COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the Kingston community, from closure of the Kingston City School District to the shutdown of non-essential businesses. Physical distancing, staying at home, wearing face masks and constant hand washing are now a part of our daily routine. It is an unsettling time for us all; but we remain optimistic.

In ways great and small, so many in the community have come together to meet this challenge and to ensure that our families, friends and neighbors have access to the resources they need.

As a vital member of the Kingston community, the AJ Williams-Myers African Roots Center has joined these efforts.

And, in keeping with our mission, we are also developing programs and resources to nourish the community socially, emotionally and culturally during this time.

The African Roots Center has joined the coalition of nonprofits that are working to provide food to families in the Kingston City School District and residents of Kingston

Given the need to provide meals and groceries to people in the community, we have reallocated staff time to support this critical initiative.

If you or someone you know in the Kingston area
is in need of food, call the
Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative hotline at
888 316-0879

At the moment when the Kingston community was compelled to suspend “business as usual,” the African Roots Center had scheduled 25 unique programs and events for the balance of 2020. This included three programs in celebration of Women’s History Month Kingston and five programs in April, all of which have been cancelled.

Although we are unable to gather in person, the African Roots Center is developing alternate plans to make our programs available to the community in the coming weeks.

Presentations and lectures that were cancelled are being rescheduled. If possible, they will be hosted at 43 Gill Street. If not, we will move our events online.

Updates about upcoming programs will be posted on our Facebook page and here on our website.

With its focus on providing homework help and promoting literacy, the African Roots Center After School Program is one of our most enduring efforts.

We have had to suspend the onsite program and do not know when we will be able to resume. But we have not suspended our commitment to the children in our community.

Working with educators, storytellers and community volunteers, we are creating online programming that will feature art, children’s books, music, dance and more to delight and inspire elementary and middle school students.

Updates about upcoming programs will be posted on our Facebook page and here on our website.

Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative
888 316-0879

Ulster County Covid-19 Hotline
845 443-8888

New York State Covid-19 Information Hotline
888 364-3065

Family of Woodstock 24 Hour Crisis Hotline
845 679-2485 (Call or Text)

Suicide Prevention Hotline
800 273-8255

Ulster County Mobile Mental Health
844 277-4820