The past month have been riddled with natural disasters. A friend and I were recently chatting, and commented how it seems as if the world were coming to an end. A scary feeling, to say the least.
It’s heartbreaking to witness all the devastation happening off in the distance, and we are expected to resume our daily lives. We’ve had numerous conversations with the kids about the hurricanes and earthquakes, and they’ve taken part in donating some of their belongings. With that, I’d be lying if I said we weren’t trying to shield them at times, because of the way Ryder was affected by Sandy, at only four years old. He actually remembers how badly decimated my parents house and neighborhood were, and he still talks about it. I guess he absorbed a lot more of what was happening than I realized.
This is Houston
Jason and I have been donating to every cause under the sun, but I can’t help but have a sense of feeling helplessness. I think because we know that while the news channels have switched to the next big or scandalous story, the cleanup efforts are under way, slated to take months, even years. I want to remind you that as much as you are doing, and as busy as you may be, keep these disasters in mind, as the holidays approach. These devastated areas will remain difficult and depressing, when instead they would be joyous and celebrating.
When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, we sat glued to the television in disbelief. I remember sitting with my mom, and after having her experience Hurricane Sandy in 2012. With this, she knew just how grave the damage was down South. It took my parents and siblings almost three years to get back to what was known as normal, and in comparison, Sandy wasn’t as bad as Harvey. Then, just as the efforts for Texas got underway, Mexico City was rocked by an earthquake, Irma ravaged some of our beloved Caribbean Islands and the Florida coast. When the Caribbean thought it had been through enough, Puerto Rico is slammed by Hurricane Maria. But I’m sure you all know about these current events and I don’t need to recap.
This is Puerto Rico
I’m horrified by the stalled aid and deteriorating conditions in Puerto Rico, and think we need to all come together, and try to to make a greater effort to help. Below, I’ve listed a few events, taking place in NYC, to help the victims, including some links for easy online donations!
This is Mexico City
Events happening in NYC:
Texas Brunch
Where: Smoking Monkey
When: October 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How Much: $35
Next Sunday, this event at Fort Greene’s Smoking Monkey will benefit Farm Aid as well as Houston chef Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke efforts to provide emergency aid to members of the food community affected by Hurricane Harvey. Participating businesses include Hometown Bar-B-Queand yogurt-maker White Moustache. There will be an auction with donations from Estela and other restaurants, and gift baskets.
Donations for Puerto Rico
Where: Suffolk Arms, Casabe Senior Houses, St. Paul’s church, and El Maestro, Inc.
When: Ongoing
How Much: Whatever you donate
Several businesses around the city are acting as centers for donations for Puerto Rico. Suffolk Arms owner Giuseppe González has called for people to bring everything from non-perishables to personal hygiene to clean clothing and bedding.
Popular event venue SOB’s will host “A Party Called Rosie Perez” on Thursday, October 5 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m that will feature special guests. The event requires a minimum donation of $10 and also encourages donations of water, batteries, flashlights, lanterns, water filters, and school supplies which all can additionally be dropped off at one of five different locations.
Hurricane Maria fundraiser at the Skyroom – October 6 – 6:30-8:30
Tidal Concert – October 17 – All ticket brought for it and through Tidal, the $ will be given to Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Organizations –
Brooklyn Loves You: Fundraising for Caribbean – October 12 – 7-11:59 pm – Comedy, DJ, performances & art
Bronx Draft House – Sept 26-Sept 29 – 11 am – 4 pm – donate to help
This is St. Barths
Donation drop off points for hurricane and earthquake relief. All donated items must be non-perishable, not second-hand, and not contain liquids of any kind. Open or unsealed donations of food or hygiene supplies won’t be accepted.
Manhattan
Engine 91/ Ladder 11: 242 E. 111th Street, New York, NY 11220 (East Harlem)
Engine 95/ Ladder 36: 29 Vermilyea Avenue, New York, NY 10033 (Inwood)
Engine 28/ Ladder 11: 222 E. 2nd Street, New York, NY 10009 (Lower East Side)
Bronx
EMS Station 26: 1264 Boston Road, Bronx NY 10456 (Morrisania)
EMS Station 55: 3134 Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451 (Melrose)
Engine 64/ Ladder 47: 1214 Castle Hill Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462 (Castle Hill)
Engine 83/ Ladder 29: 618 E. 138th Street, Bronx, NY 10454 (Mott Haven/South Bronx)
Queens
Engine 316: 27-12 Kearney Street, Queens, NY 11369 (East Elmhurst)]
Engine 289/ Ladder 138: 97-28 43rd Avenue, Queens, NY 11368 (Corona)
Engine 307/ Ladder 154: 81-17 Northern Boulevard, Queens, NY 11372 (Jackson Heights)
Brooklyn
Engine 271/ Ladder 124: 392 Himrod Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237 (Bushwick)
Engine 277/ Ladder 112: 582 Knickerbocker Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Bushwick)
Engine 201/ Ladder 114: 5113 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220 ( Sunset Park)
Engine 228: 436 39th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232 (Sunset Park)
Engine 218: 650 Hart Street, Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Bushwick)
Staten Island
Engine 153/ Ladder 77: 74 Broad Street, Staten Island, NY 10304 (Stapleton)
Engine 157/ Ladder 80: 1573 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10302 (Port Richmond)
Ladder 79: 1189 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310 (Port Richmond)
This is Florida Keys
For Online Donations:
Puerto Rico:
Dominica Hurricane Maria Relief Fund
Caribbean:
Texas:
Mexico:
International Community Foundation
Florida:
Southwest Florida Community Foundation
Goes to all victims:
12 thoughts on “How To Help: Hurricanes and Earthquakes”
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’ve been wanting to help, but I didn’t know where to start. This is a great resource!
This is excellent information for anyone wanting to help the victims of natural disaster but doesn’t know how. Thanks for sharing this information.
This is wonderful information. It is so great to see so many people helping out. We had a food and water drive at work to help out local families that were impacted by Irma here in Florida.
I couldn’t imagine living through these natural disasters. I’m always wondering what different ways there are to help so this is very helpful!
It seems like so many bad things have been happening lately. It’s good to know how to help, so thanks for sharing.
I have recently blogged about this as well. It’s really important to help because so many people have lost so much and a little goes a long way. I really appreciate that you’re spreading the word.
Awesome list of place and sites that we can go to to support those who have been affected by the recent hurricanes. It’s good to help out as much as we can.
This is really great, such a great resource to give back.
To say the damages caused by these disasters is devastating is an understatement. For sure they will need lots of help for years to come. Thank you for sharing these resources. It makes it so much easier to find the proper outlets to donate to.
It’s such a scary thing to see the devastation hitting our country and our neighbors. Thank you for sharing what we can do to help make a difference.
Thank you for this post! I would really want to donate some clothes, blankets, adult and baby diapers but I live too far from any drop off point. I will probably just go for a monetary donation. I am hoping and praying that things will go back to normal the soonest.
As devastating as these natural calamities are, I am thankful that the death toll is not that high. Disaster preparedness is the key and so with compliance to the orders of our leaders. I will do my best to help out by donating clothes and/or cash.