Where to Volunteer in Sandy Aftermath [Updated 11/04]

Although Bushwick may have survived (and even surged) through devastating Hurricane Sandy, the rest of New York City has not fared so well- Breezy Point, Rockaway in Queens and lower Manhattan suffered among the worst damage. Flooding, wind damage, fires and loss of electricity have placed many buildings without heat, gas or power, and left many hungry and in need to help. There seem like a million ways to help, but even the possibility can be stressful. Here are a few simple ways to help out starting tomorrow and websites to check daily for volunteer updates.

City-Wide Volunteering:

NYC Service is matching volunteers with opportunities to help. Visit their web site for more information.

The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers 16 or older to work 12-hour shifts at local New York City shelters. Need to be able to carry 50 lbs. Go here for more info and application.

The United Way of New York City is also looking for volunteers. You can fill out a Recover Volunteer Interest Form here.

Also contact NYCService for volunteer opportunities.

Occupy Sandy has volunteer and donation sites listed by neighborhood. The main volunteer site is located at St. Jacobi Church (5406 4th Ave) in Sunset Park. A second site at the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew   (520 Clinton Avenue, between Fulton & Atlantic) in Clinton Hill is also accepting volunteers and donations. 9am – 9pm

If you would like to help out with animal rescue and fostering, pet food donation or volunteering at animal shelters in NYC, visit the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals. The page also provides information for pet owners seeking aid. You can also use the Twitter hashtag #sandypets for updated information on where help is most needed.

Follow the Hashtag: #sandyvolunteer has become the unofficial hashtag for those looking to volunteer and those looking for help.

Drop off Goods: See our Drop-Off Article

Donate MONEY to Occupy Sandy Relief

Donate BLOOD to The NYC Blood Bank

Brooklyn-Specific Volunteering:

THE SANDY SUPPLY DRIVE to STATEN ISLAND – MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5th.

It’s too much red tape to officially volunteer, so Daryl Nuhn and a few others are teaming up to do it themselves. TODAY and MONDAY! ::If you are able, PLEASE drop off any of the below items at The Drink, 228 Manhattan Ave, between Grand and Maujer, this evening, 5pm-4am.

Donations are being accepted at the following locations:

Williamsburg: The Drink 228 Manhattan Ave 12pm-4am

Manhattan: The Bowery Hotel side door on 3rd street btw 2nd and 3rd. 11am-8pm

Prospect Heights: 673 St. John’s Place 10am-10pm

Gowanus: 131 8th street 11am-6pm

Please consider donating:Water , Batteries , Flashlights , Baby clothes , Canned foods , Warm clothes , Pet food , Feminine products

Monday morning we will be headed to Staten Island to deliver goods and to The Rockaways to help clean up.

The Red Hook Initiative is collecting toilet paper, water, candles, food, flashlights, cell phone chargers, batteries, paper towels, and paper for printers.

Here are details on The Red Hook Initiative’s operations for Sunday (We assume this will continue MON-FRI, but check their website daily): Please tell us if you plan to deliver hot food and at what time. We’d like to try to make sure we have enough and that we don’t get too much knowing other communities need the same. If you plan to bring a meal, send an email to [email protected]

-Volunteers – Please report to 402 Van Brunt Street -10am – 5pm

-Hot Meals – Hot meals should be delivered to 767 Hicks Street -11am – 6pm

-Cleaning Supplies / Water Pumps/Generators – Please deliver to 402 Van Brunt Street – 10am – 5pm

-Canned Food/ Non-perishables / Flashlights/ Candles/ Blankets – Please deliver to Good Shepherd Services, 173 Conover Street OR Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 98 Richards Street/ Verona Street

The organization 596 Acres is posting volunteer opportunities on its Facebook site.

Brooklyn Technical High School in Fort Greene is looking for volunteers to help prepare and serve meals. They are also accepting donations of money and bagging clothing.

Park Slope Armory (8th Avenue between 14th and 15th streets) and John Jay High School (7th Avenue between 4th and 5th streets are seeking volunteers to commit to a 6-8 hour shift. Anyone interested in helping out Sandy evacuees should just go to the armory, 361 15th St. on Eighth Ave.

Queens-Specific Volunteering:

Astoria: Astoria Recovers is connecting volunteers and givers in the Queens neighborhood.

Breezy Point: Virginia’s House of Hope is non-perishable foods, toiletries, diapers, clothing and clean-up supplies to people impacted by the disaster.

202-30 Rockaway Point Boulevard Breezy Point, Queens 11697

202-30 Rockaway Point Boulevard

Breezy Point, Queens 11697

Far Rockaway:

The Silver Gull Club is accepting donations to help Breezy Point. They are collecting batteries, flashlights, toiletries, water, food, blankets/bedding and other necessities. No clothing, please. 1 Beach 193rd Street (718) 634-1500

Occupy Sandy Relief has been collating drop-off locations, volunteer info and requests.

Drop-off location for goods like clothing, batteries food and water:

Firehouse on 59th street across from the train station – contact person: Jean Dupont 917.975.5623

Veggie Island – 96th Street and Rockaway Blvd.

Store Front Community Center – B113 and Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Rockaway Recovery has instructions on how to aid in getting food and goods to Far Rockaway.

CHINATOWN-Specific Volunteering

Lower East Side Recovers is an effort to match volunteers and givers with people who have needs in the Lower East Side, coordinated by the folks at Occupy NYC and community organizations on the ground.

CAAAV located at 46 Hester Street in Manhattan is really swamped with people seeking aid. Many are elderly and non-English speakers who are having a hard time. They urgently need: is taking donations from 10am – 2pm on Sunday, but no longer needs volunteers. 46 Hester Street, Frnt A (212) 473-6485.

The Bowery Mission is accepting donations for the homeless at both locations. Volunteers should report only to the Bowery Street location. 45-51 Avenue D, (212)777-3424 and 227 Bowery (212) 674-3456.

STATEN ISLAND

Donate Goods in Staten Island

Staten Islanders in the Midland Beach, Ocean Breeze and other East Shore communities need your help. Donations to be dropped off at Rab’s Country Lanes at 1600 Hylan Blvd. in Dongan Hills. Farrell High School 2900 Amboy Rd. They are asking for donations of: clothing, blankets, food, towels, water, pet food.

Looking for volunteers at Rab’s.

These two schools are collecting donations, Petrides (715 Ocean Terrace) and Susan Wagner (1200 Manor Rd.). Blankets, towels, washcloths, box of coffee.

Staten Island Recovers is connecting volunteers and givers in the borough and @SIrecovers

SI Live has a list of organizations and locations accepting monetary donations and goods.

To register to foster a displaced animal on Staten Island, register with Anarchy Animal Rescue.

NEW JERSEY

Donate Goods in Ocean County

Simply Sun Tanning of Ocean County has generously offered space in 2 of their locations to serve as drop off zones.

Zone 1 -Simply Sun Tanning -635 Bay Ave # 202-5 Toms River, NJ 08753

Zone 2 – Simply Sun Tanning -1311 Rt. 37 W. Toms River, NJ 08755

Donate Goods , Volunteer in South Jersey

Atlantic City Rescue Mission’s shelter has relocated temporarily during Sandy and her aftermath and is operating very effectively from our host, Shore Fellowship Church in Egg Harbor Township. This temporary location will continue into the immediate future.

We do have some immediate needs listed below. If you want to help, or know someone who can, items can be delivered to one of 45 dropoff sites. Take your clothes, towels or underwear donations to one of our other drop-box sites and the Mission will pick them up in the next 3-5 days… Shore Fellowship drop-off is full. See our other drop-off sites for everything but food.

If you know restaurants which can help and even donate, that would be wonderful. Ask for Mission Chef Dave, to assist on Food Relief. Or if you would like to make a contribution to our Emergency Assistance and Shelter Relief Fund, click here.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS:

Diapers , Heavy Duty Trash Liners , Latex Gloves , Coats for men & women , Styrofoam cups 8 oz, Drinking cups, 12 – 16 oz size , Personal / Baby Wet Wipes , Mens underwear large, XL, 2X , Men’s white socks , Women’s underwear (size 10 and up), Socks for women , Socks for small boys , Toiletries: soap, razors, shave cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Board Games – checkers, chess, puzzle books , PRE-COOKED FOOD TO SERVE 360 PEOPLE , Cooked chicken parts, any type: fried, BBQ , Salad Mix , Sliced american cheese , Cookies , Chips – Bags of individual servings of chips , Decaffeinated cold drinks, Desserts, individually wrapped , Soup for 360 – all one kind , Ground Coffee

We can be reached at Shore Fellowship at (609) 646-4693. Ask for a Mission representative.

More info and ways to help in TimeOut New York, Brokelyn, Queens NYC. If you know of other good opportunities how to help, please leave a comment. Thank you!