Skip to content

Page Header

Reclaiming the Volunteer Spirit

Reclaiming the Volunteer Spirit published on 1 Comment on Reclaiming the Volunteer Spirit

Congregation Beth Elohim Volunteer Opps:  With the advent of some great websites like Recovers.org and VolunteerSignup.com  organizations and individuals are creating a vast network to coordinate needs and volunteers ( in this particular disaster as well as others).

Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope

(http://congregationbethelohim.org/content/about-us)

is doing some excellent work on the ground; going to Rockaway, organizing donations for the Armory in Park Slope and more.

(http://congregationbethelohim.org/content/hurrican-sandy-update)

They have an online volunteer sign up that reaches out already through next weekend:

Food Prep, Field work in Rockaway, Supply Sorting…

Sign up here: http://www.volunteersignup.org/FE3BF

 

http://www.volunteersignup.org/FE3BF

 

Emergency Contractor Tips

Emergency Contractor Tips published on

In the weeks since Hurricane Sandy pummeled the East Coast, American Custom Contractors in Northern Virginia and Maryland has been helping homeowners in the Washington D.C. Metro with roof repairs and other storm damage repairs. They stopped by Reclaimed Home to offer tips on what to do after hurricane damage and how to avoid shady contractors.

When Hurricane Sandy barreled through the Mid-Atlantic this week, she left a trail of damage from North Carolina to New England. For homeowners whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy, the long road to recovery is just beginning.

The biggest source of home damage during a hurricane is often roof failure. First, there’s the cost of a roof repair or roof replacement. Falling trees, branches, and debris can punch a hole in a roof. Uplift from hurricane wind can rip the roof from its frame. Wind can also tear shingles from the roof.

After a roof fails, subsequent wind and water damage to the home’s interior – as well as damage to personal property inside the home – can result in tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.

What to Do If Hurricane Sandy Damaged Your Home

Let’s face it: Repairing storm damage to your home is no picnic. From getting emergency shelter and choosing a repair contractor to dealing with the insurance company and paying the bills, an emergency home repair can be stressful.

If your home has been damaged by Hurricane Sandy, your first call may be to a contractor who will provide emergency repairs so you have adequate shelter. A good contractor will be with you at every step in the home repair.

Here are steps your contractor should take along the way:

• Complete emergency services such as roof tarping, installing a temporary roof, or emergency board-up of your damaged roof.
• Conduct a thorough damage assessment
• Assist you with submitting a claim to your insurance company.
• Provide a full written report detailing the extent of the damage to your home and property and the emergency services provided.
• Work with the insurance claims adjuster assigned to your case to settle the claim.
• Undertake the restoration process to repair or reconstruct significant damages to your home.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Storm Damage Repair Contractor

Although hurricane damage to your home can be distressing, hiring the wrong contractor because you’re in a hurry or in a state of distress will only hurt you down the road. Take time to choose a reputable contractor who will repair your home correctly, promptly, and without taking advantage of you.

Here are questions you should ask when choosing a contractor:

1. What is the full name and address of the company?
Especially after a hurricane or large storm, fly-by-night contractors will pop up to offer services. Be very wary of a contractor who cannot provide a name and address for the company. Verify that the name and address provided are valid.

2. How much insurance does the company carry?
Avoid any contractor that cannot provide you with Insurance Certificates for Liability and Worker’s Compensation. Call the contractor’s insurance companies to verify coverage. Your homeowner’s policy probably will not cover injuries to the contractor or their employees.

3. Is the company a licensed contractor?
Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC laws require contractors to be licensed in order to perform home improvements. New York, New Jersey and other Mid-Atlantic states have their own contractor license laws. Ask for license numbers and check with home improvement licensing agencies to confirm the license hasn’t been suspended, revoked, or expired.

4. How long has the contractor been in business?
Use extreme caution when considering a contractor who has only been in business for less than five years. A more experienced contractor who has demonstrated a commitment to the profession will be better equipped to repair and restore your home than a contractor with less experience.

5. Does the company offer a workmanship warranty?
Your contractor should offer a reasonable warranty to the quality of their workmanship. Don’t assume a longer warranty is a better warranty. A warranty is only as good as what it covers. A lifetime warranty may be too good to be true, and getting a contractor to honor that warranty may be extremely difficult.

Check out these pictures of Hurricane Sandy damage in Maryland and Virginia on the American Custom Contractors blog.

Gowanus Housing: Volunteers Needed Today

Gowanus Housing: Volunteers Needed Today published on

via: Occupy Sandy Relief NYC
Volunteers are needed at the Gowanus housing projects today at 430 Baltic Street. They will have hot food set up for 300 people (and a catering truck) and need volunteers to help carrying meals up to people who are unable to come down, as well as check in on elderly folks. They have been set up and servicing folks since 9:30, this morning. See Erin when you get there.

Weekend Volunteer Opportunities

Weekend Volunteer Opportunities published on

Another list of volunteer opportunities for this weekend from Bill de Blasio. If you live in a neighborhood that was not hit by the storm, it seems like everything is hunky dory. But it’s not. There are New Yorkers still living without heat and lights. They can’t do laundry, they can’t get food, they can’t get gas to go shopping, even if their cars weren’t destroyed. They rely on volunteers like you!

STATEN ISLAND

Join Councilman James Oddo to help clean-up and distribute supplies to residents.

599 Father Capadono Boulevard
Friday, November 9th, 9am-5pm.
Saturday, November 10th, 9am-5pm.
Sunday, November 11th, 9am-5pm.

RSVP here

Join Rebuild Staten Island for its 3-day “Mega Cleanup”

780 Olympia Boulevard
Friday, November 9 to Sunday, November 11, 9am-7pm: RSVP here

BROOKLYN

Help the Red Hook Initiative deliver hot meals to residents.

767 Hicks Street
Friday, November 9th, 10am-6:30pm: RSVP here

Friends of Firefighters needs volunteers to help do physical labor at individual homes as well as volunteers to help sort and distribute donations.

South Brooklyn
Friday, November 9th, 10am-3pm.
Saturday, November 10th, 10am-3pm.
Sunday, November 11th, 10am-3pm.

RSVP here.

Occupy Sandy needs experienced construction workers are needed to help large scale community construction and clean-up projects.
Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew, 520 Clinton Avenue

Saturday, November 10, 7:30-10:30am: RSVP here

Occupy Sandy needs volunteers to prepare and serve meals, sort and distribute donations, and conduct outreach.

St Jacobi Lutheran Church, 5406 4th Avenue
Friday, November 9th, 10am-3pm.
Saturday, November 10th, 10am-3pm.
Sunday, November 11th, 10am-3pm:.

RSVP here.

The Jewish Association Serving the Aging needs volunteers are needed in Brighton Beach to check on residents and help walk hot meals to elderly residents on high floors. Russian speaking volunteers would be greatly appreciated.

Brighton Beach
Friday, November 10th, 10am-3pm: RSVP here

The Brooklyn YWCA needs volunteers are needed to bring meals up and down stairs to homebound residents in Gowanus.

420 Baltic Street
Friday, November 9, 3pm – 4pm: RSVP here

The Brooklyn YWCA needs one car needed to transport food from downtown Brooklyn to Gowanus.

30 Third Avenue
Friday, November 9, 2:30pm-3pm: RSVP here

FilmoreCares needs volunteers to sort and deliver supplies, assist with clean-ups, and assess community needs.

2990 Avenue U
Friday, November 9th, 10am-6pm.
Saturday, November 10th, 10am-6pm.
Sunday, November 11th, 10am-6pm.

RSVP here.

QUEENS

Councilman James Sanders needs volunteers are needed to help conduct a massive clean-up of Far Rockaway.

1526 Central Avenue, Far Rockaway
Saturday, November 10th, 10am.
Sunday, November 11th, 10am.

RSVP here.

MANHATTAN

Holy Apostles needs volunteers to help operate its soup kitchen, which serves over 1,200 meals daily.

296 Ninth Avenue (at 28th Street)
Friday, November 9, 9:30am-1pm: RSVP here

Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) needs volunteers to help sort and load donations.

169 171 Avenue B
Friday, November 9th, 12pm-6pm: RSVP here
Saturday, November 10th, 12pm-6pm: RSVP here

Congregation Ohab Zedek will take a bus of volunteers from uptown to the Rockaways to help with clean-up.

118 West 95th Street
Sunday, November 11, 10am.

RSVP for Manhattan events above.

Volunteers are needed to help restore the Manhattan Youth Community Center in lower Manhattan.

120 Warren Street
RSVP here.
Sunday, November 11, 11:30am-1:30pm: RSVP here

Rockaway Updated Needs Friday Nov 9

Rockaway Updated Needs Friday Nov 9 published on

Rockabus is driving people out to Rockaway sign up here:

Go Rockabus! They’re taking volunteers out to Rockaway this weekend.

Occupy Sandy Relief NYC
For those of you headed to Rockaway tomorrow or throughout the weekend, you can also make donations at
ROCKAWAY TACO/VEGGIE ISLAND, here’s a current list of donations needed at 183 96th st near rockaway beach blvd.

DONATION REQUESTS:
Blankets
Flashlights
Headlamps
Batteries
Candles
Matches/Lighters
Handwarmers
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Non-perishable food
Baby wipes
Diapers (sizes 4, 5, 6)
Adult diapers
Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion)
Rain/working boots
Medicine (adult and childrens cold medicine, Ibuprofen)
Cleaning supplies including:
Mops
Brooms
Dust pans
Bleach
Household cleaning liquids
Clothing detergent

NO CLOTHING with the exception of:
New underwear
New winter/wool socks
New t-shirts (packaged

Stringer, Deblasio, Liu host Food Drive

Stringer, Deblasio, Liu host Food Drive published on

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer,
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio
and Comptroller John C. Liu

Food Drive at the Municipal Building benefiting victims of Hurricane Sandy

 

 

All items will be donated to the Food Bank For New York City

The items in the highest demand right now are:

– pouches of tuna, salmon or chicken
– Tuna or chicken salad meal kits (the kind that include crackers, a can of ready-made salad, & a fork)
– Applesauce cups (4-6 ounce)
– Juice boxes of 100% juice
– Crackers
– Breakfast bars/granola bars
– Bottled water
– Canned fruit or fruit cocktail in juice
– 8oz shelf-stable milk boxes
– Single-serve cereal boxes/cups
– Peanut butter
– Diapers

Time:
Monday through Friday
9AM to 6PM

Locations:
Manhattan Borough President’s Office:
19th Floor South Lobby

Comptroller’s Office:
5th Floor, Room 517

Public Advocate’s Office:
15th Floor North

Contact:
(212) 669-8151 or
fooddrive@manhattanbp.org

New York City Coalition Against Hunger: Help to Help

New York City Coalition Against Hunger: Help to Help published on

Always with their good works ( I know first hand from working there a few years back – DRG) The Coalition Against Hunger is mobilizing.

Right now ( as in today) they need help distributing 20,000 blankets!

New York City Coalition Against Hunger

https://www.nyccah.org/hurricanesandyvolunteer

We are in need of a lot of volunteers at the Shorefront Y today. We are expecting a truck to arrive around 1:30 filled with a donation of 20,000 blankets. Help is needed to unload the truck, as well as distributing the blankets, along with food & water to homebound seniors throughout the neighborhood.

Please share this status with your friends!

Support Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts!
Volunteer
We’ve been posting all available volunteer opportunities on our Facebook page, so please visit our Facebook page to see how you can volunteer in Sandy relief efforts.
To contact our volunteer staff, please email NYCCAHvolunteer@gmail.com.

Donate

https://www.nyccah.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=25
NYCCAH staff is working to ensure that food is being properly distributed as well as ensuring that systems are in place to provide replacement and disaster SNAP (food stamps) benefits.
Click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Your contribution will support both short-term, direct relief to Hurricane Sandy victims and long-term assistance for low-income New Yorkers.

 

DRG

Desperation in the Rockaways

Desperation in the Rockaways published on

This just posted via “Occupy Judaism”

A call for more help….be careful out there!

?”Residents of the Rockaways are dying a slow death. A Nor’easter is now pounding a peninsula ravaged by the worst hurricane this area has ever seen. Pieces of the Rockaway boardwalk sit three blocks away from the beach. The snow is piling up on buildings and homes filled with poor residents who are too scared to leave or do not have the resources to go. The army patrols the streets in Humvees, scaring the hell out of an already shellshocked population. Volunteers are huddled under 20 blankets, trying to get some sleep. The wind is harsher than you can imagine, the cold bitter. There is no heat, water, electricity–no help. This is virtually a tundra on top of a wasteland. PLEASE–I need canvassers tomorrow to check on the elderly and disabled, bring food and water and deliver medication to them. Get out here if you can. Call Nastaran at (914) 557-6408. Meet at Beach 100th and Rockaway Beach Blvd at 11am, St. Camillus Church.”
27Like ·  · Share

596 Acres Steps up Hurricane Relief Efforts

596 Acres Steps up Hurricane Relief Efforts published on

More on the ground organizations for various relief efforts.

The organization 596 Acres is posting volunteer opportunities and posting numerous times through out the day

Rockaway relief needs

https://www.facebook.com/596Acres

http://596acres.org/

Current Updates:

We need a 3-phase generator in Far Rockaway to set up a warming center.

Can we borrow yours?

Rockaway Relief Needs 7 November, 6am
Please check our up-to-date list of relief needs and places accepting materials.

Places to Bring Prepared Food & Hot Drinks (Indoors & Able to Serve in the Storm!)

International School 53, 1045 Nameoke St.

St. Mary’s, 1920 New Haven Avenue

St Gertrude’s, Beach Channel Drive & Beach 38

(no longer accepting donations due to evacuation)

Ocean Village Community Room, Beach 57th and Rockaway Beach Blvd.

?8000 Shorefront Parkway, at Beach 81st Street – food at 8 am, noon and 3PM.

Veggie Island, Beach 96th Street & Rockaway Blvd.

Places to Bring Supplies

International School 53, 1045 Nameoke St
– PRIORITY, new site. Opens at 11am.
– NEED FLASHLIGHTS & BLANKETS

Rockaway Beach Surf Club (302 Beach 87th St) – UNTIL NOON ONLY!!!

St Gertrude’s, Beach Channel Drive & Beach 38

(no longer accepting donations due to evacuation)

St. Mary’s, 1920 New Haven Avenue – 10-4pm

Veggie Island, 95-19 Rockaway Beach Blvd

Supplies to Bring
blankets
anything warm & waterproof
boots for men & women
clean undies
tools:

umbrellas
batteries
flashlights (especially LEDs!)
printed list of shelters
printed FEMA info
oil for generators
A 3-phase generator so set up a warming center in Far Rockaway
gas for generators in 1-4 gallon containers

(especially needed at St. Mary’s, 1920 New Haven Avenue)
generators
goggles
masks (N95 Particulate Filtering Faceplate Respirator is best for this cleanup and is affordable)
crow bars
wrecking bars
hygiene:

diapers
sanitary napkins
laundry detergent
toilet paper
spray bleach
big sponges
clorox wipes
deodorant
paper towels
toothbrushes & paste
food:

juice
baby milk
baby bottles
Ensure
Canned food & non-perishables
—–

If you can get to Rockaway, there is a kitchen that needs your help cooking at 121 Beach 92 this morning. They are preparing food and delivering it to folks who are home-bound. Contact RockawayRescueAlliance@gmail.com to plug in.

 

Airbnb.com Partners with NYC

Airbnb.com Partners with NYC published on

From the clever use of resources department: Way to go Airbnb!

It’s time to help each other.

See how it works here:

(https://www.airbnb.com/sandy)

Thousands of people are still stranded by Hurricane Sandy. Airbnb has partnered with the City of New York to connect those in need with people who are able to provide free housing.
Airbnb lets people rent out extra space effortlessly. It’s free to sign up and with a built in community, your listing will be seen by a worldwide audience.

 

Rockaway Emergency Plan Now has Volunteer Sign Up

Rockaway Emergency Plan Now has Volunteer Sign Up published on

In an effort to remain organized and coordinated in Rockaway – Sign up for help and to volunteer.

Rockaway Emergency Plan
Excellent news. We are now taking help requests and volunteer information via online registration forms. If you already emailed us for help or about volunteers, please go to the website and fill out the form. It will really help us out.

Of course, we will continue accepting walk-up volunteers and taking on-the-spot help requests at our table on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If you NEED HELP, fill out our online form here (please include the times when you will be home):
http://action.rockawayhelp.com/page/s/need-help

If you want to VOLUNTEER, fill out our online form here:
http://action.rockawayhelp.com/page/s/volunteer-to-help-rockaways

Primary Sidebar