First of all, there are people all over the place who were hit by this storm -- but due to the density of the population there, the misery is concentrated in New York City. And because I've had several people who worked with the Red Cross tell me money's more efficiently used elsewhere, I'm suggesting alternate options.
Here are some of the other ways you can help:
- Occupy Sandy. So many of my NY friends say the Occupy people (working with 350.org) are doing an outstanding job on the ground. Click here if you want to volunteer -- or donate. Call/text 347-770-1528. If you want current information about need, follow @occupysandy on Twitter.
- OWS Medical team will be going door to door in Lower Manhattan highrises every day to help the elderly trapped without water or medication.
- Occupy is also working with many local groups to help them coordinate their own relief efforts. Here's The Lower East Side Recovers.
- Adopt a family! Family To Family is a program for displaced families in Breezy Point, Far Rockaway, Broad Channel & Staten Island. You can sponsor a specific family as they rebuild their lives, buy them their own pillow and blanket, or send winter coats and sweaters.
- RockawayHelp is coordinating donations and volunteers for their hard-hit and very poor area.
- The Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBT youth was destroyed. They need money to get on their feet again.
- NY Communities for Change just received two school buses for their rescue effort, but they need $10,000 to fill it with supplies.
- The Brooklyn Recovery Fund is a joint effort of the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to create a pooled fund to provide support to Brooklyn’s nonprofit organizations working with the communities and individuals most affected by Hurricane Sandy.
- The Rainbow Family's SuperStormSandy Rapid Response kitchen is setting up at: Union Beach Fire Company
1224 Florence Ave., Union Beach, NJ 07735. They have put up the big tent and are putting heaters in it now. Anyone wanting to come help is welcome. Please remember this is not a gathering, it is to provide relief to victims of hurricane Sandy. If you do decide to come help wear very warm clothes as the weather is in the high 30's right now and be self sufficient, bring your sleeping bags & gear if you intend to spend a few days.Bulk supplies can be sent to the address above. Green Energy donations via WePay here.
And Burners Without Borders (Burning Man) will be heading to NJ to help. (Yay, hippies! Power to the people!)
- Team Rubicon is an organization of military medical veterans who have deployed to the flood areas, and 100% of your donations go into the field.
- And of course, Doctors Without Borders (who were told by the city of NY they weren't needed) hooked up with Occupy Sandy and are out there helping the many, many people who need medical care.
- So many towns and cities in New Jersey need help, it's hard to keep track. Here's a good list of organizations that are coordinating recovery efforts.