Being a hero means different things to different people. To us, it means someone who gives back in their community, and asking nothing in return. That’s why Bruce Rector is our “Everyday Hero.” He’s been working on Hurricane Sandy response projects for the past two and a half weeks. How much has he accomplished? He’s already put in an amazing 125 hours on distribution and muck-out projects. Whether he’s working as a volunteer or Team Leader, the work he’s doing is making a huge difference to victims of the storm.

Last night he was honored for all his tireless work at Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark at the Foxwoods Theater. We were so happy we got this opportunity to acknowledge Bruce since he’s worked on Sandy relief projects almost every day.

Additionally, if you see Spider-Man on Broadway now through December 31st, you can be an Everyday Hero yourself by donating a coat. Help us get closer to our goal of 200,000 coats by donating at the Foxwoods Theater or any other public collection site around the city.

By Susan Torres

In the month since Hurricane Sandy hit New York City we’ve had volunteers work on many different projects. Over the past couple of weeks, one of the emerging needs has been for “muck-out” work. Mucking-out involves going into storm-damaged houses and clearing out anything that sustained water damage, such as carpets, drywall, insulation, and furniture. In some places, water levels reached 15 feet high, so there’s a lot of work to be done.

We’ve been fortunate to work with Team Rubicon and AmeriCorps on muck-out projects. Team Rubicon has performed muck-out projects in many post-disaster locations. They’re a group of military veterans who deploy emergency response teams around the world when a crisis strikes. Many of our staff and Team Leaders have been working closely with the group to learn their system, and to make sure muck-out projects run safely.

Most of the muck-out projects so far have been focused in the Rockaways, and we’ve had volunteers help from all over the country. Once a home has been cleared out, the owner can get it assessed by the city’s Rapid Repair program. Team Rubicon will soon be leaving their base in the Rockaways, but we’ll be continuing muck-out work in the coming months.

When you get to the base, you’ll be given all the necessary supplies, such as a face mask to block mold particles, a Tyvek suit to keep you (fairly) clean, gloves, a hardhat, and of course, some Cares Wear. Trust us, you’ll look great. We’ll also provide any tools you may need for your assignment.

If you live in the Rockaways and need your house cleaned out, call our hotline to fill out a work order. The number is: 347.306.9160.

You can help Rockaways residents now by signing up to muck-out. Roll up your sleeves and help us rebuild.

By Susan Torres

Volunteers have been coming from all over to help on Hurricane Sandy projects. Christina Herold came to New York from Washington, DC to run the New York City Marathon, but ended up volunteering in the Rockaways instead. Read about her experience below.

My name is Christina Herold and I am from Washington, DC. I came to New York as part of a team of runners from the Team To End AIDS (T2). We came to this city to take part in the NYC Marathon but what some of us ultimately participated in was so much more awe-inspiring and heartbreaking than the marathon would ever amount to be.

Through the NYC Mayor’s office and New York Cares I had the privilege of volunteering in the Hammel Housing Project in the Far Rockaways. Under the leadership and guidance of Casey Cunningham and Lia Papazoglou I volunteered to help set up a hurricane assistance center at the Hammel Playground. Words cannot express the devastation that these people have experienced. As is often the case in natural disasters, the plight of so many underprivileged people living on or below the poverty line has not received much attention in the media. What I saw went far beyond flood waters in the financial district or darkened buildings in Chelsea. The people on the front lines of this disaster in places like the Rockaways and Breezy Point have been through so much and will need assistance both right now and in the coming months. Read the rest of this entry »

We have new ways for you to help in the Hurricane Sandy relief effort. Medically trained volunteers are needed to support muck out projects in the Rockaways in the coming weeks. At least one Registered Nurse (or higher level of training) is needed to staff the muck out base camp daily and respond to any situations requiring medical attention that may occur as teams of volunteers muck out homes. Many details are still pending, but volunteers would ideally be available for a full day at a time from 9 am to 4 pm. Half day shifts may also be possible. If you are interested or have questions, email seth.shapiro@newyorkcares.org. Please include in your email the days of the weeks or specific dates in December that you will be available.

If you’re not medically trained, you can still help by signing up for projects listed here.

Every year, organizing the Coat Drive is a huge undertaking for our Service Events team. This year because of the increased need resulting from Hurricane Sandy, they had one day to launch the drive a week early. This meant finding storage space for donations, staff and volunteers to man the storage space, and working with agencies to get coats and other donations out the door to people who needed them. It was quite the busy few days. Below, one of our volunteers tells about how he helped make it happen.

New York Cares was all ready to start the annual Coat Drive on November 15th. But Superstorm Sandy changed all that.

The need was there just for clothing to put on to the backs of New Yorkers who had lost everything. So when I got a call from Diane Conroy asking innocently if I was doing anything that day, I knew something was afoot.

“How about going to the Coat Warehouse and setting things up so that we can start sorting clothes?” she asked. “Sure, when?” I said. “As soon as possible. In fact how about now, as we have volunteers coming in three hours to sort, but they will need some guidance…”

Read the rest of this entry »

A couple weeks ago, one of our employees got her first experience canvassing after Hurricane Sandy. Read about Brittany’s experience below.

After a week of staff checking in with partners, calling agencies in hard-hit areas, and coordinating response programming, I saw firsthand the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Though I had been following the news and speaking with people in places like the Rockaways, Staten Island, and Coney Island, it was completely different actually standing in spots completely devastated by the hurricane. Cars had water damage inside of them, some smashed into each other due to the tides rushing the coast. Debris covered the ground and boats were in the middle of roads. In some places, you could see the water level on buildings.

Read the rest of this entry »

Our goal this year is to collect 200,000 coats. That’s a pretty daunting number, but we’re positive we can get there with your help. Do you want to support the drive, but aren’t sure where to start? Here are a number of ways to get started:

• Drop off your coat at any of these locations. Our map feature lets you search for the location that’s most convenient to you.
• Make a financial donation. Due to Hurricane Sandy, many of the communities that are in the most urgent need of winter coats are also the most difficult to reach because of transportation issues and power outages. Your monetary donation will help us distribute coats to these hard-to-reach areas.
• Attend an event supporting New York Cares. Many local shops and vendors are hosting special promotional events where a portion of proceeds will be donated to the drive. Many events will also be collecting coats.
• Host your own collection site. Please note: you do not need to be an oriented volunteer to host your own site.

I started collecting coats. Now what?

• Tell your friends on social media:
• Start a Coat Drive event on Facebook. You can tell everyone when you’ll be collecting, and why they should donate a coat.
• Tweet about your efforts using #CoatDrive12. Let us know what you’re doing to support the drive, and see what other people have been doing. And make sure you follow the @newyorkcares account to stay up to date on the latest news.
• Submit a blog story so we can spread the word about the importance of the Coat Drive. Personal stories are great ways to highlight the need this year.

Now get started! We can’t do it without you!

By Susan Torres

We’re so grateful to all our volunteers who’ve worked on Hurricane Sandy relief projects. Some of these projects can be a little unorganized since they’re created quickly and needs change frequently. That’s why we love getting feedback from people who’ve been on projects so we can continue to improve our programming. Christina Whiting sent us the below email after helping at one of our Coat Drive distribution events:

Volunteering for your organization was the best experience I’ve had volunteering after Hurricane Sandy. I’ve worked on projects with other groups on hurricane relief efforts, but New York Cares impressed me the most.

Your employees, Josh and Joey, were very welcoming and enthusiastic, and Diane was organized and a great Team Leader. Even though there were some challenging moments in the day, the New York Cares staff helped keep us motivated and smiling!

I’m so impressed with New York Cares that I’m applying for a couple of the positions you have open.

The only suggestion I would make for this activity would have been to allow the residents who were waiting in line to wait inside the library, since it was cold and rainy. However, I understand that allowing so many people in the building could have presented some unexpected situations.

Great work to your group for living up to your name so well!

By Christina Whiting

Picture courtesy of Christina Whiting

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and this year many of us have a lot to be thankful for. But many New Yorkers realize that some in our city have lost everything. Those who can want to help. Our holiday volunteer opportunities are updated frequently on our website. However, these projects are very popular every year and fill up quickly.

If our projects are full for Thanksgiving day, please check our referral opportunities page. These great organizations need help on Thanksgiving, as well as all year long. We are also continually updating our Hurricane Sandy relief page with new projects. Please bookmark this page as projects may become available for Thanksgiving day.

If you can’t volunteer this Thanksgiving, don’t worry. We have projects going on all year round and would love to have you volunteer! Getting started with us is simple. The first step is to create an account on our website. Once you’ve done that, you can register for an upcoming orientation that’s convenient for you. At orientation you’ll learn how we work, exciting projects you can join, and what you can expect as a volunteer. After orientation, you will be able to register for any of our available volunteer projects.

No matter when you volunteer, your help is needed. Thank you for helping New Yorkers in need this year.

Throughout our response to Hurricane Sandy, one thing has been overwhelming and unwavering – the support and interest of thousands of volunteers from New York City and beyond. Everyone has something to offer, and everyone wants to help. Volunteers have canvassed, cleaned, distributed food and water, sorted donations, and so much more.

But the work is just beginning. Now, we need leaders to take charge and continue these efforts as we start down the long road of recovery.

The newly created New York Cares Disaster Volunteer Corps will mobilize to meet that challenge. In the coming weeks and months, these dedicated volunteer leaders will take charge on projects and guide our efforts in a variety of ways. They will specialize in meeting the needs of the community in a post-Hurricane Sandy world. This group will receive special training, and will be a constant presence in the community that will allow our city to begin to heal.

For more information on joining the Disaster Volunteer Corps, sign up here or email Jaime Denniston-Merced. We currently have many job opportunities listed on our site, check them out and apply today.

By Jaime Denniston-Merced