Local Civic Association Wants To Expand Services To Dyker Heights
By D. Rybstein

Having survived and prospered through five years of growing pains, Canarsie’s Informed Voices Civic Association (IVCA), is now poised to take their social service programs to more people through an expansion in outreach here in Canarsie as well as a brand new foothold in the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, according to Rev. Matteo Rizzo, the former president and a co-founder of the organization.

Father Rizzo is now pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dyker Heights and was previously assigned to Can-arsie’s Shrine of St. Jude, where last Wednesday’s meeting took place.

“We are looking at a respectful expansion into the heavily Asian and Hispanic neighborhoods of Dyker Heights to serve their needs without stepping on the toes of existing organizations,” said Rizzo. “The population there requires more social services outreach,” he said. Rizzo will be staying on as president of the local civic’s parent organization, the Association of Informed Voices.

A hearty crowd turned out in the cold to witness the appointment of local activist Wanda Ihrig as president of IVCA by its board, replacing Rizzo at the helm.

Ihrig spoke of the civic’s success citing the 198 children ages eight through 16 currently enrolled in its basketball program. “We are teaching the kids a code of ethics, leadership training,and respect,” she said. “The civic also spon-sors a youth association with 120 kids from sixth grade to high school - not just Catholic school kids - where we prepare them for college. We’ve joined with Brookdale Hospital creating an ‘Adopt-a-Grandparent’ program,” continued Ihrig.

“We must also acknowledge the help of local elected officials,” said Ihrig while singling out Councilman Lew Fidler for his annual grant to IVCA.

“However, our budget does not allow for anything more than a small stipend to a volunteer to help relieve their burden for pitching in.

“Our budget is simply maintaining us at the current level. We would need a budget of perhaps $300,000 to hire social workers, a van and driver for food pantry deliveries among other things.”

Ihrig put out a call for sponsors to provide financial backing and volunteers who can give a few hours a week as volunteers, for example, as basketball coaches. IVCA can be reached at (718) 763-5324 or visit their web site at www.informedvoices.org http://www.informedvoices.org/ to find out more details of their programs and how to get involved.

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