A coalition of Turkish-American organizations forked over $40,000 yesterday to the Gerritsen Beach library (2808 Gerritsen Avenue) and Gerritsen Beach Elementary School (P.S. 277), institutions that have suffered in the five months since Superstorm Sandy rocked the community.
The donation came from Turkish-American groups, non-profits and businesses, spearheaded by Helping Hands Relief Foundation, Kimse Yokmu, Council of Turkic American Associations, Turkish Cultural Center and the Brooklyn Amity School.
Of the $40,000 donated yesterday, $30,000 is going to the Brooklyn Public Library’s Gerritsen Beach branch, one of two branches in the system that has been unable to reopen due to extensive damage. The checks were handed over during a ceremony in front of the branch. Prior to the ceremony, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke toured the facility, which has been gutted down to bare walls, floors and rafters.
“We believe that Brooklyn Public Library and P.S. 277 are invaluable resources for the community, where people of all ages will benefit tremendously in many different ways,” said Nevzat Yilmaz, president of Helping Hands Relief Foundation. “This is dedicated to building a better future for the children and families of our community, and leaves a footprint for the next generations of Turkish-Americans to take care of community facilities that serve the people.”
Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda Johnson was on-hand to receive the check, delivered by a cadre of Amity School students. She said the library would use the funds in part to rebuild the library with green technology and infrastructure.
P.S. 277 Principal Jeanne Fish said the school would use the funds to install new smartboards and laptops in classrooms.
See this story in photos: Images of the gutted library, and more from the event.
The Be Proud Foundation served approximately 500 local seniors in need during its fourth annual Passover food distribution event last week.
The organization took over the Aqua Health Rehabilitation Center at 2753 Coney Island Avenue on March 21, handing out goody bags overflowing with food supplies for the holiday, including chocolate matzo, pickles, raisins, tuna and other products.
Raisa Chernina, Be Proud’s executive director, said the event is a way for her organization to “share the joy of the holiday” with those who are struggling. It was attended by Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo, Councilman Michael Nelson, and 46th Assembly Democratic District Leader Mark Davidovich.
If you put clothing into it, that clothing will not go to the homeless. It probably will just end up in a landfill.
About a month ago this bin appeared on Brighton Beach Avenue near Brighton 14 Street. It is adorned with a wide variety of stickers from charitable organizations, but nowhere does it state who is responsible for the bin and to whom the donated clothing will go. The contents of many of these bins are sold for profit at thrift stores rather than being donated to charitable causes.
The bin probably also was put there without the knowledge or consent of the property owner. It is my guess that he notified 311 or the Department of Sanitation (DOS) requesting its removal since it is in violation of City law. A DOS sticker on the side facing the street states so.
It also states that the bin will be removed by Sanitation by April 4 if the owner does not remove it before then. Most likely the bin will be sold for scrap and the contents discarded.
Update (1:49 p.m.): This photo was taken earlier this week. We were just notified that the box has been removed as a result of complaints to 311. Hooray, city services!
The FDNY is sponsoring a blood drive for the New York Blood Center. It will be held at the firehouse of Engine 321 located at 2165 Gerritsen Avenue (at Avenue U) on Monday, February 4, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please donate, and help save lives of fellow New Yorkers!
Source: LA Boxing Brooklyn / Facebook
Our friends at LA Boxing of Brooklyn (16 Brighton 11th Street), which will soon celebrate its grand opening, dropped us a note saying that they will host a Women’s Self Defense seminar which will benefit local ladies in need of some butt-kicking knowledge, as well as local charities.
Taught by WEC Lightweight Champion “Razor” Rob McCullough, the seminar will walk attendees through the basics of self-defense. It will take place on Sunday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
According to their Facebook page, it’s a free event, but they’re asking for a voluntary donation of $15, which will be given to New York Cares, Chabad of Manhattan Beach and other organizations. Call (718) 975-7100 to reserve a spot.
Source: Shorefront Y
The following is a press release from the Shorefront Y (3300 Coney Island Avenue):
Over 8,000 toys have been distributed by the Shorefront Y to go directly to children who have been affected by the wrath of Hurricane Sandy in south Brooklyn.
On December 20, 2012 a huge tractor trailer arrived at the Shorefront Y filled with children’s toys. Thousands of toys for children of all ages were donated to the Shorefront Y by Jezreel International, with sponsorship of UJA Federation of NY.
As the Shorefront Y’s disaster relief efforts have been done in collaboration with many local organizations, Shorefront Y reached out to more than 30 local community leaders and organizations offering to share this incredible resource of holiday gifts. Within one day, 17 organizations from Sea Gate, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach and Canarsie each came to pick up hundreds of toys to distribute to children and families with whom they are engaged. All packages included books, stuffed animals, wall posters, toy trucks, & much more.
“To be able to so quickly and effectively share this incredibly generous donation with families living in all of our south Brooklyn impacted neighborhoods has been incredible and inspirational.” says Sue Fox, Executive Director at the Shorefront Y.
The diversity of the groups who received these donated toys also reflected the diversity of our communities; civic groups, faith based organizations from the Christian, Muslim, & Jewish communities and local immigrant community leaders from the Latino, Haitian, Russian, Filipino, South Asian and Turkish communities all benefitted from the generosity of Jezreel International’s wonderful donation and the Shorefront Y’s collaborative spirit. ”We all need to continue to work together to make sure that all of our south Brooklyn communities and our families continue to recover,” says Fox.
‘Tis the season for giving, and despite the continued struggles they themselves face after Superstorm Sandy, Southern Brooklyn residents proved their generosity by doling out more than 9,000 toys for last night’s Toys for Tots closeout party at the 41st Assembly District Democrats Club.
Santa’s little helpers paraded around the mountain of dolls, games, books and crafts carrying signs of the toy totals from every year since the drive kicked off in 2001. Without going down even once, the numbers grew from just 79 to a whopping 9,004, unveiled by Mr. Met and Sandy the Seagull, making a 12-year total of 47,680 gifts given to the program.
“There will be 10,000 young people who will get a gift, put a smile on their face, that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. And that is certainly the gift that we have to give on the holidays,” Councilman Lew Fidler told the dense crowd that packed into the small Marine Park clubhouse at 2952 Avenue R.
Keep reading about our community’s generosity, and view photos and video from the event.
The following is from our friends at the Bay Improvement Group:
Medical equipment! (Source: Stanford Medical History Center/Flick)
The following is a press release from the offices of State Senator David Storobin:
State Senator David Storobin (R-Brooklyn) announced that his district office in cooperation with FEMA, Project Chernobl and Dr. Igor Branovan will be helping doctors and other medical professionals get free medical equipment and furniture that has been generously donated.
The deadline to register is Tuesday, December 18, 2012.
Anyone interested may call Victoria Spodek at (718) 743-8610 or stop by our office during business hours at 2201 Avenue U.
From our friends at the Shorefront Y:
A large scale relief distribution will take place in front of the Shorefront Y (3300 Coney Island Avenue).
This one time event is taking place thanks to Office Depot Foundation, Feed The Children, & Lorenzo Hodges of Jezreel International, in collaboration with the Shorefront Y. A sample of the items that will be available for distribution is below:
- Children’s Books & School Supplies
- Diapers & Baby Food
- Beverages & Adult Food
- Cleaning Supplies
- Sack Packs
With the objective of bringing much needed supplies to Brooklyn families who were affected by Hurricane Sandy, a 53 ft. tractor trailer will arrive on Thursday, filled with thousands of products. Vital supplies will be distributed to all families & children as they arrive in front of the Shorefront Y.
What: Hurricane Sandy Relief Distribution
When: Thursday, December 06, 2012 at 12 P.M.
Where: 3300 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235
