By Dan Fox
Hurricane Sandy is gone, but help is still needed. Communities are still without power, and authorities estimate that thousands are homeless. The following list details charities, grass-roots and volunteer organizations providing relief for storm-damaged areas of New Jersey and New York, especially Staten Island and the Rockaways. The list also provides links to art-related information sources, and non-profit art organizations in the city affected by Sandy and in need of help.
The list is by no means exhaustive and we will endeavour to keep it updated.
RELIEFORGANIZATIONS
Aid for Rockaway
The above link is the Facebook page for a volunteer group providing supplies and direct assistance to the Rockaways.
The Ali Forney Center
The Ali Forney Drop-In Center for homeless LGBTQ youth, located in Chelsea, Manhattan, was destroyed during Sandy. The above link provides information about the centre and how to make donations to help.
American Red Cross
Provides supplies, shelter and assistance to affected areas.
The Bowery Mission
Provides food and shelter to homeless and displaced New Yorkers.
Coalition for the Homeless
Advocacy and direct-service organization helping homeless men, women and children. The above link gives detailed statistics and information about how Hurricane Sandy has affected homeless people in New York.
Food Not Bombs
Food and logistical support. The above link gives information on how to help their post-Sandy relief efforts in the New York and New Jersey areas.
Food Bank for New York City
New York City’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs, looking for donations and volunteers to assist New Yorkers affected by Sandy.
New York Communities for Change
The above link provides a useful list of resources for post-Sandy recovery.
Occupy Sandy Recovery
Coordinated relief effort to help provide volunteers and distribute resources to help neighbourhoods and people affected by Sandy. Members of this coalition are from Occupy Wall Street, 350.org, recovers.org, InterOccupy.org and many individual volunteers.
Red Hook Initiative Hurricane Relief
Information about helping those affected by the storm in the hard-hit Red Hook neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The above link also provides updates on the current situation with power, heat and water in the Red Hook area.
Renegade Sandy Relief
Direct action volunteer organization providing food and supplies.
Donations to Renegade Sandy Relief can be made here.
Rockaway Relief
Volunteer organization providing help for the Rockaways area.
Rockaway Help
Providing help for the Rockaways.
Staten Island Recovers
Community recovery organization for Staten Island.
Team Rubicon
Military veterans and medical professionals providing rapid response to crisis situations.
Waves for Water
Organization providing clean water internationally to communities in need. Waves for Water have organized a full-fledged relief effort in response to Sandy.
ART-RELATED
Art Dealers Association of America
The ADAA has compiled relief resources for its members and the gallery community including information on the ADAA Relief Fund, federal assistance, insurance and conservation. Click here to access the resources page.
Coney Island USA
Coney Island USA is a non-profit arts organization based in the amusement park area of Coney Island, Brooklyn, dedicated to the history of popular culture in the US. It’s building at 1208 Surf Avenue suffered flood damage during the storm.
The Kitchen
The Kitchen suffered flooding that filled the organization’s theatre and lobby spaces in its Chelsea building, causing severe damage estimated between $400,000 and $500,000.
MoMA Conservation Department
MoMA New York’s emergency guidelines for salvaging water-damaged art.
Pollock Krasner Foundation
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation is currently accepting emergency grants for artists, and expediting these applications.
Primary Information
Primary Information’s storage unit at a branch of Manhattan Mini Storage was flooded, destroying a sizeable portion of their inventory. Although now back online, and able to resume limited activities, they are still trying to save as much of their inventory as possible.
Printed Matter
Although Printed Matter’s store on 10th Avenue, New York, has now re-opened, they estimate over 9000 books were destroyed, along with editioned items and equipment. The Printed Matter Archive was also severely damaged.
Smack Mellon
Smack Mellon, Brooklyn, was badly flooded during the storm, causing severe damage to its artist residency studios, media lab, kitchen and wood workshop.