GET INVOLVED with Ongoing Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

Hello to all my fellow New Yorkers, tri-staters, out of town friends, and all of you who have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Although I’m grateful that my son and I and our immediate family were spared the worst of Sandy’s wrath, I have several dear friends whose homes were lost in the storm, and I’m disturbed that so many of our community members are still suffering way past the point of acceptability. Business as usual is resuming for so many, but not for others. Fortunately, there are still many of us who care and who are doing something about it.

For the past several days, I’ve been collecting information regarding events and ongoing work on behalf of the people who are still without power and basic supplies in the wake of the hurricane. I’ve assembled a list of articles and notices for those of you who want to know more about the various relief efforts and how you can support them or get directly involved.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does speak to the various communities with which I’m personally connected. Feel free to comment with additional information that you’d like to share with one another.

• In Brooklyn, active relief efforts have been undertaken by Red Hook Initiative and Occupy Sandy. These groups both still require volunteers for this weekend.

• The NYC Service page lists a number of agencies and programs that can use your help or contribution.

• Runners from around the world who had come to NYC for the New York Marathon redirected their energies towards helping storm victims after the event was cancelled. Read here about the continued activities of New York Runners In Support of Staten Island.

• The venerable international organization, Doctors Without Borders, has applied its technical and logistical expertise towards assisting local aid workers in the most affected areas. They can always use more financial support.

• The organization Acupuncturists Without Borders is offering a series of free acupuncture clinics for trauma and stress at locations in Rockaway Beach, Point Pleasant, NJ and Manhattan, including one this afternoon (Friday November 9th) at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM, 915 Broadway, 5th floor at 21st Street NYC) from 2:30-6:00.

• The Shambhala Meditation Center of New York is organizing a day of service to assist Hurricane Sandy victims on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

• Advocate for New York is holding a Far Rockaway clean-up tomorrow, Saturday November 10th.

• Families United for Racial & Economic Equality (FUREE) is monitoring official activity and providing ongoing assistance at Brooklyn’s Gowanus Houses..

• A group of Long Island ex-pats, their families and friends have galvanized relief efforts in Western Massachusetts on behalf of beleaguered residents of the Long Island towns of West Babylon and Lindenhurst. With operations based in Turner’s Falls, MA, they will be trucking supplies to Long Island this Sunday, November 11th.

• On his blog, New York Theater, Jonathan Mandell has assembled a list of resources for theaters and theater artists affected by the storm.

On the Lighter Side:

• One of our venerable lower east side eateries, Russ & Daughters, has done its part by keeping the lox safe.

• Here are some heartwarming messages from Katrina survivors in NOLA to NYC’s Sandy survivors…

• At Silk Rd Tavern, for the month of November, $1 from every entree goes to City Harvest for Sandy relief efforts.

• The good folks at TrivWorks have decided to convert their scheduled November 13th trivia night at The Bell House in Brooklyn, into a full scale hurricane relief fundraiser.

ALSO: This AMAZING article by Deanna Zandt in Forbes Magazine: When Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: How to Improve Sandy Relief

Thanks to everyone who is contributing their time, money or energy. Our community grows in strength and resiliency with each person’s participation!