Friends of Coler is a network of neighbors, friends and family who care deeply about the people who live and work in Coler Rehabilitation & Nursing Care Center. The group formed in April 2020 to advocate for safer medical practices during the pandemic, donate PPE and other items, and highlight Coler’s meaningful contribution to Roosevelt Island and ensure its presence here for years to come.

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For most of us the losses caused by the pandemic and fear and uncertainty about a second surge remain strong. While we may have experienced a slight summer respite, our Coler neighbors have not any relief. They have been cut off from family and friends, stuck inside with poor wifi and limited courtyard access for more than 250 days. 

Vaccinations may be available next spring so let's dig a little deeper now to help our friends survive the mental and physical hardships of the confinement they will continue to experience in the dark winter months ahead. We have teamed up with the nonprofit Angelica Patient Assistance Program to accept tax-deductible donations to purchase holiday gifts and meals.

• $20 can provide a small personal gift for a resident

• $50 can provide a warm hoodie for a resident

• $100 can provide 6-month Netflix subscription for a group of residents

• $250 can provide a holiday meal of their choice for a group of residents

With gratitude and many good wishes for you and our friends at Coler,

Julia Ferguson and Nicole Izsak

Friends of Coler coordinators

Friends of Coler and COVID-19…

The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging us all, bringing radical changes to our lives. We’re asked to stay inside to protect ourselves and others. We’ve experienced loss, fear, and uncertainty about the future. In this time of suffering and confusion, what is clear is that community members wish to help out more. 

Friends of Coler—an informal group of neighbors and supporters—have teamed up with the Angelica Patient Assistance Program to support Roosevelt Island’s Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center residents and staff during this crisis. We’re grateful to connect with this trusted nonprofit to process monetary gifts to meet Coler’s evolving needs. Right now, the priority is purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Special thanks to Cornell Tech MBA student Fabio Daiber for his work alongside Andrew Luu of Angelica for setting up an easy, tax-deductible way to donate. We hope you will today!

For more examples of the solidarity, kindness and advocacy happening on behalf of our friends at Coler, check out:

• This essay by Cornell Tech Professor Tapan Parikh

• Articles in ProPublica and the New York Post

• On NY1’s website, a forceful letter from our elected representatives to Health + Hospitals CEO Dr. Katz

• This moving Roosevelt Islander blog post with a message from Do For One Founder Andrew Oliver and a video-poem that captures a Coler resident and OPEN DOORS member’s courageous response “to Corona” 

With gratitude and many good wishes for you and our friends at Coler,

Julia Ferguson
Westview resident
point person for friends of Coler