On April 19, a residential building at 210 Freeman Street in Greenpoint underwent a partial collapse, leaving several residents without access to their homes. The Red Cross, Fire Department, and other emergency management organizations were called to the scene in response to complaints about the building shaking and vibrating. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Ten people were evacuated from 210 Freeman Street and neighboring 208 Freeman Street, and at least 15 feet of foundation has been destroyed. According to the FDNY report, the collapse was due to a structural issue in the building, but they have not released the definitive cause of the damage yet. The NYC Department of Buildings has several complaints and violations listed for the buildings, and it seems that illegal construction taking place in the basement at 208 Freeman caused the collapse to occur. Continue reading →
Anna Sawicka, a nearby resident, has spearheaded the efforts with the help of her sister Magdalena and Edward Sawicki.
“Many of them lost everything in the fire and on top of it they did not speak fluent English and needed translation help (my sister and myself are fully bi-lingual so we were able to help),” she told Greenpointers in an email.
Of the roughly 16 victims that Sawicka is aware of, she believes only two have sought temporary housing, while others have taken up temporary residence with friends.
The Red Cross has been heavily involved, as has the Polish Consulate. Currently, the Red Cross has 14 victims officially registered.
If you’d like to help or donate any items, here’s a list of collection spots. Continue reading →
Many of you have likely shopped at Dalaga, the lovely boutique on Franklin Avenue. But you might not have known that the name of the store is actually a Filipino word that means “lady in her prime.” The two sisters who own the store, Michelle and Mary Mangiliman, chose the name as an ode to their Filipino heritage.
They recently send us this call for donations, in the wake of the tragic typhoon that hit the Philippines.
“Thankfully the area where our family lives was not so badly hit, but nearly 480,000 others were displaced and 4 million more ‘affected’ by the typhoon in 36 provinces,” the sisters wrote to us. “They are expecting another storm to hit them this morning. Relief agencies are immediately calling for canned food, water, medicine and tents for the homeless. We will be accepting any donations starting today and making regular drops to the Philippine Red Cross. We appreciate any support you can give and hope you’ll help to spread the word.”
Show your support for Sandy Relief Efforts with this styling Tee-shirt.
About the design: The heart in the hurricane logo was one inspired by all of the love and support people were sharing, amidst the devastation that existed.
A group of New Yorkers volunteering in the Rockaways and Staten Island decided that they needed to create a platform to raise money for continuing Sandy relief efforts. The result of their dedication and inspiration is Let’s Rebuild NY.
By purchasing a Tee-shirt from www.letsrebuildny.com, you’ll not only be supporting New Yorkers effected by Hurricane Sandy, but looking dapper doing it. I can’t wait to rock mine with my favorite pair of Zubaz pants.
All Let’s Rebuild NY Tee-shirts are produced in NY, and every penny of the net proceeds is going towards supporting those suffering from the impact of Sandy through a partnership with the Red Cross.
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
• 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.
Canned Goods
Nonperishable Food
Blankets
Jackets
Gloves
Hats
Socks
Plates
Cups
Bowls
Utensils
Cleaning Supplies
Brooms
Mops
Sponges
Garbage Bags
Water
Tarps
• 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
Many of you have likely shopped at 
