By Paddy McCarthy
Hello all our readers and friends, it’s been tough times all-round for all families and I do hope it will change very soon. I get a lot of letters of advice to publish in my Out&About and I will do as much as I can again in these difficult times with the Coronavirus Pandemic that is no default of any of us.
Here is one particular one that I was very impressed with and I am sure you will all heed it. It said, “Hello All, I am NOT SUGGESTING you put yourself at risk, but always remember those less fortunate than ourselves! Many elderly, ailing people, along with seniors and new mothers cannot get to the stores. Also many should stay at home or shelter in place as well. Currently all the outreach centers have limited hours and days of operation. Some are closed due to the virus.
“As you realize, we need to limit our interactions to those who operate food pantries, as well as our own exposure to those who urgently need these supplies. So to organize deliveries contact John O’Brien at AOH11@Live.com with your donations from this list. They will be delivered to Parish Human Services.
“The Outreach Centers I have heard back from are desperately in need of these supplies: paper products (all kinds they seem to be out); canned meats and tuna – these are always needed; rice – from single serve to family sizes; coffee and tea; Mac&Cheese (children seem to eat it all); dish detergent -12 to 15-ounce bottles; toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner.
“As you are able, help us supply these items to our parish Outreach Centers. Contact me with what you can donate from the list.
“If you wish to help and cannot get out shopping Write back for other ways to donate. Yours in Friendship, Unity, and Charity, John O’Brien, President Ancient Order of Hibernians, Nassau County Board, New York.”
Now isn’t that a very nice gesture and with all that is going on this man has stepped up to the plate. That is why I want to tell you that we are all in this together with no class distinction between us at all, so let’s pull together as if we are all one family.
In my earlier Out&About I did say that any organization or individual that needs to put out a message for helping someone and wants to get the word out please do not hesitate to email me with it at paddy@irishexaminerusa.com and I will always do my best to publish it for you.
Here is a little bit of happiness that I am again sure we could do with and it comes from Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O’Reilly at The Irish Repertory Theatre and it makes my job much easier as I am in my bedroom working from home until this is all over. This is what they said: “We hope that you and your loved ones are remaining safe and healthy in these historic times. Four weeks ago, we lowered our curtains and closed our doors in an effort to keep our community safe. We have missed you all so much and cannot wait to return to 22nd Street and welcome you once again. In the meantime, we have been working from afar to continue our mission to present the best of Irish and Irish American theatre.
“We started on St. Patrick’s Day with The Show Must Go Online, a digital parade of short videos featuring Irish Rep actors performing their favorite songs, poems, and monologues from Irish and Irish American playwrights, poets, and musicians. We’ve been proud to share videos from so many of our beloved artists – some highlights are below – and we look forward to continuing this project throughout our hiatus. We hope that these videos will be a source of light, joy, and thought for you in these trying times.
“We are also proud to announce our next online series: Meet the Makers. Beginning this Thursday, we will be sharing discussions with Irish Rep theatre makers – starting with the story of how we created Irish Rep! In the coming weeks, we will feature Bill Irwin on Samuel Beckett, Colum McCann and Aedín Moloney on James Joyce, James Pethica and Úna Clancy on Lady Gregory, and more!
“And this is just the start… we are exploring even more ways to share Irish theatre digitally while we wait for the day that we can be together in person again. In the meantime, please stay safe. We will see you soon.”
Now isn’t that nice and it tells us who we really are… thank you so much.
Here is another notice I got from the Dermot Kelly, President of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and it said that the Friendly Sons are working with local restaurants to provide meals to frontline workers in hospitals. This week they have donated $6,000 to provide hundreds of meals to NUMC, Mercy Hospital, Northwell LIJ, Winthrop and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital. They thanked Connolly Station, Monahan’s in Rockville Centre, B. K. Sweeney’s Steak House in Garden City, Sonny’s Canal House, Baldwin and the Cornerstone Bar and Restaurant in Mineola for all of their efforts. Most of all they continue to pray and give their heartfelt appreciation to all of the frontline workers in the hospitals.
I never thought I would be doing something like this in my Out&About, but I am glad I can as I do have a lot of readers of this column so it is nice that I can get the message out to you to be safe, well and healthy and that is all I care about. When this is all over and again, very soon yes, I am going to have a pint or two, is that OK?
Now to finish I have to say that President Donald Trump, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor of New York City Bill De Blasio and Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling have done fabulous job here in New York to beat this virus with great team work and no politics.
I hope to see you all again WHEN I am Out&About again.