The weekend is almost here (yahoo!) and since we are all sort of vamping here until the next holiday rolls around, below are a few things to do or consider for this weekend. Hurricane relief still dominates, but I'm looking for other things as well - give a shout out if you've got ideas, we'll post 'em.
Hurricane Relief
Yes, there's still much to do for a while, and though much of the work now involves mucking out basements (not a great activity for kids), Occupy Sandy still needs volunteers for cooking and food distribution, The site at 520 Clinton Ave. is still open, and will be receiving and dispatching volunteers but the Sunset Park location is closing. Saturday and Sunday, volunteers are needed at St. John's Episcopal Church in Bay Ridge - more information here. Also, New York Cares is still coordinating volunteer activities, but you do have to fill out an application and then can search the site for activities. They list a number of activities involving sorting and distributing resources in the Rockaways this weekend that are kid appropriate.
World AIDS Day - December 1st
Saturday is World AIDS Day, and while there doesn't seem to be much happening in NY that says 'bring the kids', all Housing Works Thrift Shops will be accepting donations of clothing, accessories and home goods for people living with HIV/AIDS. You can find a list of Thrift Shop locations here. Nice idea to take the family and bring some things to donate.
The MillionTreesNYC Project
Did you know that there are 60,000 new street trees in New York City? MillionTreesNYC is holding a workshop for its Stewardship Corps on Sunday, from 2pm to 4pm in Brooklyn, at 232 Varet Street. It's free, and open to kids with a grownup along. You'll learn how to care for trees, how to plant bulbs in tree pits. If you pledge to take care of one street tree, you'll get a gardening kit and an official volunteer card. All information and registration information here.
We Belong Together Campaign
I posted about this last week, but there's still a wee bit of time to join this project. The We Belong Together Campaign is trying to gather 20,000 letters and pictures by the end of November from children asking legislators to stop deportations and detentions that tear families apart. The campaign focuses in particular on immigrant families of mixed status, with some members having green cards and others living with documents, at risk of deportation. The website, which also lists its sponsors here, has an activity guide for working with kids on the project.
Helping the libraries?
So earlier this week a wise person pointed me to this story in the Times about the role libraries are playing in the Rockaways and elsewhere (Red Hook, too) to anchor folks in storm ravaged areas, and the fact that a number of branches were badly hurt by the storm. So I'm looking for ways to get folks and their kids involved, but it has gelled yet. The challenge here is that you can collect and donate books, but the reality is they probably need money more, to replace what they've lost. Anyway, watch this space, or send me your ideas, suggestions, or 'you idiot this is already happenings'.
And a reminder...
There are a couple of family volunteering activities coming up being organized by Hannah Senesh Country Day School. On December 16th and February 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, folks will be preparing and serving food at the Masbia Soup Kitchen at 4114 14th Ave. in Brooklyn. Anyone interested should RSVP here.
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