesses to publicly share that they are open and direct residents into supporting local establishments. The above resources and more industry-specific guidance are accessible on boston.gov/covid19-businesses. For all coronavirus updates from the City of Boston, please visit  boston.gov/coronavirus.

Answering the call in a crisis, East Boston Community Soup Kitchen delivers for families

Cargo Ventures pitches in when it matters

In 2016, Sandra Nijjar found herself without a job, a stark challenge for a resident where the cost of living in Boston increases every day. But unemployment wasn't an obstacle. If there was not a job out there for her, she came up with an idea and created one for herself although it was not a paying job but it certainly was a dream to help the most vulnerable in a more consistent manner.

However, after about four months of being unemployed, Nijjar was recalled from her previous employer as a seasonal and was given Tuesdays off and her pay was prorated so she could continue her soup kitchen's effort which she was not willing to give up on.

With a burning desire to help the neighborhood's homeless, she started the East Boston Community Soup Kitchen. Located at the Our Savior Lutheran Church on Paris Street, Nijjar grew a food pantry and soup kitchen that today serves 40 to 50 men and 250 families. "The help from East Boston is overwhelming."

Despite the growing prosperity that comes with new development, people living with food insecurity are growing and sometimes in the shadows. "I noticed that we have a population of middle-aged men without families and without small children who are addicts and live on the streets; and pretty much without any help, particularly the undocumented folks."

The soup kitchen is more than just food, she says. "My goal is to use food as a tool where men can then be connected to the services they need to become sober."

The East Boston Soup Kitchen also does a lot of advocacy work for its patrons such as making connections to existing services in the area when folks need a shower, clean clothes, detox services and even help with health insurance paperwork.

She says that she is blessed to have the support of the Our Savior's Lutheran Church and the many volunteers that have lent a hand over the years. "Everyone is pitching in."

Nijjar says the key to success is not only to be welcoming but non-judgmental. "No one is perfect and everyone has a story." She notes that some of her patrons suffer from childhood trauma or mental illness. The turn-arounds are tinged with sadness. "Once they are sober I don't see them anymore."

Like most small community-based human service agencies, Nijjar makes a dollar stretch. She collects perfectly edible food from local restaurants. "We really don't waste food here."

That challenge of organizing, setting up and securing community support for the pantry nearly four years ago, pales in comparison to what she faces today: How to feed the homeless middle age men in the age of the coronavirus one of the neighborhoods most besieged by the novel disease. East Boston has one of the highest rates of COVID-19 infections and the virus has hit minorities the hard.

On March 10 the kitchen closed. But Nijjar's work didn't stop then even though she didn't report to a kitchen anymore. She started getting the word out to local organizations and supporters such as Resurrection Church.

Any work during the shutdown required funding. It was just as the city was putting its stay-at-home policy in place that Nijjar received a call from Pat Capogreco, community liaison for Cargo Ventures, who asked "'How can we help?'"

The industrial real estate and logistics firm kicked in much-needed cash.  Food that was once prepared, served and consumed in the church basement was now made available by vouchers, gift cards and references to local eateries such as Taco Mex, Meridian Food Market, La Casa Del Pandebono. Cargo Ventures picked up the tab for all the meals without asking how much the meals would cost.

"Cargo Ventures is my life-saving angel to say the least. They reached out the first day we closed," says Nijjar.

"As an East Boston resident and Cargo Venture employee I'm very happy to be in a position to help out the soup kitchen which is helping people in the community who are in need," notes Capogreco.

Such help is inspiration for the future. Nijjar would like a more permanent place for the soup kitchen on this side of the Boston Harbor. Even though East Boston is a highly desirable place to live, it remains isolated. That makes it harder for the vulnerable who have to find their way to downtown Boston.

Competition for real estate is fierce but the East Boston Soup Kitchen has proved that it can overcome any crisis. By being there in the most trying crisis in modern times for the people who need it most, Nijjar, her band of volunteers, network of eateries and supporters like Cargo Ventures, have the will to make it happen.

"Sandra is very dedicated in her cause working hard to help people," says Capogreco.

To learn more about the East Boston Community Soup Kitchen, visit its website here.

Mayor Walsh, MGH announce results of antibody and COVID-19 testing for Boston Residents

BOSTON - Friday, May 15, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh, together with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), today announced the study to evaluate community exposure to COVID-19 through a representative sampling of asymptomatic Boston residents resulted in 9.9% testing positive for antibodies and 2.6% of currently asymptomatic individuals testing positive for COVID-19. In conclusion, approximately 1 in 10 residents in this study have developed antibodies and approximately 1 in 40 currently asymptomatic individuals are positive for COVID-19 and potentially infectious. 

"We can draw two preliminary conclusions from the results of this study," said Mayor Walsh. "First, that the actions we took early on in this pandemic made a real difference in slowing the spread and, second, that the majority of our population still have not been exposed to the virus. This underscores what we already know, that we have to move cautiously and stay focused on what got us this far. This can be done by a gradual, phased-in approach to reopening that includes clear health criteria and safety guidelines for each industry and depends on testing and hospital metrics reaching certain benchmarks, and continuing to move in the right direction." 

More than 5,000 residents living in East Boston, Roslindale or within the boundaries of zip codes 02121 and 02125 in Dorchester were invited to voluntarily participate in the study, with total outreach representing more than 55% people of color. Approximately 1,000 residents expressed interest in participating and 786 residents were deemed eligible. Of those, 750 residents enrolled in the study and received the required testing. Residents with symptoms or a previously positive COVID-19 test were disqualified from the study.

"Making sound decisions about safely reopening requires that we understand how extensively the virus has already spread in our community," said Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of Massachusetts General Hospital. "The testing that the teams from Boston and the MGH conducted shows that approximately 90 percent of the city's residents have not yet been exposed to the virus. We also know that COVID-19 will be with us for a while. It is vital therefore that we be thoughtful and careful about reopening, and that we continue to take actions - wearing masks, physical distancing, working from home when possible, limiting gatherings - that can prevent another surge of the disease."

Testing was conducted at three drive through testing sites in East Boston, Roslindale and Dorchester. Testing for COVID-19 virus is done by means of a swab of the nose and determines if you have the infection. Antibody testing is done by means of blood drawn through a finger prick and detects whether your blood has antibodies that are present when the body is responding to an infection, like COVID-19. Any resident who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus or the COVID-19 antibodies was provided with clear guidance and information on how to care for themselves and those around them.

This announcement builds on Mayor Walsh's commitment to increase access to testing for Boston residents, which will allow for better understanding of the spread and inform a path to recovery. Boston is currently offering testing in over 20 locations, including hospitals and community health centers. During April 30 and May 7 alone, Boston had a 30 percent increase in the amount of testing happening citywide. By the end of last week a total of 36,072 tests had been conducted.

On Monday, Mayor Walsh announced that the City's first round of universal testing for all unhoused individuals in Boston was completed. Over 2,200 homeless individuals were tested, with 743 testing positive for a 32% infection rate. In addition, Mayor Walsh is working on universal testing at city substance use residential programs.

Through the Boston Resiliency Fund, the City has dedicated $1.24 million to expand COVID-19 testing and conduct culturally appropriate outreach and education at 17 community health centers in Boston neighborhoods. A full map of testing sites is available here. The map includes contact information for the testing site and it is updated as new sites come online. Residents who are sick and want to be tested should call ahead to be pre-screened and schedule an appointment. Residents will not be charged for testing and residents will not be asked about immigration status. 

In addition, the City of Boston has made available weekly data on testing at the neighborhood level, with new reports including the number of people tested, and positive testing rates for each neighborhood. The latest data was shared on Thursday, May 7 and can be found here. 

Background here. 

COVID testing at the Health Center

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Four-Phase Approach to Reopening and Publishes Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards

New standards will apply to all workplaces when phased reopening begins

BOSTON (May 10, 2020) — Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a four-phase approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and published Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards that will apply across all sectors and industries once reopening begins.

The goal of the phased reopening, based on public health guidance, is to methodically allow certain businesses, services, and activities to resume, while protecting public health and limiting a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases.

• Phase 1 will be “Start:” limited industries resume operations with severe restrictions
• Phase 2 will be “Cautious:” additional industries resume operations with restrictions and capacity limits
• Phase 3 will be “Vigilant:” additional industries resume operations with guidance
• Phase 4 will be the “New Normal:” development of vaccine and/or therapy enables resumption of new normal

Businesses and activities that provided “COVID-19 Essential Services,” per Governor Baker’s March 23^rd order, will continue to operate. 

Certain businesses and activities with a lower risk of COVID-19 transmission will open in earlier phases. 

Decisions and timing will be influenced by public health metrics for when the first phase of reopening begins, as well as when it is safe to move into concurrent phases.

CLICK HERE for more information about the four-phased reopening approach.

CLICK HERE for today’s presentation from the Reopening Advisory Board.

Additionally, the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the COVID-19 Command Center, in consultation with the Reopening Advisory Board and based on feedback from industry, labor, and community coalitions, has developed Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission as employees and customers begin to return to workplaces during the first phase of reopening. These Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards are applicable to all sectors and industries that will be open in phase one, and create new workplace requirements for social distancing, hygiene, staffing and operations, and cleaning. These standards are being released to give workplaces time to plan and prepare for reopening.

For social distancing: 

• All persons, including employees, customers, and vendors should remain at least six feet apart to the greatest extent possible, both inside and outside workplaces
• Establish protocols to ensure that employees can practice adequate social distancing
• Provide signage for safe social distancing
• Require face coverings or masks for all employees

For hygiene:

• Provide hand washing capabilities throughout the workplace
• Ensure frequent hand washing by employees and adequate supplies to do so 
• Provide regular sanitization of high touch areas, such as workstations, equipment, screens, doorknobs, restrooms throughout work site

For staffing and operations:

• Provide training for employees regarding the social distancing and hygiene protocols
• Employees who are displaying COVID19-like symptoms do not report to work
• Establish a plan for employees getting ill from COVID-19 at work, and a return-to-work plan

For cleaning and disinfecting:

• Establish and maintain cleaning protocols specific to the business
• When an active employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, cleaning and disinfecting must be performed
• Disinfection of all common surfaces must take place at intervals appropriate to said workplace

CLICK HERE for more information about the Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards.
In addition to these Mandatory Standards which apply to all workplaces, the Reopening Advisory Board is developing Sector Specific Safety Protocols and Best Practices that will detail how particular industries should operate upon reopening.


The Reopening Advisory Board is scheduled to provide its full report to Governor Baker on Monday, May 18^th.