Queens cooling centers open for seniors amid heat wave

As a heat wave continues across the northeast, and with the issuing of heat advisories in New York City, many have struggled to find ways to cool down. This is especially true of seniors with less mobility and conditions that may be worsened by the heat.

In response, the city and several nonprofit organizations have opened cooling centers for seniors. These centers are air-conditioned public facilities located in Queens and other parts of the city. Several locations will be open on July 20 and 21 and each center has different hours.

The Jewish Association Serving the Aging (JASA), is a nonprofit organization whose mission is dedicated to aiding seniors in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. Fifteen of JASA’s older adult centers have been turned into convenient and accessible cooling centers, four of which are in Queens:

Brookdale Village Older Adult Center: 131 Beach 19th St, Far Rockaway.
Rockaway Park Older Adult Center: 106-20 Shore Front Pkwy., Rockaway Park.
Club Holliswood Older Adult Center: 86-25 Frances Lewis Blvd., Jamaica.
Roy Reuther Older Adult Center: 711 Seagirt Ave., Far Rockaway.

“Older adults are a population at risk and it’s important for JASA to give them a place to go to stay cool in this extreme heat,” said JASA Associate Director Rebecca Shahar, who oversees all of the Queens centers.

Shahar also discussed how JASA has functioned as a cooling center for years and has been essential to the community. JASA plans on continuing to offer this service whenever there are heat advisories, with the support of the city.

Visit jasa.org to find out cooling center hours.

Additionally, the Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee (HANAC), an organization founded in Queens to serve the vulnerable, has also opened its senior centers as cooling centers. The open locations include: