Sandy Update: Ways to Help This Weekend
The hurricane is almost three weeks behind us, and there has been an incredible outpouring of support from Brooklynites so far. The City is getting its act together, too. Public housing residents in affected areas are getting their heat back, and most of Red Hook has electricity. There are still plenty of people who need help, and lots of ways to help them.
The elderly folks at the Park Slope Armory are being shifted to more permanent residences. The final group there is slated to be relocated to better conditions by Sunday. Volunteers are needed through the weekend, though. Sign up here.
A fairly awesome group has formed to deliver 1,000 Thanksgiving meals to displaced families. They are looking for volunteers to prep and distribute meals on Wednesday, November 21 from 5-9pm and Thanksgiving day from 8am-12pm and from 12-4pm.
To volunteer in Red Hook this weekend, report to 499 Van Brunt Street to help distribute donations and clean up businesses and residences damaged by the storm. They are especially in need of skilled workers this weekend (electricians, plumbers, etc). And support the work of the Red Hook Initiative, which has been coordinating volunteers and donations on behalf of the people of Red Hook since the storm hit.
In Coney Island, volunteers are needed at the “Relief Village,” where they are distributing food, clothing, and other much needed supplies. The Relief Village is next to MCU Park at 1904 Surf Avenue, near the Stillwell Avenue subway station between 8:30 AM and 3 PM.
Congregation Beth Elohim continues to provide hot meals and other support to communities in Far Rockaway and elsewhere. See their current list of most needed here, and consider making a donation.
Old First Reformed Church has partnered with the restaurant Two Boots to cook meals for neighborhoods that were hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. You can make monetary donations online to help with their work.
The Masbia Soup Kitchen was named one of Newsweek’s Heroes of the Hurricane, a much deserved honor. Masbia was at the Armory on day one with hot food for evacuees when they needed it most, and have since expanded their operation to other communities as well. Donate to support their work here.
The Brooklyn Recovery Fund is collecting donations to support the great nonprofits that are working across the borough to support their communities. You can text “brooklyn” to 25383 to donate $10 to the fund.
The annual New York Cares coat drive, which typically has needs of 50,000 coats, is currently seeking 200,000 coats to help people displaced from Hurricane Sandy. Drop off locations include all local libraries and police precincts, including the main Brooklyn Library as well as the Park Slope Library. ONLY COATS are being requested.
Some of New York’s public schools have been hit hard. The DOE is accepting donations.