UPDATED: Volunteering Nov. 3-4 to Assist At-Risk Residents

My staff are attempting to keep abreast of the many, many opportunities to help out as we continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy. Aside from our work distributing food and checking on residents in the Lower East Side today, read on for many opportunities to help out or donate in multiple boroughs and citywide.

UPDATE: We're hearing that 200 Madison Street and Stuyvesant Town are both overwhelmed with volunteers, which is great news! Please read on and consider helping elsewhere in Manhattan and the outer boroughs, now that most subway service has been restored!

Volunteers Needed

Staten Island

From NYC Council Members Rose and Oddo:

The following distribution sites will be open throughout the weekend to receive donations (requested: non-perishable food items, blankets, diapers and wipes for children, toiletries, cleaning supplies, jackets, and clothing - especially new socks and tshirts).

1)      St. Christopher's Parochial: 130 Midland Avenue

2)      Christ Church New Brighton: 76 Franklin Street, located approx. a mile from the St. George Ferry Terminal.

On Saturday, November 3, at 2pm volunteers are also needed to distribute food with City Harvest at Christ Church New Brighton.

Monday, November 5: Staten Island Meals on Wheels may need drivers with cars (and gas) to assist with deliveries on Monday, November 5. Please contact Roseanne at 718-419-8602 over the weekend if you're able to assist.

Saturday, November 3, 9 am: Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis will be holding a clean-up in Staten Island. People will gather at the end of New Dorp Lane and Cedar Grove Avenue. Volunteers should bring any tools that may have (rakes, shovels, push brooms, work gloves, trash bags). Those who are unable to work the clean-up can donate equipment (brooms, rakes, garbage bags, shovels) at Monsignor Farrell High School at 2900 Amboy Road.

Brooklyn:

From the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty:

Volunteers are greatly needed for Saturday, November 3! Please go to Abraham Residence at 38-11 Surf Avenue in Brooklyn to our low income housing site to help our seniors clean up their homes.

• The residence is located in the evacuation zone and they need a lot of assistance to get back up and running.
• It is cold out so please dress warm and bring a flashlight (there is no power).
• If possible please bring water to give out to the seniors. Batteries and blankets are also appreciated.
• Drivers and cars with gas are also needed. We need help running errands and getting supplies. If you can bring your car please do so and help our seniors get access to food, water and medication.
• Please feel free to arrive between 9am and noon

From NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn:

We are looking for volunteers with cars to help Rockaway victims starting immediately. We need groups with cars (and gas) that can help distribute food, water and blankets to homebound seniors and those most in need. It would also be helpful if people could bring supplies like clipboards, notepads, pens in addition to food and water. If you or someone you know can help, please let Michael Deloach know ASAP. We have groups active all over the city but need to ramp up support in Rockaway immediately. Thank you. If you have any questions, please leave a message for Michael at (917) 832-0814 or email michaeldeloach@gmail.com.

If you have a car, please head to one of the four distribution centers in Rockaway:

Hammel Playground (NYCHA)

220 Beach 85th Street (84th and Rockaway Beach Blvd)

Rockaway, Queens

Breezy Point parking lot (Diagonal to Breezy Point Lumber)

Highland Park (between Rockaway Pt Blvd and East Market Parkway)

Rockaway, Queens

NEW Distribution Site: St Francis De Sales

129-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd

Rockaway, Queens

Conch Playground (NYCHA)

44th and Rockaway Beach Blvd (near Ocean Bay and Beach 41st)

Rockaway, Queens

From NYC Council Sandy Relief:

Activity: Red Hook Food Distribution and Cleanup
Location: 767 Hicks Street (Red Hook Recovers), Brooklyn
Time: 11-6PM

Organizer Phone #: (347) 770-1528

From NYC Council Member Steve Levin:

Greenpoint/Williamsburg! Thanks to Rev. John Merz, our office is setting up a temporary satellite at Church of the Ascension at 122 Java St. Rami Metal will be there from 10-6 throughout the weekend and we are collecting donations to send to those in need of supplies in the Rockaways, Coney Island, Gerritsen Beach, Staten Island, Red Hook, and Downtown Manhattan. So far the response at our district office at 410 Atlantic Ave has been extraordinary, and we're coordinating multiple trips every day (special thanks to the volunteers who have lent their cars) but it's been very difficult for Greenpointers to get down here.
Donations that are particularly needed right now are: water, non-perishable food, baby food, toiletries, towels, clothing, baby clothing, batteries, work gloves, diapers, large garbage bags, cleaning supplies, basic tools. Rami can also help with Con Ed and small business issues and Congresswoman Maloney's office has offered to help with FEMA, small business, and other issues as well. The best way to reach Rami is on his cell at (917) 885-2096.

From the Office of the Public Advocate:

• Sunday, November 4, two shifts (9am-3pm and 3pm to 9pm): 60 volunteers needed to help Masiba of Flatbush prepare and distribute meals for 600 people. The morning shift is from 9am – 3pm and the afternoon shift is from 3pm from 9pm. Please email your desired shift (must choose one) to jjoseph@pubadvocate.nyc.gov
• Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4, 10am–2pm: Friends of Brower Park will do a general clean-up. Meet at the Park House. Feel free to show up. For more info, email friendsofbrowerpark@gmail.com
• Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4: Councilman Jumaane Williams is looking for individuals with cars, trucks and/or vans that have sufficient gas to help deliver supplies to hard-hit residents. If you are willing and able please e-mail volunteersandy45th@gmail.com to coordinate.
• Monday, November 5, 12pm–5pm: Assemblyman Karim Camara will need help sorting donations at his district office and distributing supplies across the borough. Please email 43sandyhelp@gmail.com to volunteer.
• Saturday, November 3, 10 am: volunteers are needed to help clean up Red Hook. Please report to the Office of Emergency Management’s temporary office at 402 Van Brunt Street for an assignment.
• Saturday, November 3, 9 am to 6 pm: Help with resident and merchant outreach, area clean-up, and other relief efforts. Meet on the Boardwalk and W. 10 Street at 9am. Dress warmly, wear sturdy footwear or boots, and bring work gloves. Bring your own flashlight (with extra batteries), a backpack, and snacks/water for yourself for the day.
• Saturday, November 3, 9am to sunset: Please help us clean up Seagate. Volunteers should come prepared with gloves, high boots, and cleaning supplies and meet at 3700 Surf Avenue. At the gate please identify yourselves as volunteers from the Public Advocate’s Office. Jeff and Tammy will be on hand to organize volunteers. Please contact the Shomrim Command Center with any questions, 718-705-9666.

QUEENS:

From NYC Council Sandy Relief:

Activity: Far Rockaway Food Distribution
Location: CM Sanders' District Office, 234-26 A Merrick Blvd, Laurelton, New York 11422
Dates and Times: Saturday and Sunday, 11AM-3PM

No need to call; you can just show up.

Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4, 10am–7pm: The Rockaway Youth Task Force will be doing daily clean-up and recover efforts. Meet at F 321 Beach 57th Street in the back of the building on Arverne Boulevard. For additional information e-mail info@rytf.org.

Manhattan:

From the offices of State Senator Liz Krueger and State Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh:

By Saturday we believe most of the buildings will have electricity restored throughout Manhattan. We believe we still need volunteers in lower Manhattan for food distribution and senior canvassing and would especially appreciate volunteers with vehicles (cars/vans) who can drive food and volunteers around. If you are available to help on Saturday, head to: 200 Madison Street at Rutgers Street (Essex becomes Rutgers south of East Broadway). The M-15 Bus that heads south down 2nd Avenue and turns on to Allen Street gets you one block away from the site.

Contacts: Offices of Senator Krueger and Assemblymember Kavanagh: 212-490-9535. Additional contact: GOLES 169 Ave. B, Office Phone #: 212-358-1223.

East Village Food Distribution and Senior Canvassing

Volunteers can meet and be assigned at GOALS, 169 Ave. B, between 11 AM - 5 PM on Saturday AND Sunday.

Riverside Park:

If you want to help clean up Riverside Park after Hurricane Sandy, join volunteers in the park this weekend. Volunteers will be helping on Saturday, November 3, from 10 am – 1 pm at 99th Street, along the Hudson River and on Sunday, November 4; 12 – 3:30 pm at 91st Street and Riverside Drive. Contact Riverside Park Fund staff member Nya Jackson at nya@riversideparkfund.org or (347) 287-1114. All welcome.

West Side Campaign Against Hunger:

WSCAH can accept donations of packaged, shelf-stable food if any is offered. They are open next week during usual hours (Mon 8am-noon and 1-3pm, Wed, Thur and Fri 8am-noon and 1-3pm) and have food. WSCAH is located at 263 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024.

CITY-WIDE:
Blood Donations Needed:

Blood supplies were critically affected by the storm, as the same outages that affect our region also affect many donation sites. The New York Blood Center locations are open and operating, and if you can, please consider donating blood. Blood donations can be scheduled by calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting http://www.nybloodcenter.org

More Volunteer and Donation Opportunities:

To assist New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Sandy with donations of cash, goods, services, or to volunteer, please visit:http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycservice/home.html; donations can also be made to the Food Bank of NYC (http://bit.ly/nycfoodbankdonate).

If you'd like to volunteer in the next few days:

NYC Service is running buses Sunday, November 4th from City Hall in Manhattan (at 10AM) and the Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn (at 10:30AM - Hanson Place side) to some of the hardest-hit areas.

Please visit http://www.nycservice.org for more information on this and other opportunities to volunteer or donate.

Food and water distribution sites can also use additional hands. Check out the list here.

Supply Needs