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GO Project at the Strand: Wrap a gift, Help a child

30 Nov

Date: November 30-December 2, December 7-24th

Location: The Strand Bookstore, NYC

The GO Project Inc. is partnering with Strand for the holiday season. Strand customers will have the option of getting their books wrapped and the donations they make in return will go to the GO Project. In order to make this a success, they will need a lot of staff and volunteer support. These are some giftwrapping volunteer time slots currently open:

•        November 30th-December 2nd: 12pm- 4:30pm OR 4:30pm-9pm

•       December 7th-Decemer 15th: 12pm- 4:30pm OR 4:30pm-9pm

•       December 16th-December 23rd: 10am-2pm OR 2pm-6pm OR 6pm-10pm

•       December 24th: 10am-1:30pm OR 1:30pm-4:30pm OR 4:30pm-8pm

“The Go Project is a nonprofit organization serving public school children in lower Manhattan who are struggling academically. We offer academic, emotional and social support to ensure they gain the confidence to excel and matriculate. We are trying to close the achievement gap by offering several programs and support, a summer intensive 5 week, a Saturday program that depends on our amazing volunteers who assist a teacher in a lesson by allowing each student to get more one on one time and their questions answered in smaller group settings,  and social development.

Our community charity partner, Strand has collaborated with us on a newly finished Mural that may be viewed on the side of the Strand Building.”

Interested volunteers should email their contact information and desired 4-hour volunteer time slot from the list above to Olivia Nunez at onunez@goprojectnyc.org

Hurricane Sandy Volunteer Project: Help Manhattan Youth Rebuild

7 Nov

Manhattan Youth, located in Downtown Manhattan, has been helping children, families, adults and seniors for 26 years. Their Downtown Community Center, the heart and nerve center of Manhattan Youth, suffered catastrophic flood damage during Hurricane Sandy. Twenty feet of salt water had to be pumped out of their Arts and Activity level, which also houses their boilers, pumps and pool equipment. The space is now being gutted to prepare for rebuilding.

The pool level and street level also have a lot of damage and will require some demolition and rebuilding of floors and walls, plus the ceiling on the pool deck. Preliminary rebuilding estimates range from an optimistic $1.3 million to $2.5 million or more.

How you Can Help

Volunteer: Join their bucket brigade on Sunday, November 11th, as they pass trash up the stairs. They have to clean out activity rooms, computer rooms, sheetrock walls, art rooms and more before rebuilding. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and able to lift 35 pounds. Bring gloves, a hat, appropriate shoes or boots and old clothes – it is dirty. They’ll provide dust masks. If you plan to attend please be on time for coordination purposes. RSVP on EVENTBRITE BY CLICKING HERE.

Donate: Rebuilding costs are estimated in the millions. Please help by donating through PayPal.

 

Hurricane Sandy Volunteer/Donation Projects: From Gale A. Brewer’s Office

5 Nov

I just received the following email from councilwoman Gale Brewer, and wanted to pass along as it contained a lot of great information about new donation drop-off locations and volunteer opportunities. See below:

Today, Monday, November 5, 2012 West Side institutions are working with former Community Board Chair Mel Wymore to fill a large truck of supplies to go to Staten Island. You could drop off supplies at JCC, 334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76 Street, NY NY up to 10pm on Monday, November 5. Items needed: blankets, toiletries, wipes, flashlights, batteries. No clothes. The truck will leave the West Side on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

On Monday, November 5, 2012…info from the City Council as to where assistance is needed:

Staten Island  Councilmember Oddo and Assemblymember Malliotakis have organized volunteers throughout the weekend.  Today they are at the Staten Island Recreational Association at 599 Fr. Capodanno Blvd. from 9am to dusk and will continue to help clean out homes that have been impacted by the storm. They are in need of cleaning supplies – shovels, rakes, brooms, gloves, garbage bags, masks, toiletries and pharmaceuticals (e.g. Tyelonol, Advil, etc.).

Brooklyn Red Hook Councilmember Gonzalez along with a number of local community groups have been organizing volunteers to help residents and local businesses in the Red Hook area.  Volunteers should report to 402 Van Brunt Street, between 10 am – 5 pm.

Coney Island  Councilmember Domenic Recchia is coordinating volunteers, at 2770 West 5th St, Room 4C (nearest open F Train stop is Avenue X), and they will send you to wherever you are needed most.

Park Slope The Park Slope Armory shelter (361 15th Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues) continues to need volunteers who can work a 12-hour shift, starting at 8 AM or 8 PM daily. You need to be comfortable working with the elderly, disabled, and other people with special needs and you cannot bring your children. If they have too many volunteers, you may be turned away, so be prepared for that. The John Jay High School shelter (237 7th Avenue, between 4th & 5th Streets) also continues to need day, evening, and overnight volunteers. You need to be able to dedicate at least 6-8 hours and cannot bring your children.

-From Brad Hoylman: Many of my neighbors are still without heat, hot water or plumbing. In coordination with the offices of our local elected officials and the Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, we are seeking three (3) shifts of volunteers to go door-to-door in Fulton Houses and Westbeth to assist residents today, Monday, November 5.  How you can help: Show up at either 12 p.m. or 3 p.m. at the Fulton Center Auditorium (119 9th Ave between 17th and 18th Streets) to go door-to-door at Fulton Houses to assess residents’ needs. OR  Show up at 4 p.m. at Westbeth (55 Bethune Street Washington and West Streets) to help carry water and other supplies to residents. hoylmanforsenate@gmail.com

 Thank you, Gale A. Brewer!

 

How to Help After Hurricane Sandy

31 Oct

Hurricane Sandy has left a path of destruction across the eastern seaboard, and now is the time for us to come together and help our fellow man. Below are any and all opportunities I’ve found to help recovery efforts, whether its volunteering your time or donating money to those who are already dispatched into communities across New York. This list is focused on NYC, but I welcome any new opportunities in the Tri-State Area and beyond: please email giveandgetnyc@gmail.com and your organization’s needs will be posted.

At this time, the donation of time and money is much more beneficial than in-kind donations, as the efforts needed to package and dispatch such items is time consuming. Unless expressly noted by an organization that they are in need of specific items, which some are and have, please consider a monetary donation before giving in-kind gifts.

VOLUNTEER

FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY: If you are interested in joining the Food Bank for NYC within this critical time of need, please join their mailing list HERE. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to email us at volunteerfoodbanknyc@gmail.com.

NYC SERVICE: To be dispatched wherever there is a need in NYC, email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name, email and borough.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK: As of October 31, the park remains closed, but they will need all the help they can get with clean up efforts over the next several days. If you would like to volunteer, please email Sarah Ward (sward@brooklynbridgepark.org), and they will alert you when it is time to mobilize.

NEW YORK CARES: As the City’s lead organization for the management of unaffiliated volunteers, New York Cares’ Emergency Response Program ensures that volunteers can be quickly and effectively mobilized in the event of a disaster. If you are already a New York Cares volunteer please click here. You will be prompted to sign up to express your interest in being contacted about disaster recovery projects after Hurricane Sandy. We do not yet know the extent of the need, or where or when volunteer projects will take place, but we will contact interested volunteers once we have a better understanding of the response needed. Thanks for your support as we help the city respond. If you are not already registered with New York Cares please click here.

RED CROSS: If you’d like to volunteer at a Red Cross shelter and are…

  • Over the age of 16
  • Available for 12 hour shift from Wednesday, Oct 31 to Friday, November 2.
  • Be ready to deploy to a shelter location outside of New York City and stay for up to 72 hours.
  • Able to lift and carry 30-40 lbs
  • Comfortable working with people in stressful situations

If you meet these requirements, please fill out our Spontaneous Volunteer Application.

Hurricane Sandy has forced the cancellation of approximately 300 American Red Cross blood drives in 14 states along the East Coast, resulting in a shortfall of more than 10,700 units of blood and platelets thus far. To help by donating blood in NY, click here: http://www.redcrossblood.org/nyp . For other states, click here.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE: The Public Advocates office is helping to mobilize volunteers. Register here.

JERSEY CARES: Register with Jersey Cares to volunteer for recovery projects in New Jersey, and they will email you when projects are in place: http://www.jerseycares.org/HOC__Volunteer_Registration_Page

NJ EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER HOTLINE: If you are interested in volunteering in NJ, call the state’s volunteer emergency response hotline at 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). This hotline was established earlier this year to enhance the state’s emergency responsiveness by harnessing New Jerseyans’ strong spirit of service. If storm conditions preclude the hotline from being answered by live operators, volunteers may call one of two backup hotline numbers: 609-775-5236 or 908-303-0471. Volunteers may also send an email to rowena.madden@sos.state.nj.us. Read more here.

STATEN ISLAND RECOVERS: This is a recovery organizing site for Staten Island in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The site allows people to offer/request assistance, and is coordinated by the folks at Occupy NYC and community organizations on the ground. Visit the site: https://statenisland.recovers.org/

UPPER WEST SIDE SHELTERS (Updated 12:50pm, 10/31): “Upper West Side shelter needs help: clothes in large sizes needed for Sandy evacuees at MS 118, 154 West 93 St.” There are three shelters in the neighborhood. The one at John Jay College had enough volunteers last night (not sure about tonight yet) but the following two were running low on volunteers and will need help again tonight, including for overnight shifts:

Brandeis High School on West 84th Street (between Amsterdam & Columbus Avenues).

MS 118 on 93rd Street (between Amsterdam & Columbus Avenues)

If you can volunteer at an evacuation shelter or know anyone who can, please contact Shelly Fine at sfine50@aol.com or 917.453.3911.

DONATE

MAYOR’S FUND TO ADVANCE NEW YORK: The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is committed to improving the lives of New Yorkers. Right now, you can donate directly to hurricane relief in NYC through this website: https://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/donate/donate.shtml

RED CROSS: The best way to donate is to make a financial gift. Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. In-kind donations are not needed at this time.

NYC RESCUE MISSION: If you can purchase or have extra food/water–take it to NYC Rescue Mission, 90 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013-4494. They are also in need of dry ice, generators, and AA and D batteries. If you are not in the area but wish to donate, you can do so through their website: https://nycrescue.org/give/donate-now/

THE HUMANE SOCIETY: The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team is assisting animals and people in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction, and is prepared for ongoing disaster relief after this historic storm. To make a donation click here

THE BOWERY MISSION: In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, The Bowery Mission is providing safe shelter and food to more homeless and displaced New Yorkers, effectively tripling its normal capacity. The supply of food and pantry items is drastically decreasing at a time when it is needed most. Make a donation by clicking here, or donate over the phone by calling 1-800-BOWERY-1 (1-800-269-3791)

Volunteer Days at Urban Harvest Garden

26 Apr

Come join Farmer Nora and Slow Food NYC supporters to help develop their newest school garden out in Brownsville, Brooklyn. No experience necessary, but if you have construction, carpentry, or farming experience, it would be a huge help to have you join!
What to Bring: Water, lunch, safety glasses, gloves, sturdy shoes and any tools you can donate for us to use for the day (anything from power tools to a shovel). Be prepared to sign a liability waiver before you dig in.

Dates: April 28, 29; May 5, 6, 12,13, 19, 20

Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location: PS 323 Urban Harvest Garden – 514 Rockaway Avenue (3 to Rockaway Ave OR L to Sutter Ave); Brooklyn [Map]

RSVP: Write to Nora at npainten@gmail.com with the subject line “Brownsville Build” to sign up for what days you want to come work – people are welcome (encouraged!) to sign up for multiple days. Bring a group of friends, bring people from work or school. Let Nora know if you can bring tools, especially power tools, so we can make sure we have enough extension cords.

Slow Food NYC is the New York City chapter of Slow Food, a non-profit, member-supported organization founded in 1989 to counteract the culture of fast food. Slow Food stands against the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

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