In the News
Options Honored at World AIDS Day Conference |
East Meadow, NY -- Options was awarded special recognition at the NuHealth World AIDS Day Conference held at Nassau University Medical Center on November 30th. Members of our Case Management Team were honored by the NuHealth HIV Program for their commitment to serving the HIV/AIDS community. Special recognition was also awarded from The Town of Hempstead, by Councilwoman, Dorothy L. Goosby for the agency's dedication “above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the care and safety of the HIV population.”
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BJS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AWARDS $7,500 GRANT |
(Smithtown, NY) – BJ’s Charitable Foundation recently awarded Options for Community Living, Inc. a $7,500 grant to support the agency’s transitional housing program. “We are extremely pleased to be the recipient of this award from BJs,” stated Diana Antos Arens, executive director, Options for Community Living. “The grant will assist Options with the purchase of necessary bedding, towels, kitchenware and other household items for our residents in 22 transitional homes.” |
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Options Celebrates 30th Anniversary |
(Smithtown, NY) – Options for Community Living, Inc. recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary with a Gala honoring Jean-Pierre Lardoux, AIA, NCARB, principal architect, Fusion Architecture, PLLC; and Diane G. Mendolia, L.C.S.W., program director, Options for Community Living, Inc. More than 150 people attended the Gala, which raised over $50,000 for Options’ programs. |
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Options Awarded NYS Supportive Housing Program Funds |
Options for Community Living, Inc. recently was awarded $414,720 under the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) through the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. This NYSSHP grant will enable Options to assist adults with psychiatric disabilities in the agency’s supportive housing program on Long Island.
“The NYSSP grant will provide financial support for Options case managers who provide direct care services and teach daily living skills to residents with mental illness in our long-term supportive housing program,” stated Diana Antos Arens, executive director, Options for Community Living. The agency supports 192 individuals residing in scattered 64 houses in Suffolk County through this program. Options case managers visit the homes, ensure that residents remain in good health; teach skills, such as cooking, budgeting and much more so that the residents can continue to live in the community independently. |
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Options Welcomes New Board Members |
Smithtown, NY – Options for Community Living, Inc. is pleased to announce that Matthew Armandi, CPA, and Judy Lynn Simoncic, Esq., have joined their board of directors. The board is comprised of prominent business people and community advocates who volunteer their time, talent and expertise to serve as stewards and trustees for Options for Community Living. |
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Options Receives Grant From Burpee Foundation Inc. |
 (Smithtown, NY – September 26, 2011) – Options for Community Living, Inc. was the recipient of a $5,000 grant from Burpee Foundation, Inc. The grant has enabled Options to purchase much needed seeds and supplies for their Greenhouse.
The Options Greenhouse – which is located at one of the agency’s supervised residences – offers pre-vocational training opportunities for clients who are interested in growing plants and learning basic horticultural skills. The Greenhouse is open four days a week with an average of three to five residents participating daily. In addition to learning horticultural skills, participants spend time during the winter months in the community residence craft room creating seasonal wreaths, which are sold to the public at Options Thrift Shop, 392 Hawkins Avenue, Ronkonkoma.
(l to r) Options for Community Living resident Cheryl and Horticulturist Kristine Farrell share gardening activities in the Options’ Greenhouse. Cheryl – who is visually impaired – greatly enjoys tending to the herbs and flowers in the Options Greenhouse because of all the wonderful scents.
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New York State Senator Lee Zeldin Tours Options Community Residence |
 (Medford, NY – September 8, 2011) – Options for Community Living, Inc. was pleased to host an informational site visit from Senator Lee Zeldin at their Medford community residence for adults recovering from mental illness. In addition to the Options’ staff and representatives from the Association for Community Living Agencies, Senator Zeldin had the opportunity to meet several residents, tour the community residence and learn more about the many critical mental health and HIV/AIDS programs and services that Options for Community Living provides to individuals and families across Long Island.
(l to r) Options for Community Living employees: Diane Carnahan, community residence coordinator; Diane Mendolia, program director; Georgia Kuhen, deputy program director; and Diana Antos Arens, executive director; with NYS Senator Lee Zeldin; Toni Lasicki, executive director, Association of Community Living Agencies (ACL); and Lindsey Chase, legislative organizer (ACL). |
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Options Awarded HUD Grant |
 Smithtown, NY---Options for Community Living, Inc., a not-for-profit agency serving Long Island residents with mental illness, HIV/AIDS and homeless families, received an award of over $1 million through HUD’s Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA). This award supports the development of three residences with supportive services.
The NYS Department of Health reports as of December 2008, that cumulatively, 8482 individuals in Nassau/Suffolk Counties were diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. With more AIDS cases than any other suburban area in the United States and a very high cost of living, Long Islanders who are homeless have few places to turn. |
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Options Awarded Newsday Charities Grant |
 Garden City, NY-- Newsday Charities, a fund of the McCormick Foundation held a reception at the Long Island Children's Museum on, Tuesday, March 29th to distribute over $1 million dollars to local not-for-profit organizations. Options for Community Living, Inc. was awarded a grant of $20,000 to support its Transitional Housing Program. |
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Options Thrift Shop Grand Re-opening |
 Lake Ronkonkoma-- On Wednesday, December 8, a gathering of supporters met at Options Thrift Shop at 392 Hawkins Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma to celebrate its grand reopening.
"We're so happy to be back" said Linda Longo, as she welcomed over 30 supporters of the agency and the thrift shop to enjoy this long awaited celebration.
Diana Antos Arens, Ph.D., Executive Director of Options for Community Living, Inc. spoke to the group about the history of the thrift shop and thanked all of the participants involved in its restoration. |
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