Helping survivors heal

The month of October can mean many different things. For some, it is a sobering reminder that domestic violence touches many lives, possibly even people they know and love. Domestic Violence Awareness Month has been observed in October annually since 1989. It’s “a time to acknowledge DV survivors and be a voice for its victims,” according to to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).

Domestic violence is “prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime,” NCTSN continued.

By the end of this year, more than 25,000 survivors in New York City safe houses and shelters will rely on The Floating Hospital for vital care. They will also find resources and support to rebuild their lives and break free from cycles of violence and poverty. The Floating Hospital has been offering “more than healthcare” from its beginning. For these families, it means treating them with dignity and offering tools to reclaim their futures.

Our mental health clinicians “provide hope and relief that there is help for them, and that others have been through similar situations and gotten through them,” said Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman, the director of our behavioral health department. They share tools and guides to aid them in recognizing patterns of violence and abuse to better identify them in the moment and avoid them in the future.

Our health education department is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Day on October 25 by wearing purple and offering information on healthy relationships and self-defense.

Candy Cane dreams

“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?”

It is not quite a “winter wonderland” yet, but it is time to think about helping families in temporary housing with gifts of new coats, toys, books, gift cards, winter gear, clothing, sleepwear and “everything nice” to celebrate the holidays.

Candy Cane Lane is The Floating Hospital’s December celebration of giving and wonder. The annual event transforms our community center into a place that makes the dreams of both parents and children come true. Patients and their families are greeted with a vast collection of items to choose from to make their holidays merry and bright.

This massive undertaking would not be possible without the volunteers who help guide families through the center to make their selections from the generous donations of clothing and toys. Anyone interested in volunteering for the event should contact either Cynthia Davis at cdavis@thefloatnghospital.org or 718-784-2240, ext. 273, or Joan Brancaccio at volunteer@thefloatinghospital.org.

Donations of new toys, books, gift cards, coats, winter gear, socks, sleepwear and slippers are part of our holiday drive. We will accept drop-offs at the Community Outreach Center on Tuesdays through Fridays from 10am-4pm. For our teen patients, we are in particular need of gift cards.

For larger donations, which we can arrange to pickup, and other questions, the community center can be reached through Cynthia Davis at the contacts listed above. An Amazon wishlist has been set up for direct gift donations.

A day for women’s wellness

On October 4, we celebrated women and their health at our fall Women’s Wellness Day. The American-Italian Cancer Foundation parked its mobile mammogram bus outside the front door of our Long Island City main clinic to provide vital screening for our patients. Inside, further screenings and vaccinations were available as well as breakfast and lunch, lingerie and personal care items to choose from, workshops, massages, henna tattoos and more.

The event was open to women and girls ages 9 and up and attracted 65 patients. Workshops focused on the pivotal transitions female bodies go through from puberty to perimenopause and menopause. HPV tests and shots were dispensed as well as cervical cancer and STI tests. It was a day of relaxation and self-care that took place in a clinic transformed into a retreat for healing and renewal.

The women who attended expressed their gratitude and marveled at the care and dedication of everyone they encountered. One attendee said, “You really think about us. Like when you go into an expensive department store and they cater to you? It feels like that… Everyone is smiling and it makes you feel good.” Another said, “Being here today with other women like me is empowering—just to know we are not alone as women.”

We are grateful for all the event sponsors (Direct Relief, Dreamwear, Jersey Mikes, Matter360, Primp Events and Henna by Sumalya and Fatima) and our wishlist donors. Women’s Wellness could not have happened without the hard work of The Floating Hospital’s staff and volunteers.

The gift that keeps giving

We are grateful to the Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation and its president and executive director Nick Katsoris for their fifth and final $10,000 check to fund the The Chef Maria Loi and the Loukoumi Make a Difference Foundation Teaching Kitchen in our main clinic. It was presented on October 18 during Loukomi’s International Make a Difference With Loukoumi Day, which showcased the foundation’s projects all over the world.

Director of Philanthropy Kevin Douglas accepted the check on behalf of The Floating Hospital and said “It was a powerful day: we saw not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the youth who are leading today. Watching students from Kenya, Bosnia, Greece and so many other countries share their stories of impact in their communities was so inspiring. It was such an honor to be a recipient of a gift from youth, for youth that will continue to care for and inspire youth in NYC.”

A new look

After vetting a number of web designers, The Floating Hospital has chosen a vendor for a new website. RocketAir is a New York City based “design and strategy company that specializes in brand, product, and motion,” according to its website. The company has worked with Walmart, SiriusXM, Coursera, The Salvation Army and many others on brand strategy and design.

“RocketAir’s focus on creating user-centered websites and products that ‘revolve around people,’ emphasizes empathy and data-driven design,” said Barbara LaPlaca, vice president of marketing and communications at The Floating Hospital. She added they have earned praise and accolades for “outstanding aesthetic design” coupled with a “deep emphasis on user experience.”

After signing a contract recently, we expect to launch the new site in the first half of 2026.