New York and New Jersey residents are in full recovery mode after Superstorm Sandy left vast areas of their states devastated. Volunteer opportunities have been organized by individuals and organizations in both states to help those most affected by the hurricane. Latinos Post has rounded up the latest volunteering opportunities.
As always, those wishing to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy can donate to the American Red Cross by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-733-2767, or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The American Red Cross is also accepting blood donations. You can visit their website or call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule a blood donation.
New York City | Staten Island | Long Island:
In Lower Manhattan, OWS Medical Group and Street Medics is coordinating help for elderly residents. They are looking for volunteers to help deliver medicine, food or water to elderly that are shut in due to Hurricane Sandy. Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will meet at 46 Hester Street.
The Occupy Sandy effort, which is listing the volunteer opportunity, stated that people who can only volunteer a couple of hours are welcome. Volunteers are asked to bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. For more information, email maryacaliendo@earthlink.net or visit InterOccupy.net.
A full list of Occupy Sandy volunteer opportunities for the NYC area can be found here.
In the Rockaways, NYC Service is looking for volunteers to help sort out clothing and pass out food at the shelter set up at the American Legion Hall located at 209 Cross Bay Boulevard, Far Rockaway, N.Y. Volunteers are told to ask for Marty Seeny once they arrive.
Those looking to help with hunger relief initiatives in NYC can volunteer through New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH) to help at community soup kitchens and food pantries. NYC Service stated that volunteers should contact NYCCAH Volunteer Coordination at 212-825-0028 ext: 211.
A full list of NYC Service volunteer opportunities in the NYC area can be found here.
Tech savvy volunteers are being recruited to help New York-area businesses and organizations get back up and running. NY Tech Meetup and New Work City are seeking volunteers to sign up here.
For those looking to volunteer or donate to the relief effort in Staten Island, visit Staten Island Recovers for the latest opportunities.
Various Ace Hardware locations throughout Long Island are taking in donations of toys, clothing, water and other necessary items for those affected by the hurricane. For a location near you, visit the Ace Hardware website.
In West Islip (Long Island), volunteers and donations of food and clothing are wanted at Oquenock Elementary on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.
New Jersey:
In Hoboken, volunteers can report to City Hall at 9 a.m. for volunteer opportunities, the city's official Twitter stated.
Jersey City is also organizing volunteers to help with relief efforts. Volunteers are asked to email volunteer@jcnj.org to sign up. Anyone interested in helping out should list special skills or equipment that might be useful in the post-storm recovery efforts. More information can be found on Jersey City's official website.
In South Jersey, Cumberland County Community College is looking for volunteers to do cleanup work through the weekend. Volunteers will need to fill out a volunteer information sheet to sign up. For more information, reach Carol Cohen, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Shore Chapter, at 732-647-5201.
The Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit is looking for volunteers to assist with any Sandy-related efforts in NJ and the tri-state area. For more information, visit www.gsuru.com.
For additional ways to help out in New Jersey, visit www.nj.com.
If you have any tips for volunteer opportunities in these states or in any state affected by Hurricane Sandy, please email n.rojas@latinospost.com.