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The Virus Ravaged Parents at One School. They Found a Way to Fight Back. The Virus Ravaged Parents at One School. They Found a Way to Fight Back.
(4 days later)
The parent interpreter committee at Public School 315 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, came together late last year to translate school materials for families who were not fluent in English. Soon, as the coronavirus tore through the city, the group found itself navigating life and death.The parent interpreter committee at Public School 315 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, came together late last year to translate school materials for families who were not fluent in English. Soon, as the coronavirus tore through the city, the group found itself navigating life and death.
One of the committee’s founding members got so sick she feared she would die. A second member ended up in the emergency room, short of breath, and then lost his sister to the virus. A third lost her job. Two others members coped with death and illness in their families.One of the committee’s founding members got so sick she feared she would die. A second member ended up in the emergency room, short of breath, and then lost his sister to the virus. A third lost her job. Two others members coped with death and illness in their families.
When the school closed in mid-March, the committee fielded calls about securing computers for children who had none. In April, it learned that a fourth grader had lost his father. Then a school bus driver died. In May, requests poured in for help with groceries and utility bills.When the school closed in mid-March, the committee fielded calls about securing computers for children who had none. In April, it learned that a fourth grader had lost his father. Then a school bus driver died. In May, requests poured in for help with groceries and utility bills.
The shocks absorbed by this small clutch of parents reflect the sweeping toll of the virus in one of the epicenters of the global epicenter: a Brooklyn neighborhood that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Saturday identified as one of New York City’s 10 virus hotspots.The shocks absorbed by this small clutch of parents reflect the sweeping toll of the virus in one of the epicenters of the global epicenter: a Brooklyn neighborhood that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Saturday identified as one of New York City’s 10 virus hotspots.
Flatbush has one of the biggest clusters of coronavirus cases in the city, along with one of the highest concentrations of essential workers.Flatbush has one of the biggest clusters of coronavirus cases in the city, along with one of the highest concentrations of essential workers.
In the blocks that surround P.S. 315, the pandemic has exposed the city’s deep inequities. While some richer neighborhoods have had few deaths from the virus, nearly 560 people have died in the three Flatbush ZIP codes that the school serves, according to city figures released last week. Few families can escape to country homes, like residents in upmarket pockets of the city.In the blocks that surround P.S. 315, the pandemic has exposed the city’s deep inequities. While some richer neighborhoods have had few deaths from the virus, nearly 560 people have died in the three Flatbush ZIP codes that the school serves, according to city figures released last week. Few families can escape to country homes, like residents in upmarket pockets of the city.
P.S. 315’s students are children of nurses and train conductors, housekeepers and security guards. Some of the parents still get on the subway every day to get to work, risking infection. Others have lost their jobs. Many who have long supported their families on tight, sometimes erratic, incomes suddenly find themselves having to ask for food or unable to pay rent.P.S. 315’s students are children of nurses and train conductors, housekeepers and security guards. Some of the parents still get on the subway every day to get to work, risking infection. Others have lost their jobs. Many who have long supported their families on tight, sometimes erratic, incomes suddenly find themselves having to ask for food or unable to pay rent.
And so it has fallen to this small group of parents to hustle and help one another, some of them just on the other side of a tenuous, make-ends-meet existence.And so it has fallen to this small group of parents to hustle and help one another, some of them just on the other side of a tenuous, make-ends-meet existence.
Jessica Villa-Medina, one member of the committee, considered herself fortunate. A laid-off bartender who grew up four blocks from where she now lives, Ms. Villa-Medina is healthy and able to collect unemployment. So she quietly started delivering groceries to friends and neighbors.Jessica Villa-Medina, one member of the committee, considered herself fortunate. A laid-off bartender who grew up four blocks from where she now lives, Ms. Villa-Medina is healthy and able to collect unemployment. So she quietly started delivering groceries to friends and neighbors.
Two people have died of the virus in her parents’ building, as has one of her father’s oldest friends. Some of her neighbors are lining up at food pantries for the first time. Some of her colleagues in the restaurant business, especially undocumented immigrants, have been unable to get government relief.Two people have died of the virus in her parents’ building, as has one of her father’s oldest friends. Some of her neighbors are lining up at food pantries for the first time. Some of her colleagues in the restaurant business, especially undocumented immigrants, have been unable to get government relief.
“Every time I went to the church next door to my job, I always prayed for God to show me ways in which I can help people,” Ms. Villa-Medina said. “And this was the perfect time to do this.”“Every time I went to the church next door to my job, I always prayed for God to show me ways in which I can help people,” Ms. Villa-Medina said. “And this was the perfect time to do this.”
By mid-May, her list of grocery drops had grown to 50, including 15 families from the school.By mid-May, her list of grocery drops had grown to 50, including 15 families from the school.
On a recent afternoon, Ms. Villa-Medina, the mother of a kindergartner, snaked through the aisles of a local supermarket. She put family packs of tortillas into the cart, along with gallons of milk, eggs, cereal, pasta sauce, dried beans and more.On a recent afternoon, Ms. Villa-Medina, the mother of a kindergartner, snaked through the aisles of a local supermarket. She put family packs of tortillas into the cart, along with gallons of milk, eggs, cereal, pasta sauce, dried beans and more.
Her husband, Hector, who takes Wednesdays off from his job at a food service company to help with the grocery drops, looked at the sodium content on canned soups. “I want them to eat healthy,” he said.Her husband, Hector, who takes Wednesdays off from his job at a food service company to help with the grocery drops, looked at the sodium content on canned soups. “I want them to eat healthy,” he said.
Jose Aybar, the supermarket manager, threw in a case of toilet paper in addition to donating $300 in store credit to Ms. Villa-Medina’s grocery drops. Mr. Aybar, also a parent at P.S. 315, was acutely aware of the pain of the pandemic. Several supermarket workers had fallen ill. So did his wife, Karla Moncada, one of the founders of the parent interpreter committee at P.S. 315.Jose Aybar, the supermarket manager, threw in a case of toilet paper in addition to donating $300 in store credit to Ms. Villa-Medina’s grocery drops. Mr. Aybar, also a parent at P.S. 315, was acutely aware of the pain of the pandemic. Several supermarket workers had fallen ill. So did his wife, Karla Moncada, one of the founders of the parent interpreter committee at P.S. 315.
Twice, he took her to an emergency room, trying to get tested. No tests were available. Ms. Moncada, an asthmatic, said she felt as though she could not breathe. “I told my husband, I don’t think I’ll make it,” she said. She eventually recovered at home.Twice, he took her to an emergency room, trying to get tested. No tests were available. Ms. Moncada, an asthmatic, said she felt as though she could not breathe. “I told my husband, I don’t think I’ll make it,” she said. She eventually recovered at home.
Ms. Villa-Medina relied on a network of neighborhood mothers to point her to the neediest in their ranks.Ms. Villa-Medina relied on a network of neighborhood mothers to point her to the neediest in their ranks.
Jemima Rodriguez Lara, an unemployed housekeeper with two children at the school, urged her to help a neighbor, Ana Rodriguez, whose husband had been the family’s sole breadwinner but had lost his job as a construction worker.Jemima Rodriguez Lara, an unemployed housekeeper with two children at the school, urged her to help a neighbor, Ana Rodriguez, whose husband had been the family’s sole breadwinner but had lost his job as a construction worker.
Ms. Rodriguez said she relied entirely on food pantries to feed their two children and on a relative to send money for utility bills. One of the food pantries she visits, at the Church of the Holy Innocents, reopened recently after parents at another school procured masks, gloves and healthy volunteers to staff the distribution efforts; its older volunteers had fallen sick without protective gear, and one had died.Ms. Rodriguez said she relied entirely on food pantries to feed their two children and on a relative to send money for utility bills. One of the food pantries she visits, at the Church of the Holy Innocents, reopened recently after parents at another school procured masks, gloves and healthy volunteers to staff the distribution efforts; its older volunteers had fallen sick without protective gear, and one had died.
Ms. Lara herself was struggling to keep her children occupied inside the apartment. Her youngest was hankering for Mexican sweets, and it was hard to explain why the pantry was empty.Ms. Lara herself was struggling to keep her children occupied inside the apartment. Her youngest was hankering for Mexican sweets, and it was hard to explain why the pantry was empty.
Make a list of what you need, Ms. Villa-Medina told Ms. Lara. She would bring ingredients next time.Make a list of what you need, Ms. Villa-Medina told Ms. Lara. She would bring ingredients next time.
Last week, Ms. Villa-Medina had just finished her grocery drops when she ran into an elderly man outside her building. He used to walk his grandson to P.S. 315. Now, he told her, he needed groceries. “So I will be delivering to him next week,” Ms. Villa-Medina said.Last week, Ms. Villa-Medina had just finished her grocery drops when she ran into an elderly man outside her building. He used to walk his grandson to P.S. 315. Now, he told her, he needed groceries. “So I will be delivering to him next week,” Ms. Villa-Medina said.
Nearly 90 percent of P.S. 315 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and 16 percent need help with English. Half of the student population is black; many of them are immigrants from Haiti, about a quarter are Latinos, mainly from Central America. About a tenth are Asians, mostly Pakistanis.Nearly 90 percent of P.S. 315 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and 16 percent need help with English. Half of the student population is black; many of them are immigrants from Haiti, about a quarter are Latinos, mainly from Central America. About a tenth are Asians, mostly Pakistanis.
Updated Aug. 21, 2020 Updated Aug. 24, 2020
The latest on how schools are reopening amid the pandemic.The latest on how schools are reopening amid the pandemic.
Many parents speak only Haitian Creole or Spanish. A few are more comfortable in Arabic or Urdu, which is why Ms. Moncada and several others had organized the interpreter committee in December. The group’s 10 members had just started getting to know each other when they found themselves at the center of a spreading circle of hardship.Many parents speak only Haitian Creole or Spanish. A few are more comfortable in Arabic or Urdu, which is why Ms. Moncada and several others had organized the interpreter committee in December. The group’s 10 members had just started getting to know each other when they found themselves at the center of a spreading circle of hardship.
They were on the phone one day discussing how best to help parents when one of the committee members, Seneck Registre, quietly told them of his own troubles.They were on the phone one day discussing how best to help parents when one of the committee members, Seneck Registre, quietly told them of his own troubles.
In mid-March, feeling weak and short of breath, he had waited nine hours — in vain — for a coronavirus test in a crowded emergency room at Mount Sinai Brooklyn before coming home and resting for two weeks. His sister, Renette Joseph, who shared a house with him, was next to get sick.In mid-March, feeling weak and short of breath, he had waited nine hours — in vain — for a coronavirus test in a crowded emergency room at Mount Sinai Brooklyn before coming home and resting for two weeks. His sister, Renette Joseph, who shared a house with him, was next to get sick.
She had diabetes, a common complicating factor for the virus. She had rebuffed his pleas to go to the hospital — perhaps, Mr. Registre said, because she was afraid of how much it would cost.She had diabetes, a common complicating factor for the virus. She had rebuffed his pleas to go to the hospital — perhaps, Mr. Registre said, because she was afraid of how much it would cost.
By the first Friday of April, she was dead. She had not even been tested for the virus.By the first Friday of April, she was dead. She had not even been tested for the virus.
The day after he buried his sister, Mr. Registre, a security guard and a pastor at a Haitian church nearby, heard that one of his closest friends from the church had died.The day after he buried his sister, Mr. Registre, a security guard and a pastor at a Haitian church nearby, heard that one of his closest friends from the church had died.
He, too, had diabetes, in addition to heart disease. Among his community of Haitian immigrants, there were many people with similar stories: already in poor health, reluctant to seek medical help in time, anxious about money. A few days later came news of another pastor who had died.He, too, had diabetes, in addition to heart disease. Among his community of Haitian immigrants, there were many people with similar stories: already in poor health, reluctant to seek medical help in time, anxious about money. A few days later came news of another pastor who had died.
In May, Mr. Registre got a bill for $863 from the ambulance service that took him to the hospital. “That’s one of the reasons people don’t want to call emergency,” he said.In May, Mr. Registre got a bill for $863 from the ambulance service that took him to the hospital. “That’s one of the reasons people don’t want to call emergency,” he said.
Throughout April and May, from one parent to another, word spread about loss upon loss.Throughout April and May, from one parent to another, word spread about loss upon loss.
Judel Barosy, an Uber driver and the father of a fourth grader, had died. His wife, Judith Telemaque, called to say she had been laid off from her housekeeping job at a hotel and that her children, age 10 and 13, were refusing to talk about their grief. As if that were not enough, her sister-in-law, who had been battling cancer, died at home.Judel Barosy, an Uber driver and the father of a fourth grader, had died. His wife, Judith Telemaque, called to say she had been laid off from her housekeeping job at a hotel and that her children, age 10 and 13, were refusing to talk about their grief. As if that were not enough, her sister-in-law, who had been battling cancer, died at home.
Parents on the committee are soliciting donations for local families through a GoFundMe page. They have circulated a list of food pantries and referred families to a group that helps pay electricity bills. Some have offered tips on how to keep children engaged at home or have offered to speak with landlords about rent arrears.Parents on the committee are soliciting donations for local families through a GoFundMe page. They have circulated a list of food pantries and referred families to a group that helps pay electricity bills. Some have offered tips on how to keep children engaged at home or have offered to speak with landlords about rent arrears.
Two months into the lockdown, the need has multiplied. Carrie Gleason, the mother of a kindergartner and a co-founder of the interpreter committee, learned recently that a neighbor’s mother had died at home, as well as the brother of a friend. Every week, there are more families needing help with food and bills.Two months into the lockdown, the need has multiplied. Carrie Gleason, the mother of a kindergartner and a co-founder of the interpreter committee, learned recently that a neighbor’s mother had died at home, as well as the brother of a friend. Every week, there are more families needing help with food and bills.
“This week it really started to hit me, just emotionally,” Ms. Gleason said. “The level of devastation this small group of people has dealt with, it’s crazy.”“This week it really started to hit me, just emotionally,” Ms. Gleason said. “The level of devastation this small group of people has dealt with, it’s crazy.”