SOUTH ASIAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES INC

THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE(PRE AND POST ENROLLMENT), FOOD SECURITY, JOB READINESS, SENIOR SERVICES, EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING COMPUTER LITERACY AND ESOL CLASSES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. SACSS ASSISTS OVER 200,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, AND HAS STAFF THAT SPEAK OVER 20 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TO MEET THE CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE CLIENTELE. FOOD SECURITY - THE SACSS FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE GROCERIES TO MORE THAN 2,200 FAMILIES EVERY WEEK. OPEN EVERY WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, THE PANTRY OFFERS BOTH IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND LONG-TERM FOOD SECURITY TO NEW YORKERS IN NEED. REFLECTING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR PANTRY STOCKS ITEMS THAT HONOR CULTURAL AND DIETARY TRADITIONS SUCH AS OIL, RICE, LENTILS, SPICES, ETC. IN 2025, SACSS DISTRIBUTED OVER 5 MILLION POUNDS OF GROCERIES, REACHING MORE THAN 7,100 FAMILIES APPROXIMATELY 28,000 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES OR CHRONIC ILLNESSES, WHO RECEIVED HOME DELIVERIES. HEALTHCARE ACCESS - THE HEALTHCARE ACCESS TEAM AT SACSS HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES NAVIGATE, UNDERSTAND, AND MAXIMIZE THEIR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS IN PERSON OR BY PHONE, IN ANY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S 20 LANGUAGES. SACSS ASSISTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CONNECTING WITH LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES, INCLUDING MANAGED LONG TERM CARE, ADULT DAY CARE, AND NURSING HOMES, THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDEPENDENT CONSUMER ADVOCACY NETWORK (ICAN). BEYOND INSURANCE, SACSS SUPPORTS ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL PUBLIC BENEFITS SUCH AS SNAP, ACCESS-A-RIDE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND LOW-FARE METROCARDS. IN 2025, SACSS ENROLLED 2,120 INDIVIDUALS IN HEALTH INSURANCEINCLUDING MEDICAID, CHILD HEALTH PLUS, FAMILY HEALTH PLUS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND CHARITY CAREAND PROVIDED POST-ENROLLMENT SUPPORT TO 2,435 INDIVIDUALS. ITS HEALTHCARE OUTREACH REACHED OVER 78,000 PEOPLE ACROSS NEW YORK CITY IN 2025. SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES - SACSS OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO HELP SENIORS LEAD HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT, AND SOCIALLY CONNECTED LIVES. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHY EATING, COMBATING ISOLATION, AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, OFTEN IN A VARIETY OF SOUTH ASIAN LANGUAGES. SENIORS CAN ALSO ENJOY THE TWICE-WEEKLY SENIOR CENTER, HOSTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES LIKE ART CLASSES, COLLAGE-MAKING, HEALTH RELATED DISCUSSIONS, YOGA, ZOOMBA, AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS. SACSS CONNECTS SENIORS TO VITAL PUBLIC BENEFITS, INCLUDING MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM, MEDICAID, SNAP, SSI, ACCESS-A-RIDE, SCRIE, DRIE, AND SENIOR METROCARDS, ASSISTING WITH APPLICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS. IN 2025, SACSS SERVED 27,000 SENIORS THROUGH WELLNESS CALLS, 104 SENIOR CENTER DAYS ENGAGING AN AVERAGE OF 35 PARTICIPANTS, WORKSHOPS, COUNSELING, BENEFITS ASSISTANCE, AND SIX SENIOR OUTDOOR TRIPS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - SACSS EMPOWERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH A RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT BUILD SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION. ITS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS INCLUDE FREE BASIC AND ADVANCED ESOL CLASSES, COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES, AND THE STITCH WITH SACSS TAILORING PROGRAM, WHICH EQUIPS UNDERSERVED WOMEN WITH SKILLS AND TOOLS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. PROGRAMS LIKE WEDNESDAYS FOR WOMEN FOCUS ON EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING THROUGH YOGA, MINDFULNESS, AND PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. SACSS'S SUMMER YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ENGAGES MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN COMMUNICATION, CREATIVE WRITING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND COLLEGE READINESS. THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, IN 2025, SACSS ASSISTED 135 INDIVIDUALS WITH REGISTRATION AND REACHED 105,250 PEOPLE IN VOTER OUTREACH.