#nycservice

Hi Neighbs...

My heart has been overwhelmed with emotions over the past week--heartbreak, gratitude, inspiration, confusion, amazement, and more and more gratitude. While I haven't been able to completely comprehend and express everything that has happened, I would like to take the opportunity to lend a hand and grasp tightly to another.

There have been many people asking "How can I help?" and I was even asking the same thing too. So I've put together some answers for you—now, let's see what you got. :) 

Below is a small list of ways everyone can be a part of the amazing community and work going on out here on the east coast. There are many, many other lists and resources out there, but here are just the highlights from some of the organizations I have been following or volunteering with recently. I’m sure there will be more to update (and please send along others you think would be helpful to include).

HOW TO HELP FROM HERE:

If you are in the NY/NJ area and are able to volunteer or lend a hand, here are places you can get involved:

1.     OccupySandy.com has been one of the best resources to finding out real-time updates on volunteer opportunities, donation needs, donation drop-off locations and so much more. Please check out their board for details on the efforts in NYC, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, NJ and the many other areas that were greatly affected by Sandy.

Website: http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OccupySandyReliefNyc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OccupySandy

2.     Some of you have been following along with my other recent posts. A few friends and I volunteered all weekend with GOLES.org (Good Old Lower East Side) and what an amazing experience! 2,000+ volunteers come through all day Saturday and 3,000+ on Sunday took the time to check in on families and elderly to make sure they had food, water, blankets, batteries and access to their medical care if needed. Talk serving the community! They are currently accepting donations at the Sixth Street Community Center located at 638 East 6th st. between Avenue B and C. Please make drop offs before 5pm if possible. Their highest needs are: 

Diapers

Baby Items, baby foods ( lots)

Batteries

Flashlights & candles

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Bottled Water

Fruit n vegetables

Sliced Bread

Feminine hygiene products

Blankets(!!!)

3.     If needles don’t scare the heebie-jeebies out of you, donate blood at any of the locations Huffington Post has included in their list HERE, or find more information via the New York Blood Center HERE.

4.     The Food Bank for New York City is accepting both donations and sign-ups for volunteer shifts.

5.     NYC.gov is looking for volunteers! Sign up HERE.

6.     Additional Donation Drop-Off Locations: www.occupysandy.com has a great list of locations and items needed, as they have been changing daily.

7.     Recovers.org Communities: Another great place to find out details about specific communities and their relief efforts. Here are a few quick links (full list at the link above):

https://statenisland.recovers.org/

https://lowereastside.recovers.org/

https://redhook.recovers.org/

HOW TO HELP FROM AFAR:

And even though many of us are miles apart, we have all felt the love and prayers from the outside community.

1.     If you want to donate, you can purchase any of the following needed items on Amazon.com (put that AmazonPrime Membership and FREE 2-Day shipping to GOOD use!), Drugstore.com, or Soap.com and have them delivered directly to:

Office of Councilman James Sanders / 234-26 Merrick Blvd. / Laurelton, NY 11422 

Phone: 718-527-4356 

NYC Councilman Sanders has set up a a nearby location to receive donations and shuttle them to the Central Avenue center.

Battery operated radios (include batteries)

Battery powered lanterns (include batteries)

Soy infant formula

Work gloves

Contractor-grade trash bags

Winter clothing for men, women and children

Blankets

Hats, gloves, and scarves

Flashlights

Batteries

Cleaning supplies

Candles, matches/lighters

Non-perishable food (best is anything high in nutrients: peanut butter, granola bars, nuts, Ensure, canned food (flip top is ideal but not imperative) including: tuna, canned chicken, canned salmon, beans, corn, green beans)

2.     Garry Michael who runs Farm2Me has set up a site to donate so that people without power, etc. can have warm meals while they put their lives back together. They work with 80+ food and truck vendors, and another 200+ farmers. They're in the #Rockaways with Uncle Gussy's truck today, and plan to go out with 4-5 vendors tomorrow. You can donate as little or as much as you want! SIGN-UP HERE: http://www.indiegogo.com/Farm2meSandy.

3.     The American Red Cross is offering shelter, clothing, supplies, food and blood to Hurricane Sandy victims. To donate $10 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief, text the word REDCROSS to 90999 or you can call 800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To donate blood, visit the Red Cross website.

GENERAL EFFORTS AND RESOURCES for everyone to check out: 

1.     #OccupySandy's Interactive Google Map: http://bit.ly/TtQNex. This is an awesome sight the OS team put together which gives you an overview of all the work being done. Click around to find details at specific locations (ex: Contacts, Items needed, Volunteer opportunities, etc.). 

3.     Amazing photos from one of my favorite NY photographers, Humans of New York. (Photos included in this post.) Definitely take a look and follow along.

2.     And lastly, but certainly not least ;) some friends have put together an incredible effort to raise money using their design talents. Storm Support is a design-centric effort to aid in the relief of those affected by Superstorm Sandy. Storm Support serves as a hub, bringing together artists and designers who have been inspired to donate their skills to support those in need with the people across the world that are proudly committed to helping the victims of Sandy rebuild their lives and communities. All proceeds on each purchase will be donated directly to relief efforts committed to the victims of Superstorm Sandy. 

LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StormSupport

FOLLOW us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/storm_support

100% of your SUPPORT will go to the relief efforts: http://shop.stormsupportgear.com/

DONATE/CONNECT: Email me if you know any clothing manufacturers who might be interested in making a donation or providing their StormSupport directly. I'm excited to work with the SS Team to help build and manage these relationships! 

The prayers and outreach have been amazing—but there is so much more work to be done. Let’s take it one day at a time, but know that this is only the beginning. “Back to normal” won’t be in the vocabulary of so many families because they no longer have homes or belongings to go back to. But if each of us had a hand to hold on each side, we could make this world a whole lot smaller and incredibly, incredibly stronger. :) Support is not out of reach. We, with able hands, just have to be the ones to lend it. So to all my family and friends near and far: Will you join me? My east coast family needs you.