50 for 50: The Favors Family

“I first connected with QCH in the early 90s, not long after I moved to Forest Hills. I wasn’t looking for a full-time job. I just wanted to stay busy and be around people. A friend suggested I stop by the community center, and that visit turned into years of involvement.

I began working part-time as a Meals on Wheels driver. Every day, I delivered meals to older adults throughout the neighborhood, but the work was about much more than food. People looked forward to seeing a familiar face. They knew someone was checking on them, making sure they were okay. Sometimes, that presence mattered just as much as the meal. Meals on Wheels wasn’t just a service; it was a lifeline. We weren’t only delivering lunch; we were showing care.

Later on, my role shifted. When I stopped delivering meals, I volunteered at the Forest Hills Community Center, helping with morning coffee and assisting in the kitchen. I liked being there, talking with people, and lending a hand wherever needed. The center always felt welcoming, a place where everyone belonged.

One of the things I’m proudest of is that my daughter Stephanie also found her way to QCH. She became the Meals on Wheels Program Coordinator, and watching her take on that role meant a lot to me. Like me, she loved people. She gave herself fully to the work, caring deeply about the drivers, the staff, and the older adults they served. To do that job well, you have to truly show up, and she did.

Looking back now, I never imagined that QCH would become such a constant part of our family’s life. But when you enjoy what you do and the people you do it with, it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like home.”

- Marie

“I grew up inside QCH, sometimes literally. From a very young age, I was around the Forest Hills Community Center, tagging along with my grandmother and stopping by to see my mom at work. It was just part of my everyday life.

When I was five years old, I was already helping out in small ways, by taking messages, answering phones, and being around the office. I didn’t think anything of it at the time. The center was nearby, and my family was there, so it felt natural. It felt safe.

As I got older, I became a participant myself. I attended the afterschool program and later joined Access for Young Women at the Young Women’s Leadership School. QCH was a place that supported me as I grew up.

What stayed with me most wasn’t just the programs, but the way my mom and grandmother approached their work. They showed me that community service is about more than a job title. It’s about listening, being present, and treating people with care and respect. That’s what made their impact so real.

My mom’s legacy at QCH lives in the way she treated others — her drivers, her coworkers, the community members she served. You could feel how much she cared. That kind of dedication leaves an impression.

Today, I work at QCH as a Program Assistant at the Forest Hills Evening Teen Center. In many ways, it feels like a continuation of everything I grew up seeing. I get to build relationships with young people, create a sense of belonging, and help make the center a place they want to return to.

Being the third generation of my family connected to QCH doesn’t feel extraordinary, it feels natural. The center has always been there for us, just as it’s been there for so many families across Queens.”

- Diamond