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Our new site at Bay Parkway marks a significant milestone in our mission to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community. ​ This vibrant space is more than just a location; it's a hub of hope, support, and opportunities. Here, we will continue to offer a wide range of social programs and services, designed to address the unique needs of our community members. Additionally, we are excited to introduce a brand-new feature, exclusively at our Bay Parkway center – state-of-the-art exercise equipment tailored to our members. This inclusion represents our commitment to enhancing the well-being of our community's older adults and providing them with the tools to lead healthier, more active lives. Like our other centers, we provide a welcoming environment where individuals of all backgrounds can access vital resources and connect with a caring community. The HCS Multi-Social Services Community Center at Bay Parkway will proudly serve as the heart for our Multi-Social Services, a testament to our dedication to meeting the diverse needs of our community. ​ Together, let us embark on a journey to create a brighter and more inclusive future for all, where every member of our community can find the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

Before 9am, a long line had assembled with a crowd of seniors eager to participate in the health fair. The morning crowd was provided a healthy breakfast to start the day. There was a variety of free health check-ups, information and giveaways at the health fair. HCS Chairman, Mr. Don Lee thanked the seniors and the community for its continued support. "Today, it's our 20th Annual Senior Health Fair. We're very happy to see so many seniors come out to participate in this event and to thank you for your support. HCS was established to help seniors and immigrants in our community and our mission has not changed." Executive Director, Karen Zhou added that seniors need our support and care. She urged families to pay attention to their physical, emotional, health and well-being. Among the many special guests were New York State Senator Martin Golden, New York State Assemblyman William Peter Abbate, Assemblyman William Colton, Assemblyman Helen Weinstein, District Leader of the 47th District, Nancy Tong, Deputy Director of the Brooklyn Borough President's Office, Diana Reyna, Brooklyn DA Representative, Kin Ng, NYC Comptroller's Community Liaison, Elaine Fan, NYC Public Advocate's representative Adam Chen, NYC Councilmember Mark Treyger's representative, Angel Fung, Community Board 15 Chair, Teresa Scavo and many more. HCS men and women Ping Pong and Mah Jong tournament winners were presented awards at the Health Fair. Photo by Corky Lee

A street corner in Brooklyn now bears the name of one of Brooklyn's community leader, Luther Mook who co-founded HCS in 1997. In Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, the corner of E 15th Street and Avenue T is officially known as the Luther Mook Corner. Mayor Bloomberg signed a proclamation naming the street and a street naming ceremony happened on Friday, April 8, 2005. Luther Mook's sister carried the street sign as community members including HCS board and seniors, New York State Senator Golden, City Council member Mike Nelson and many of Luther's friends and supporters gathered for the street naming ceremony to remember their beloved friend. Luther Mook was born in Brooklyn, New York. His family were among the first Chinese American families in the Homecrest area, settling over a century ago. The family ran one of the first Chinese hand laundries and were well respected in the Chinese community. Luther was a graduate of Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois. Upon graduation in 1959, Luther was asked by Dr. Emory Ross, one of the world's outstanding experts on African affairs and a consultant for the US government what he intended to do with his life. Luther replied that he was interested in the foreign service. Dr. Ross immediately sponsored him for a tour with The Experiment in International Living and so he spent his first summer after graduation in Africa. Soon after returning from Africa, he was called into the military service for three years. Luther returned to civilian life for one year and then was recruited by the US Department of State. In 1997, he helped found Homecrest Community Services, after seeing a growing need for social service in the Brooklyn Asian community. He contributed greatly to helping the community as well as serving on various boards including as a member of the Advisory Board of the New York State Office for the Aging and as the First Vice President of the Greater Southern Brooklyn Health Coalition. In 2000, he became a member of the Brooklyn Coalition on the Aging and was the First Vice Chair of the Council of Community Advisory Boards and the NYC Health and Hospital Community Advisory Board. He was founder and chair of the Asian American Republic Coalition and served as Director of Coalitions for the New York State Republican Committee. In 1996, he was elected to the Electoral College, thereby becoming the first Asian ever elected. As a member of the Brick Presbyterian Church since 1983, he was ordained an Elder in 1989.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS October 11, 2004 THE CLACK-CLACK of mah-jong tiles in a South Brooklyn senior citizen center not long ago would have meant a roomful of Jewish grandmothers. No more. At the Homecrest Community Services senior center, the grandmothers and grandfathers are nearly all Chinese, and their numbers are growing. The elders sitting at folding card tables in this homey Brooklyn church basement are enjoying the rewards of family sacrifice. Many toiled long hours in the restaurants and garment factories of Chinatown so their children could go to school, get good jobs and buy houses in Homecrest. Their children have repaid their elders by sharing their comfortable homes all under one roof, the grandparents - when they're not taking a well-deserved break at the center - baby-sit grandchildren whose parents work to pay the bills. "Both parents are required to work. Who better to raise children than grandparents?" said Carlton Mitchell, director of the International Center in New York. "Taking in and caring for aging parents is the cultural norm in China, and that way of thinking hasn't died out for the newer immigrants," Mitchell said. Homecrest's mah-jong circle includes grandmas like Kwe Pou Chow, who was racing home the other day to care for her 12-year-old grandson and 10-year-old granddaughter. "My daughters have to work," said Chow. She said her daughters, who publish a Chinese daily newspaper, bought a house in Homecrest in 1995 and brought her here from China. Until seven years ago, the 500 seniors who come to the center in the basement of the Homecrest Presbyterian Church each day had to travel to Chinatown for the company of other elderly Asians. Now, the need for Asian senior services in this part of Brooklyn has become so strong that Homecrest opened another center nearby expecting to sign up no more than 200 seniors. Instead, more than 600 people have signed up. "To me it means there is a huge need in the community, a hunger for these services," said Don Lee, Homecrest Community Services chairman. "It also means they are not thinking in the old way, 'Let's go to Chinatown for our services. They want to stay in the community. This is home for them. The seniors' numbers also show they are part of the thriving Chinese community in Homecrest, a community large and important enough to merit attention from City Hall. On a recent summer night, Mayor Bloomberg held a town hall meeting in the center, where he answered questions about everything from potholes to local schools. "For the first time we had a mayor who reached out to the Asian community in a formal way," said Lee. "I think it showed he recognized the growth and changes in [the neighborhood's] demographics. Daily life in the Homecrest center is not all that different from what goes on in senior centers everywhere: There are ballroom dancing classes and Fourth of July barbecues. Grandparents brag about their offspring's achievements. At Homecrest, there are also tai chi classes and karaoke. On a recent day, lunch was classic Chinese fare - pork, rice and cabbage. It was served with a fork. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/homecrest-haven-chinese-article-1.637298

August 16, 2012 - 5:52am By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle A new senior citizens center is opening in Bensonhurst. State Sen. Marty Golden made the big announcement. The center — expected to provide 23,750 meals a year as well as a comprehensive array of social services, including health and wellness care, citizenship assistance for foreign-born members, and case management — will operate under the umbrella of Homecrest Community Services, overseen by the city's Department of the Aging. “As a longtime supporter of Homecrest Community Services, I am proud to be part of this historic announcement designating them as an official NYC Neighborhood Senior Center. I thank Commissioner Barrios-Paoli of the New York City Department for the Aging, for recognizing the need for this program to be established in my district,” Golden said. The new center, at 7907 New Utrecht Ave., will be a boon to Bensonhurst’s growing Asian-American community, Golden said. “I know that this senior program will greatly advance the Asian-American community in Southwest Brooklyn, and will support all senior citizens in need in my community,” Golden said. “Senior centers are places where many of New York’s older adults go for essential services and socialization. Today, we build upon the opportunities available in my community that is home to one of the highest concentrations of senior citizens in New York State,” he said. Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, commissioner of the Department for the Aging, shared in the excitement. “The programs suggested by Homecrest during the city’s rigorous solicitation process clearly demonstrated a thoughtful plan to meet the needs and desires of seniors in the burgeoning Asian community in their neighborhood," she said. Richard Kuo, executive director of Homecrest Community Services, said he was pleased his organization won the city’s approval to operate the center. “We are very pleased to be designated for this new senior center contract after many years of dedication and work. The new center will give seniors access to essential government services and help promote their overall health, socialization and well-being,” Kuo said. http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/bensonhurst-gets-new-senior-center

City Council man Mike Nelson officiated at the ceremony formally dedicating the corner of East 14th Street and Avenue X as Roland Hill Way. This was legislation introduced and passed by Nelson, and the entire New York City Council. A statement issued by Nelson's office read, "Roland was a quintessential gentleman who brought class and dignity to the community. We are fortunate that he and his wonderful wife, Doris chose to live among us, raising a loving daughter. Today, on the first anniversary of his passing, I and the entire community continue to grieve with his wife and family. Roland Hill left his mark as few men have and will live forever in our hearts and memory." Letter in Memory of HCS Vice Chairman-Roland Hill by Paul Wine Roland Hill was born in MT Carmel-Lancaster County-South Carolina, on December 17, 1907 into a family of nine brothers and sisters. Every year his extended family holds, what was called an article in National Geographic, the 2nd largest family reunion in the US. He attended Mather Academy S.C. College and at that time he coached high school football, baseball and track to help young boys develop athletic abilities. He served his country during World War II for 3 1/2 years in the 1883rd Aviation Engineers in the China-Burma-India theater and one of his duties was to provide food to the troops, a communal experience. After his service, he spent many years in the restaurant business and ended his career at Ferry Bank Restaurant at One Worth Street as its manager. He was also Vice President of the Local 2 Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. He saw to it that workers were taken care of in the best tradition of the union movement. Roland was a man of passion and strong political beliefs. Yet he was humble because of his Christian values. He went on the 1960 march in Washington to ensure racial equality and brotherhood for all Americans. His dedication to his community led him to serve many groups. He was Vice-President of the 45th Assembly Democratic Club and served on the HHC Coney Island Hospital Advisory Board, Department of Aging Advisory Board, 61st Police Precinct Advisory Board, Community Board #15 Executive Board, and H.R.A. Advisory Board, to name just a few. Late in his life he worked for Congressman Ed Towns as a special Assistant and Director of senior citizen problems in the 10th Congressional District. Roland was a member of Homecrest Presbyterian Church for 50 years, and as a member and elder his Christian values lead not only himself but the whole church. One of his last projects (with his newest family) was to bring an Asian senior center to the Homecrest church. With Luther Mook's and Richard Kuo's vision he helped developed Homecrest Community Services to serve our community. He faithfully served Homecrest Community Services as President and, in his last year, as Vice Chairman. Roland passed away on August 10, 2004. Roland, in his lifetime, was a people's person and a man of principle who fought hard for what he believed in. He will be greatly missed.