How to Help the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Move Forward

It’s been almost two and a half weeks since Sandy but many New Yorkers still need help. Neighbors have been working hard to help those in need and it’s been appreciated greatly. Here are ways to put your time and resources to the best possible use.

• A blood drive is taking place at PS 139 on Saturday, November 17, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the first flood auditorium. You can sign up here.

• A clothing swap will take place on the same day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at PS 139. The swap is an annual event in which people bring gently used clothes and take what they can use.

• Ditmas Park neighbors are buying, cooking and delivering hot food to a church in the Rockaways in an area that lacks power, heat, gas and water. It’s been an amazing success so far. Find out how to help out here.

• Rebuild DUMBOis a fundraiser to help rebuild that neighborhood’s more than dozen businesses and art spaces that suffered significant damage during Sandy.

• The annual coat drive for New York Cares is taking place from now until December. In our neighborhood, you can drop off coats on the porch of 555 Argyle Road between Newkirk and Ditmas Avenues.

• Murrow’s fall theatrical production begins showing this week. Donations to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund will be collected during the show. You can find out more info about the show and about how to donate here.

• A special cooking clinic in the soup kitchen at the Flatbush Reformed Church is taking place Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 with the help of Wheated’s David Sheridan and the Church Avenue Business Improvement District. Find more information here.

• The Park Slope Armory still needs volunteers to help with evacuees. Volunteer shifts last four hours and are available all day and all night. You can see what is needed and when (Russian and Spanish speakers are particularly wanted) and sign up for today and Wednesday here, and for Thursday and Friday here. If you have any questions, contact nightshiftatthearmory@gmail.com.

• Midwood High School is accepting donations of the following supplies: Flashlights, D batteries, buckets, mops, work gloves, rubber gloves, towels, industrial garbage bags (often called compactor bags), chapstick, hygiene products, baby wipes, gift cards, and more; they are not accepting clothes at this time. Donations can be dropped off at Assemblywoman Jacobs’ District Office (2294 Nostrand Avenue between Avenues I and J), Monday-Friday from 9-5 PM or at Midwood (2839 Bedford Avenue) during school hours. Financial donations can also be made out as checks to the Midwood High School Parents Association.

If you have more information on any events or organizations helping the region’s recovery from Sandy, let us know in the comments or email us at ditmasparkcorner@gmail.com.