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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rosa Sarmiento, Program Director of Astoria Queens Sharing and Caring Inc.
4:35:48
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108 sec
Rosa Sarmiento, representing Astoria Queens Sharing and Caring Inc., testified to request $200,000 in funding under the Cancer Service Initiative. She highlighted her role in assisting Spanish-speaking cancer survivors and emphasized the increasing demand for their services since 2020.
- As a bilingual Spanish navigator, Sarmiento focuses on cancer awareness and screening education in the Spanish community throughout Queens.
- She has helped survivors apply for public benefits, secure transportation services, and receive emergency assistance for medical bills, rent, utilities, and food.
- Sarmiento stressed that increased council funding is needed to keep up with the growing demand for their services, especially in emergency needs assistance and counseling.
Rosa Sarmiento
4:35:48
Good afternoon.
4:35:49
My name is Rosa Sarmiento.
4:35:51
Although my first language is Spanish, I'm testifying today in English.
4:35:57
I'm the bilingual Spanish navigator and program director for Astoria Quince Sharing and Caring, DBA Sharing and Caring.
4:36:06
I'm also the wife of a cancer survivor, a community advisory board member of Elmhurst Hospital.
4:36:13
I'm here today on behalf of those we serve to ask the council support sharing and caring fund requests of $200,000 under the Cancer Service Initiative.
4:36:28
In my role as a navigator and program director, I've been focused on increasing sharing and caring communities outreach in my community, the Spanish community throughout Queens, educating them about cancer awareness and the importance of yearly and timely cancer screening.
4:36:49
Over the years I have assisted many Spanish speaking survivors.
4:36:54
I have helped them to apply for public benefits, have helped to secure access right and other transportation services, and I have authorized emergency needs assistance, medical bills, rent, utilities, and food.
4:37:13
The need for sharing and caring services, especially in emergency needs assistance, an individual, and group counseling has significantly increased since 2020 and showed no slowing down.
4:37:28
In order to keep up with this demand, increased council funding is needed.
4:37:33
Thank you on behalf of the cancer survivors.