Keep St. Mary's Open
To The Editor:

The following is in response to Donna Corrado, CFO of Builders for Family & Youth, Catholic Charities letter to the Gazette [May 16, 2007] regarding the closing of St. Mary's Senior Center.

As a member of St. Mary's Senior Center, I understand the business reasons for closing the center, but what has not been addressed is change and the affect this closing will have on the current members. Many people do not adjust well to changes of any nature, certainly not well to being displaced.

We are being told, not asked to change the way we conduct the remaining days of our lives-a routine we have established not only for comfort, but also for companionship and exercise. St. Mary's Senior Center has been a home away from home for its members and for some, over 20 years. You are now telling us to lose friends who have become family. Friends, who were there to console each other when we lost spouses and other family members. Close friends who we can discuss our fears and other personal aspects of our lives with. The center is convenient for us, within walking distance and a good form of exercise. A number of the members live alone and the daily noon meal we receive is often the main meal of the day. This too, we are being told to give up or seek and conform to the rules of other centers.

Transportation, you say, will be arranged to other Queens centers and doctor appointments, etc. For how long will this service be made available and at what cost? I am sure the daily cost of being transported from door to door will not be the same fare that the MTA charges. Myself, as well as other seniors, live on a fixed income and will now be forced to incur an additional expense. How much pick up notice will be required? Seniors are very uncomfortable in planning their days in advance-we live in the moment. Without the pick-up service we will be forced to use mass transit. Seniors are afraid to travel on mass transit, due to crowds, stair climbing, schedules, etc.

With the closing of St. Mary's Senior Center, the members will no longer be able to go out to meet with friends, instead will have to arrange to travel with a friend based on availability.

I find it very disheartening that the first senior center established in Queens should be the first to close. If the booming market of young professionals moving into neighborhoods is forcing the seniors out, what will happen to other senior centers-will they be forced to close as well?

Instead of relocating the seniors of St. Mary's, why can't the center be relocated? With all the building going on in Long Island City alone, and a number of them rumored to be in possible foreclosure due to lack of occupancy, there must be some space available.

We are happy in our little home and we don't want to be sent elsewhere.

The seniors are not the only ones being affected by the close of the center, people are losing their jobs as well.

Where do we go from here?
Sincerely,
J. Brunette
Member, St. Mary's Senior Center