Ways You Can Help in Brooklyn

With buses running and the city beginning to clear trees and debris from our streets, it’s getting somewhat easier to get around – but please continue to use caution. A lot of people have been asking about ways to help our neighbors in Brooklyn who were worse off than we were during Hurricane Sandy. Here are some options – if you know of any more, please share in the comments.

• Our local evacuation shelter is at PS 249 (Caton at Marlborough), and we’ve heard they have as many volunteers as evacuees at the moment. However, others have noted they are in need of supplies, like pillows; kids toys and art supplies; books and DVDs for kids and adults in English, Urdu, Russian and Spanish; clothing; 8×11 copy paper and post-it notes. Neighbor Sarah notes: “Best time to drop off donations is after 11am because the early morning is busy with volunteers shift change.” UPDATE: Neighbors have noted in the comments that they are NOT accepting donations.

• The OEM shelter at the Park Slope Armory (361 15th Street) needs volunteers. They’re looking for people to do 12-hour shifts (8am-8pm), but they’d take a 6-hour shift.

• Further away, there’s a clean-up scheduled at Brooklyn Bridge Park today, near Main Street from 9am-12pm and on Pier 6 from 2-5pm. RSVP to sward@brooklynbridgepark.org.

• The New York Blood Center is accepting donations at only a few places right now, but none in Brooklyn. If you happen to be in Manhattan today, there are a couple of places uptown that are open, see the list here.

• And a reminder that you can make donations to the Jessie Streich-Kest Fund, set up by her family to help with her injured dog Max’s vet bills.