As I'm sure many of you heard, yesterday the New York Marathon was called off, but many of the runners still got up, got out and headed to Staten Island. Instead of kicking off the race, they were there to help out with the relief efforts. This image, taken at the ferry terminal from Paul Sailer's instagram, is just one example of many that show a community coming together. For those of us both near and far who'd like to also lend a hand, we've gathered together a list of links...
Help to Rebuild a Community's Home Destroyed by the Storm:
I'm leading off our list with a specific story of just one organization that one of my colleagues told me about that is close to his heart. He wrote: The Ali Forney Center is a drop in center for lesbian and gay kids. When their parents kick these children out -- often for being gay -- many kids head to Chelsea and the West Village. These kids end up homeless and sometimes have to turn to sex work to get by.
• The Ali Forney Center From the Center's site: Yesterday we were finally able to inspect our drop-in center in Chelsea, half a block from the Hudson River. Our worst fears were realized; everything was destroyed and the space is uninhabitable. The water level went four feet high, destroying our phones, computers, refrigerator, food and supplies.
This is a terrible tragedy for the homeless LGBT youth we serve there. This space was dedicated to our most vulnerable kids, the thousands stranded on the streets without shelter, and was a place where they received food, showers, clothing, medical care, HIV testing and treatment, and mental health and substance abuse services. Basically a lifeline for LGBT kids whose lives are in danger.
More Info: Ali Forney Center
Donating Money to Help by Text:
• Red Cross - $10 donation - REDCROSS to 90999 or through iTunes
• Salvation Army - $10 donation - STORM to 80888
• American Humane Association - $10 donation - HUMANE to 80888
• Direct Relief International - $10 Donation - RELIEF to 27222
Helping Out Food Banks:
• Community Foodbank of New Jersey
• Food Bank for New York City
• New York City Coalition Against Hunger
• Masbia
Helping Out on eBay and Amazon:
• eBay Auction to Support those Affected by Hurricane Sandy
• Assemblyman Titone's Relief Supplies Amazon Wishlist (Staten Island)
Helping Out Local Direct Assistance Organizations
• Brooklyn Recovery Fund
• Red Hook Initiative
• Rockaway Waterfront Alliance
• Plus many more at Sweet Fine Day
(Image: Paul Sailer on Instagram via Gawker)
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It's a far reaching idea and doesn't apply to all of us, but as one person with a three bedroom house, it's been my pleasure to open my home to others on occasion. My income is limited and this is just a way for me to help in a way I can with what resource I have. We here on AT especially know the value of a home. Just a thought.
The best thing you can do if you're anywhere near the area is to drive down there yourself and hand some food or clothing to those in need. Some charities are scams and others are wonderful but it's hard to know just how the money's being spent without visiting the shelters or people affected. That said, there are good sites online to help you recognize a scam and smaller charities are sometimes better. These are two I heard praised online:
Occupy Sandy
Best Friends (for animals)
http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/
http://www.bestfriends.org/
Occupy Sandy has been among the first responders with food and supplies, getting quickly to areas where Red Cross was later to appear (or still hasn't). Anyone who might wish to consider alternatives to the usual "give money to Red Cross" can check out these links: (to learn exactly what your money was spent on, and that none of it went toward exec salaries or bonuses): http://www.amazon.com/registry/wedding/32TAA123PJR42
You can ship items directly to Occupy Sandy’s main distribution hub, (for those who prefer not to use Amazon, for whatever reason.) They are cooking meals there, serving meals there, AND using volunteers to personally deliver hot meals and supplies to those in need who can’t come out to pick up things for themselves.
St Jacobi Lutheran Church
5406 4th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY, 11220
Occupy Sandy Contact No. at St. Jacobi
(347) 470-4192
If you choose option No. 2 let them (and others) know what you are sending by posting to the social media feed at http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/
Brooklyn Direct donations: Occupy Sandy Outpost
Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew in Clinton Hill
520 Clinton Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Thank you Gillanne, I will spread the word about this on my blog. This was the personal touch that was needed plus Occupy focuses on all the right things: local communities, climate change unlike huge, faceless charities that are not always reaching every community.
Emmi, thanks for spreading the word. Red Cross has a long history of questions about how it handles donations and how it operates as a multinational disaster business (e.g., after 9/11 and Katrina and as far back as the Korean war). Its field workers are sincere and caring people, but the organization itself claims high overhead and pays big salaries. Occupy Sandy is there, working long hours out of community sites, and it's 100% volunteer--no staff salaries anywhere. A number of other groups are also doing the hard work without pocketing a dime. Those are the groups I hope are getting the donations.
Awesome Gillianne, this is exactly what I have been looking for. Donated and posted to facebook.
My little snapshot.
I was out volunteering in the Rockaways yesterday and in the shelter in the Park Slope Armory the week before and I didn't see the Red Cross anywhere.
Some young guys with bikes were looking to help out in the Rockaways and I suggested they ride around and tell people where food and supplies were located, because a lot of the people didn't seem to know.
Truckloads of donations were just dumped into this parking lot next to the FEMA intake spot on 112th St. They could really use a system. I saw some other people loading up cars and tracks with the supplies - hopefully to give to other people in the neighborhood and not sell at a flea market.
I was in a lot of different buildings and saw a lot of neighbors helping neighbors. In one 25 floor high rise these kids were delivering hot meals to seniors who remained in their homes.
There were alot of volunteers from other Cities through Homeland Security and the US Marshalls - not the best folks to see how folks are really doing, just whether they are dead or alive but requiring medical help.
The national guard was distributing water and pre-packaged meals, but were unwilling to take any other supplies to distribute, even diapers, which at least come in in handy packages. They finally relented after I and others asked them if they could just take as much as was in their fenced off area and distribute just like the water.
Can I also suggest Catholic Charities of New York?
Staten Island and the Rockaways are some of the most heavily Catholic areas of New York. Because of that Catholic Charities have the networks and connections int he communities to get help to where it is most needed.
I also think that the Salvation Army is top notch in their response to events lie this. They
To see whether a charity is registered with the State of New York, how they use their funds, etc., look it up here: http://www.charitiesnys.com/RegistrySearch/search_charities.jsp
Religious organizations may not be registered, but there are other financial accountability groups that audit them.
I don't have spare cash to donate; I wish I could donate some time but am not local. And I'd imagine it'll be a while before anyone there needs a graphic designer. :)
I am in Staten Island and have spent the last few days doing different types of volunteering. If you are not in the area, I would just donate money rather than send things (unless you have a corporate connection.) There are a lot of clothes that I fear are ultimately going to go unused. Food and household goods are helpful, but probably more realistic as a local donation. I donated to Occupy Sandy, but it is really hard to know how exactly the money is handled. They just have been doing the best grass roots effort from what I can see and hear. I also learned if you donate to Mayor's Fund, all money will go to NYC specifically (it that is the area where you want to send your help.) https://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/donate/donate.shtml
Thanks for the "Occupy Sandy" links. I just sent them what I could afford -- not a lot, but I figure it adds up. Also sent a little to the Humane Society, not to overlook the many abandoned pets. I hope many others who are not in the area to physically help will try to do so also. Every little bit helps.
Here's a great charity gathered by two staten island crossfit members that were supposed to be running the marathon for their 3rd and 4th times. They live on the island and were very successful in gathering helpers on Sunday to clean up where needed.
They have raised this money in barely over 48 hours.
http://www.indiegogo.com/sisandy262?c=home
This is a wonderful post. Thanks.
Finally, AT steps up.