Update #16
Thursday, November 15, 2012
9:00am
Good morning -
After meeting with the clergy on Staten Island yesterday (see below), I am more certain that we are moving into the short-term recovery stage in Staten Island and as a diocese. The nature of the needs is changing from immediate to ones that have more lasting implications; the nature of the requests coming in are for longer durations; and people's emotions of frustration, anger, and grief are beginning to be manifest. This is normal and we will have more to say soon about caring for those affected by this disaster.
As examples of short-term recovery needs, we are receiving requests for volunteer housing from Americorps and from the American Red Cross. If you can provide dormitory space and are in Manhattan or Staten Island, please contact me at 917 301-0267.
Parish-based response teams: we still have immediate needs: there is an opportunity tomorrow (Friday) to distribute sleeping bags in Staten Island during the day: see below for sign-up info.
Update: Bishop Dietsche, the Rev'd Sam Smith, and I attended the Staten Island Clericus meeting yesterday to hear first hand how things are going and what the current needs are. The primary concern is for parishioners whose homes are damaged and for the wider community, especially for those who may fall through the cracks in the system. A mechanism was put in place for the Staten Island churches to contact me with specific volunteer needs so that I can match their needs with parish-based response teams in the Diocese as closely as possible. A big thank you to everyone in the Clericus for your warm welcome and for all that each of you is doing!
Region II: The following update is from the Rev'd Alon White, Region II Coordinator:
- Susan Copley, Christ Church Tarrytown, and Yejde Peters, All Saints' Briarcliff, took a delivery of donations to Rockaway on Friday, November 9 and spent a considerable time helping to organize supplies and distribution at St. Camila's Roman Catholic School. She sent a list of needed supplies, which would work for other places as well) (see below) and said that, at this time, NO CLOTHES ARE NEEDED.
- St. Thomas, Mamaroneck, has been helping out at Breezypoint. They also have a food pantry which is open on Tuesday. Their contact person is Deacon Evelyn Werdal. 914.698.0380. NO CLOTHES NEEDED AT THIS TIME.
- Susan Fortunato is continuing to collect food at St. Stephen's, Pearl River, for local distribution. She reports that St. Andrew's in Harrington Park, New Jersey, is doing a clothing drive. Diane Rhodes is the rector there. Please contact before collecting/delivering. 201.768.0819.
- Howie Sasser at St. Peter's, Peekskill, (914.737.6312) is still continuing to collect food for local distribution. He has successfully found a home for clothes which had already been delivered.
- Joe Campo, St. John's, 82 Spring Street, North Salem, 914.763.8273, is able to receive clothes -- he is working with an agency which picks up clothing and delivers to areas of need both at home and internationally. HOWEVER, please contact Joe before sending truckloads in his direction.
- Gawain DeLeeuw (914.949.5577) has a thrift store at St. Bartholomew, White Plains -- they will receive (limited) clothing donations -- proceeds going to assist recovery efforts.
- Clothes are also available for pick up (or bulk delivery) at Trinity, New Rochelle 914.532.5368 Deacon Hyacinth Lee. They also have some blankets. They are not accepting further clothing donations at this time.
These are the common supply requests (which should probably be delivered to Mamaroneck or Tarrytown): Flashlights & batteries, Cleaning Supplies (contractor trash bags, work gloves, mops, cleaning fluid, bleach); Other items requested: gloves, handwarmers, NEW packaged underwear and socks, diapers, toiletries..
Within the region, the following churches are currently drop off locations for FOOD (most of which will be utilized to restock local food pantries for the time-being:
St. Peter's, Peekskill 914.737.6312
St. Thomas, Mamaronek 914.698.0380.
Christ Church, Tarrytown 914.631.2074
St. Stephen's Pearl River 845.735.8888
Grace, Nyack (our office is closed on Fridays) 845.358.1297
Food collections in Manhattan and the Bronx: I need help picking up the food and am trying to schedule it for tomorrow. If you have a car, can help, or can drive a truck in Manhattan to the Bronx to Staten Island, please call me at 917 301-0267 or email me at sharding@mindspring.com.
World Cares Center's Project Warmth Staten Island, November 16, 2012 9am-3pm
Volunteers will delivering Sleeping bags donated by AmeriCares to home bound seniors without heat. You will be filing out a needs survey with answers from the home owners.
We will meet at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Staten Island: 909 Castleton Ave, S.I. 10310
8:00am for Team Leaders: Please take the leadership briefing on worldcares.org
9:00am: All team members, please take the disaster volunteer briefing on worldcares.org
10:am Out the door
WCC Field Teams will go from door to door with Sleeping bags supported by a van and a box truck with supplies, deliver to home bound and ask a few brief questions of needs.
We will end the day at Calvary Church at 3PM.
If you can provide a six person team with a 12 person van this would greatly contribute to the efforts!! To sign up please fill out a volunteer application on worldcares.org and mark SI Project Warmth 10.16
As you can see, there is lots going on and lots to do. The generosity of the people and the clergy of the diocese in truly inspiring. Thank you.
God bless you.
Stephen+
