Three months after the storm, New Yorkers continue to rebuild. Volunteers in the occupy sandy network are working tirelessly during these cold months, preparing and serving thousands of hot meals a day, attacking mold, and finding ways to bring warmth wherever possible.
Below you will find a list of ways to have their back, join their teams, and be a part of the big project of our city’s recovery. Please notice that some locations take walk-ins, some need you to call ahead, and some have sign-up systems. For some you need a car or good amount of patience with the MTA. Others, like the Bay Ridge Kitchen or Sheepshead Bay are easy to get to by subway. Most of the sites also accept groups (over the age of 18) who can make arrangements in advance. There is also a need for skilled organizers, communications support and those who can make an ongoing commitment.
To find out more please call 347-770-4520 orOccupySandyVolunteers@gmail.com. Thank you for your ongoing support!
YANA, ROCKAWAYS
Location: 112-34 Rockaway Beach Boulevard Rockaway Park. Directions: MTA service is available via the Q35 to Beach 116th st. This bus is located at Ave. H and Nostrand just outside the Flatbush ave. / Brooklyn College stop on the 2 or the 4. Exit the bus and walk South to Rockaway Beach Boulevard (towards the Ocean)and make a left (East). Yana will be on the Left just past B113. There is also an option of taking the A train to the Q53 Bus.
Schedule: Tues.-Sun. 10am-4pm
Tasks: Organizing donations, light hauling/lifting, muck-outs, resident check-ins, administrative, data entry. YANA is a community center that opened its doors two weeks before Superstorm Sandy devastated the region. Its intended purpose was to train workers and bring jobs to the Rockaways, with an emphasis on green technologies. With the support of countless dedicated volunteers and solar power provided by Greenpeace, it re-emerged after the storm as an important relief site and community hub.
Contact: 113yana@gmail.com or call 347-644-YANA (9262). Walk-ins are accepted but advance notice is preferable. Projects vary greatly on different days.
OCCUPY SANDY KITCHEN, BAY RIDGE, BROOKLYN
Location: St. John’s Church, 461 99th St, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Take R train to 95th St. stop. Exit station and go to 99th st. Make a left on 99th street and go towards Fort Hamilton Parkway. Left side.
Schedule: 7 days a week from 8am – 6pm. The last time to arrive is 5pm.
Tasks: Everyday we cut meat and veggie, cook meals, clean dishes, clean ice chests, organize fridges and supplies, pack meals for delivery, and clean-up for the day. Ideal number of volunteers is about 25 a day. If we get more volunteers, we can use them.
Site Contact(s): Tim, Dave, Kate, sandybayridge@interoccupy.net and by leaving a voicemail at 347-465-7430
SHEEPSHEAD BAY, BROOKLYN
Location: trailer on Emmons Avenue near Brown Street. The approximate address is 3076 Emmons Avenue. We are about a 12 minute walk from Sheepshead Bay stop on the B/Q or right across from to B4 bus stop.Please wear sturdy shoes and non-pristine dress., B/Q sheepshead bay station and walk 15 minutes.
Schedule: 7 Days a week, Arrive between 10am and 4pm (Site closes at 5)
Tasks: Clean out and debris removal from homes and yards; demolition, floor and screw pulling, and muck outs; distribution of supplies to residents and resident needs assessment in the trailer; on foot or phone needs assessments; filling out work orders. We are also looking for production assistance and a sound engineer to collaborate with on a documentary project, one to two days a week. Languages: ***Russian***, Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), Korean, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish. For groups of 5 or more we recommend you go through NY Cares, contact maggie.bernhard@newyorkcares.org for more information.
Site Contact(s): You can either sign up through this link so we can predict our volunteer load for the day http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C49ACAB28A75-occupyor email us at 347-549-9708 sheepsheadbayrecovers@gmail.com Sheryl and Alex,sheepsheadbayrecovers@gmail.com, 347-549-9708
THE ACTION CENTER, ROCKAWAYS
Location: 5710 Beach Channel Drive. Personal Vehicle Recommended. Subway service to Rockaways from outer areas, limited. Bus service in Rockaways, in service.
Schedule: 10 am – 4 pm daily
Tasks: Volunteers will be performing supply intake & distro activities, e.g. unloading supply trucks, unpacking boxes, organizing supply rooms, distributing supplies. Specific tasks, per day, vary. Volunteers with vehicles and room for multiple passengers, ideal. Work gloves, boots and warm winter wear, strongly suggested for all volunteers. Up to 20 volunteers, daily.
Site contact: Sam Doe (center director) and Nelson (site coordinator) are ground contacts for volunteers to connect with upon arrival. 718 869-0346, adoe196701@aol.com
1128 OLYMPIA, STATEN ISLAND
Location: 1128 Olympia Blvd, Staten Island, Verrazano to Hylan Blvd exit, SW on Hylan until a left on Greeley, left on Olympia. hub on right.
Schedule: M W F: 11am – 4pm, Weekends: 10am-4pm (please arrive before 3pm).
Volunteer Tasks: Muck out work is continuous. other work is special projects including canvassing, deliveries, administration at hub, organizing free store / stock. 10 volunteers needed during the week, 50 on weekends which is when we concentrate on our muck-out work. we are starting to work by appointment, especially for muck-outs during the week.
Site Contact: Ilya, Goldi, Sandy1128Olympia@gmail.com, 347-201-0670
RESPOND AND REBUILD, ROCKAWAYS
Location: Averne, (Rockaways), Pilgrim Church of Arverne, 7416 Beach Channel Drive. Preferred volunteers drive in their own vehicles. There is a 15 passenger van leaving from 520. Need more people on Sundays than Saturdays.
Schedule: Weekends only in January 9am – 4pm. **Volunteers cannot be accepted after 9:30 at Respond and Rebuild in the Rockaways***.
Tasks: Every Saturday and Sunday we’re sending teams out into the field to do mold remediation in residents’ homes in the Rockaways–a necessary step before families can rebuild safely. It’s tough, physical work, and we’ll provide you with all the safety gear and tools you’ll need. Volunteers must sign up in advance, arrive by 9:30am for a safety training, and stay all day. Your commitment allows us keep our promises to residents who have often been wait-listed and let down by others throughout this process.
Site Contact(s): Andy, Shanna, Gabriel, RespondandRebuild.org. – Please Sign Up and schedule a date online. Registration is required by 5pm on the day prior to volunteering.
SMALLWATER, ROCKAWAYS
Location: Rockaway Beach, 183 beach 96th street. Driving is recommended – Cross Bay Bridge from Howard Beach to beach 94th Left on Shorefront Parkway Right on beach 96th. No regular transportation is provided for volunteers. (It is possible to accessed by public transportation via the A train and Q53 bus.)
Schedule: 6 days/week – Closed Mondays. Volunteers can arrive from 10am-2:30pm. (Site closes at 3:30).
Tasks: Muck-out (clean-out) as jobs come in, serving food, helping cleaning up the site. Ideal number of volunteers is 10, more can be taken if groups are scheduled.
Site Contact(s): Michelle Cortez, Volunteer@smallwater.org,http://smallwater.org.
Thank you for your support!