How to Help Our Red Hook Neighbors
Our neighbors over in Red Hook are in desperate need of help after Sandy’s vicious wrath last week.
The Red Hook Initiative is acting as command center for the community’s recovery and is looking for everything from volunteers to assist at the shelters (especially during the evening shifts) to cleaning supplies. Below is a rundown of the latest requests from the area:
402 Van Brunt is in urgent need of cleaning supplies (drywall knives, trash bags, bins, mops, bleach, etc).
Why not grab a mop or trash bag and stay a while after dropping supplies off at 402 Van Brunt? They’re helping to organize clean up efforts today until 5pm.
767 Hicks Street is in need of hot prepared meals (mostly meats and salads). Please try to deliver them by 4:30 this afternoon (Saturday).
Other items needed at 767 Hicks Street (The Red Hook Initiative) include:
Blankets
**Walky Talkies (cell phone service is TERRIBLE, this will GREATLY help)
Peanut Butter
Canned chips, non-perishable prepared foods
Juice
**Laundry Detergent (most needed item)
Diapers: toddler (pull-ups)
Fresh Fruit
**Brooms and Mops (mops are most needed)
Toothpaste
Bath Soap
Paper Towels
**Flashlights
**AAA batteries
Ziploc bags
Feminine products
Pre-packaged food (especially easy to eat like baby carrots, apples, pears, celery, etc.)
Pet Food
**Most Needed
If you can’t make it out to Red Hook, don’t worry, there are several places in the area acting as collection centers or raising money to donate directly to the neighborhood.
Several bars such as The Owl Farm and Skylark are donating 10% of their total sales today to the Red Hook Initiative.
Brooklyn EyeWorks (537 5th Avenue) is donating a portion of their sales today to The Red Hook Initiative
Freddy’s Bar (627 5th Avenue) and Has Beans (620 5th Avenue) are acting as a collection centers and will distribute items to areas in need.
If you would like to donate funds directly to the Red Hook Initiative, please visit their paypal site, here. Donations and volunteer opportunities can also be found via Red Hook Recovers.
The NYC Services website also has a HUGE list of volunteer and donation opportunities for areas of need throughout the five boroughs.
We will be sure to keep you updated on the state of our neighbors in Red Hook, donations needed and ways that you can help get our city back on its feet. If you know of any other fundraising drives or collection centers in the area, let us know in the comments below!
Photo via Oneearth
