Ways Greenpointers Can Help: Sandy Disaster Relief in North Brooklyn

The devastating aftermath of Sandy is here, but our community has a chance to become stronger as a result. The cleanup has hardly even begun. Here is a list of ways you can lend a helping hand to your friends and neighbors:

Volunteer / Donation Opportunities For Sandy Relief

 

NORTH BROOKLYN

• New York City Public Advocate’s Office is organizing volunteers in areas across the five boroughs. You can register to participate for a four-hour shift in North Brooklyn.

• City sponsored cleanup of McCarren Park will take place on Saturday, Nov 3rd. – REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED. Stay tuned for information about a McGolrick Park clean up.

• New York Blood Center was in need of blood even before the storm, but the storm has made the need greater. There will be a Blood Drive on Saturday (11/3) at Williamsburg Church (231 Ainslie Street) from 10-4pm.

FOOD/SUPPLIES DROP OFF LOCATIONS

• Brooklyn Kitchen (100 Frost St) is collecting donations of goods that people in the Rockaways need now and in the future.

• Greenpoint Reformed Church
136 Milton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Contact: Rev. Jennifer Aull (718) 383-5941

• St. Cecilia’s Church
23 Monitor Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Contact: Mary Jane Del Vicario (718) 389-0010

• St. Stanislaus American Legion Post 1771
519 Leonard Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222

• House of Yes
342 Maujer st
Brooklyn, NY 11206
Contact: Kae Burke (585)217-7209

• Good Co.
10 Hope Street
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Contact Sean Aiken (718) 281-7191

• 6 Leonard St, apt J1
Btwn Conselyea and Metropolitan
Contact: Jennifer (917) 586-4153

CITYWIDE

• New York City Mayor’s Office is directing those who want to volunteer to register through NYC Service. People will be notified of opportunities as they become available. Contact NYC Service by email at [email protected] and include…

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Borough

• Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is accepting financial donations from organizations and individuals to support relief efforts. One hundred percent of donations are being dispersed to relief efforts and organizations.

• Recovers.org says the best way to help is to register what skills you have or supplies you want to donate. Visit WNYC for volunteer and donation matching opportunities across the city.

• Food Bank For New York City has different ways for you to get involved. You can donate $ to the Food Bank for New York City by texting FBNYC to 50555.

• New York Cares coordinates volunteer programs for 1,300 nonprofits, city agencies and public schools. The organization is preliminarily registering volunteers and will be organizing disaster recovery projects.

You can donate $10 to New York Cares by texting the word iCare to 85944.

• Red Hook Recovers is connecting volunteers and givers in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

• The Red Hook Initiative is collecting toilet paper, water, candles, food, flashlights, cell phone chargers, batteries, paper towels, and paper for printers.

• Astoria Recovers is connecting volunteers and givers in the Queens neighborhood. Drop-off location for goods like clothing, batteries food and water.

• Staten Island Recovers is connecting volunteers and givers in the borough and@SIrecovers

• Far Rockaway Facebook page serves as a great resource to connect with volunteer needs.

• Jersey Cares Newark Mayor Corey Booker says that volunteers can check  here for volunteering opportunities near them.

• Red Cross is assisting in shelters outside the New York City region.  If you’d like to volunteer at a Red Cross shelter you must be…

• Over the age of 16
• Available for 12 hour shift from Wed, Oct 31 to Friday, November 2.
• Be ready to deploy to a shelter location outside of NYC
• Stay for up to 72 hours.
• Able to lift and carry 30-40 lbs
• Comfortable working with people in stressful situations

You can donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999.

• The Humane Society of the United States and American Humane Society are seeking donations to help rescue stranded pets and help animals in shelters.

• A crowdfunding effort on RocketHub by Clean The World will send 1 Hygiene Kit for every $1 donated to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

BUSINESS RECOVERY INFORMATION

• NYC Department’s of Small Business Services (SBS) and the Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), are coordinating a set of services to assist small businesses in recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

• NYCEDC has approximately 40,000 square feet of warehouse space at the Brooklyn Army Terminal available for short-term swing office space free of charge for the next 30 days.

Greenpoint got lucky…

• Neighbors Allied For Good Growth reminds us not to forgot our brethren without power across the river. The Lower East Side Recovers is an effort to match volunteers and givers with people who have needs in the Lower East Side, coordinated by the folks at Occupy NYC and community.

**If you would like to donate and are not able to deliver yourself, please contact [email protected] to arrange a drop off in Brooklyn or arrange pick up. Donations accepted at the NAG office, (110 Kent Avenue @ No. 8th St.) – just call ahead to 718-384-2248 to make sure someone is there.

FOLLOW THE HASHTAGS

#sandyvolunteer has become the unofficial hashtag for those looking to volunteer and those looking for help.

Also check out the following hashtags to stay up to date:

#sandy
#hurricanesandy
#sandyrecovery
#sandyaid

Know of any other volunteer or donation opportunities? Leave info in the comments.