SNAP was founded in 1980 through the cooperative efforts of community and professional people concerned with the lack of senior services in Eastern Queens. Seed money was provided by the Aid Association of Lutherans (AAL), a fraternal benefit society based in Appleton, Wisconsin. SNAP incorporated in 1981 and began receiving government funding to provide social services.
SNAP was first located in donated space in the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. The first expansion moved the agency to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Floral Park. In 1988, the Bell Park Manor Satellite center opened and in 1990 SNAP of Queens Village was formed in the Queens Reformed church in queens Village. In March of 1999, SNAP moved into a home of its own – back where it started at Creedmoor. The two senior centers merged and became SNAP of Eastern Queens.
The SNAP Brookville Neighborhood Senior Center, located at One Cross Island Plaza in Rosedale has added more diversity of activities and clients to SNAP’s growing organization.
In 2006, SNAP began the Volunteer/friendly Visiting Program. In 2008, SNAP became the Case Management agency serving Community Boards 8, 11 and 13. In February 2009, SNAP began providing Meals-On-Wheels for all of Community Board 13. In July 2019, the Caregiver Program was expanded to include Community Boards 8 through 14.
The Caregiver Program working with spouses, adult children and other informal caregivers is located at the Brookville Senior Center’s site.
The newest addition to SNAPS’s service delivery systems is the SNAP Open Door Social Adult Day Care Program, the program began through a private foundation grant in November 2017 serving clients with early/moderate stage Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The Open Door Program also provides much needed respite for Caregivers.
SNAP is proud of its accomplishments. The expansion and growth of the agency these past years are testimony to the hard work and dedication of an involved Board of Directors, dedicated staff, motivated volunteers, loyal community residents and participants and of course, to public and private financial support. We look forward to the future with optimism and confidence that we will continue to successfully contribute to the well-being of the senior population.