Members who work at the MJHS Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care on the southern tip of Brooklyn tend to stay for many years. With a contract negotiated through the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes, 1199 members benefit from labor-management collaboration, as well as fair wages and working conditions.

As a not-for-profit institution supported by a charitable foundation, Menorah has made notable improvements to staffing levels since the pandemic. 1199 Magazine spoke with several members to learn more about their work and why they are committed to the facility.

Ross Thompson, a kitchen porter and longtime union delegate, has worked at Menorah on and off since 1996. “I enjoy working in the kitchen because I come from a cooking family,” he said. Thompson shared that his mother once cooked for the Queen of England during a visit to Trinidad, while his father later learned Chinese cooking and prepared meals for LL Cool J and Heavy D. “Now my daughter is a chef too,” he said. “It runs in the family.”

After spending a decade at Menorah, Thompson moved to Georgia, but returned to New York with his family in 2016. “I’m a New Yorker at heart,” he said. He has served on both bargaining and labor-management committees, where he believes members’ voices are truly heard. “I like to fight for the voiceless,” he said.

Thompson also spoke about the bonds formed with residents. “One of the residents here is also from Trinidad, and for her birthday I brought her roti, a traditional flatbread we eat back home. She was so happy,” he said. “You get attached. When they pass, it leaves a hole in your heart.”

Maria McKenzie, a certified nursing assistant in the rehabilitation department, joined Menorah about eight years ago after a career in restaurant management. “I used to admire their uniforms,” she said. Now, she starts her workday at 6 a.m., helping patients prepare for physical therapy by ensuring they are showered, dressed, and finished with breakfast by 8:30 a.m.

“People request me because I go above and beyond,” McKenzie said. She described assisting patients who need more care than formally allocated and emphasized the importance of patience and realism. McKenzie, a mother and grandmother, also noted that Menorah is well supplied. “We have all the tools we need—linens, lifts—we are not short of anything,” she said.

Jose Vasquez, who began working at Menorah 13 years ago and is now a lead porter, said the environmental services team takes pride in keeping the facility clean and hygienic. He described a detailed, seven-step cleaning process designed to ensure no area is overlooked.

Vasquez enjoys interacting with residents and building relationships with them. “It’s great when you can make them smile and bring some light into their lives,” he said. He also expressed gratitude for the union benefits, noting that his family’s healthcare needs are fully covered. “Nothing gets done alone,” Vasquez said. “If we all come together, everything falls into place.”

Licensed practical nurse Pettrina Clarke, who has worked at Menorah for 11 years, recently became a union delegate. She works in the rehabilitation section, where patients typically stay for about two weeks. “We encourage people to take that one extra step,” she said. “You’re not going to leave here unless you make an effort.”

Clarke emphasized the importance of human connection. “Having someone to talk to and vent with is so important,” she said. “You’re not just a nurse—you’re also a dietician, social worker, and therapist. We wear many hats.”

Registered nurse Toma Rimkunaite, who earned her nursing degree at Kingsborough Community College, has worked at Menorah for the past year in long-term care with residents who have dementia. A former business administrator in Lithuania, she came to the U.S. 13 years ago. “We always try to provide care with dignity and respect and make people feel like this is their home,” she said.

Rimkunaite noted that many residents are Russian-speaking, a language she understands, and that staff make special efforts to spend time with residents who do not receive visitors. She hopes to use the 1199 training fund to pursue a master’s degree in the future.

Venecia Golding, a longtime delegate, began her career as a CNA at Menorah 18 years ago. With support from the union, she returned to school, became an LPN, then an RN, and is currently completing her master’s degree. “I am very grateful to 1199 for helping me reach my full potential,” she said.

Golding explained that being part of the League gives members access to some of the best benefits available, including guaranteed retirement income and no-cost healthcare. “People don’t always recognize the struggle it took to win these benefits,” she said. “Being in the Union gives us a sense of security.”

She added that nursing home work is often undervalued. “If we live long enough, we will all be here one day,” Golding said. “We work very hard to take care of other people’s grandparents, uncles, and aunts and to make them feel like this is their home.”