Bank Leumi Partners with Citizens Committee for New York City for Bronx Volunteer Days at Jardin La Roca Garden
Leumi Volunteers with Members of Jardin La Roca Garden as part of Citizens Committee for New York City’s “Love Your City” program.
NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2019 – Nearly 200 volunteers from Bank Leumi spent the past two days working with members of Jardin La Roca Garden to help maintain and beautify this great community green space as part of Citizens Committee for New York City’s “Love Your City” program. The Bank Leumi volunteers helped with projects including new plantings throughout the garden, rebuilding a ramp to improve accessibility for visitors, creating a pond area and wishing well, building garden furniture, laying fresh sod, weeding, mulching, pruning, landscaping, painting, and many other maintenance tasks.
Located on Elton Avenue in the Melrose section of the South Bronx, Jardin La Roca’s mission is to provide a green, restful, beautiful, safe and congenial space for local gardeners, residents, and families. In addition to providing neighbors with a chance to connect with nature and grow produce, the garden hosts neighborhood meetings, movie nights, social gatherings, and workshops on topics like healthy eating. The garden was founded in 1997 on what was then a trash-filled lot filled with old car tires, large rocks, and debris. It is now home to diverse plants, vegetables, herbs, and wildlife, offering residents a beautiful and peaceful place to sit and relax. Its membership reflects the diversity of the community it serves, with members of all ages hailing from Puerto Rico, Mexico, India, Bulgaria, and elsewhere.
“We are proud to partner with Citizens Committee for New York City and participate in the ‘Love Your City’ volunteer program,” said Avner Mendelson, President and CEO, Bank Leumi USA. “Through our relationships with community-minded organizations like Citizens Committee, we are helping to revitalize Jardin La Roca Garden in the Bronx with an eye towards additional green spaces throughout New York City. These partnerships not only help us give back to our neighbors, but also allow us to foster a collaborative, caring environment at the bank.”
“The great thing about Jardin La Roca is how it brings residents of different ages and backgrounds together to help beautify the community and create a welcoming neighborhood green space. It’s a great place to sit and enjoy the weather in a calm, safe and relaxing environment and for family, friends, and neighbors to come together. We appreciate all the help from Citizens Committee and the volunteers from Bank Leumi!” said Lillian Reyes.
“A huge thanks to Bank Leumi for giving their time and energy back to the community. Their hard work over two days clearly made a huge difference for Jardin La Roca Garden and the many residents who enjoy this great community space. We’re thrilled to support the efforts of all of the residents who are dedicated to making Jardin La Roca Garden a great place for neighbors to come together, connect with nature, and get a break from city life,” said Peter H. Kostmayer, CEO of Citizens committee for New York City.
The volunteers were joined yesterday by Kelvin Cabrera, a community liaison from the office of State Senator Michael Blake, who thanked the group for giving back to the local community.
“I am thrilled to have volunteers from Bank Leumi and Citizens Committee for New York City partner with Jardin La Roca Garden in our Assembly District. Days like today show the beauty of what happens when you invest time and resources in our South Bronx Community. To the volunteers, we thank you for allowing our community to gain greater access to green space that provides a quiet sanctuary in this constantly bustling city. Your commitment to our communities demonstrates that together we will continue #BuildingABetterBronx,” said New York State Assembly Member Michael Blake.
Citizens Committee hosts “Love Your City” days to bring together the corporate community and neighborhood groups and schools that need volunteer help to complete a project or host an event. Love Your City volunteers work alongside local neighbors, youth, and teachers to help implement the community’s vision for a healthier neighborhood. Love Your City volunteer days can accommodate groups of up to 200 volunteers and the activities vary from project to project, but typically include gardening, painting, and light construction and can be done by anyone, with no special expertise necessary.
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About Citizens Committee for New York City:
Citizens Committee for New York City’s mission is simple: to help New Yorkers – especially those in low-income areas – come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Residents are uniquely situated to define and act on the issues affecting their communities. When provided with modest support, neighborhood and school groups can effectively mobilize with the assistance of grants, skills-building workshops, project planning assistance and an equipment share library. In 2018, we provided 523 projects with $2.1 million in grants and services, mobilizing more than 10,460 residents in 130 different neighborhoods across the five boroughs. Since 1975, we have promoted the spirit of volunteerism, local engagement, and social justice that drives our work. Visit us online at citizensnyc.org.
About Bank Leumi USA
Bank Leumi USA (Leumi) is a full-service commercial and private banking institution providing financial services to middle market firms, as well as a full range of private banking solutions to domestic and international clients. Leumi also offers a broad range of securities and insurance products through its brokerage subsidiary, Leumi Investment Services Inc. More information about Leumi is available at www.leumiusa.com.