Almost two weeks out from Hurricane Sandy, many people are still without power, heat and shelter. Volunteers have come out in droves to help clean up the vast damage, and individuals and companies are opening up their wallets to help out (such as The Post’s owner, News Corp., which has donated $1 million).
But the area is still in need of big-hearted and willing New Yorkers to help — and although many people are ready to get their hands dirty, they don’t always know where they’ll be best utilized. The sun will be shining today and tomorrow, so it’s the perfect time to grab a broom and head out to where you’re most needed. Read on for our handy guide on where and when to volunteer (unless otherwise specified, volunteers can show up the day of).
RED HOOK
Red Hook was just one of many hard-hit neighborhoods in the area. Sandy destroyed power lines, uprooted trees and flooded dozens of homes, businesses and stores, including the huge Fairway supermarket. Many buildings are still without power. The area needs volunteers to clean homes and distribute hot meals and nonperishables, as well as knock on doors and see if people need items like medicine.
Info: If you want to help, e-mail volunteers@rhicenter.org to sign up with Red Hook Initiative, which is at 767 Hicks St., at West Ninth Street. Cleanup starts at about 10 a.m.
Twitter: @rhookinitiative
THE ROCKAWAYS
Shore Soup
The hot-food kitchen opened Wednesday and is collecting, preparing and delivering soup to people in the Rockaways, and it has a distribution system to get free food to the area and keep it going throughout the winter. Wednesdays through Sundays, the group needs volunteers to prepare food, and people with bikes or vehicles to help deliver it. Cooking and prep shifts are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; delivery shifts are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Info: To sign up, e-mail rockawayrescuealliance@gmail.com, or see facebook.com/rockawayrescuealliance.
BROOKLYN
Occupy Sandy
The movement has two all-around crisis-monitoring centers in Brooklyn, which organizer Waldemar Albrecht expects to be there for “a couple of months, at least.” Volunteers are needed every day for a variety of tasks: pitching in on cleanup efforts, working in the kitchen, handling intake and organizing deliveries. Shifts in the field start at 10 a.m. until about 4 p.m.; volunteers are accepted all day long in the church.
Info: Report to St. Luke’s at 520 Clinton Ave., in Clinton Hill, 347-770-4520, or see @520clintonos on Twitter; or St. Jacobi, 5406 Fourth Ave., in Sunset Park, 347-470-4192, interoccupy.net/occupysandy; and @OccupySandy on Twitter.
Luna Park
Park owners are putting together a big debris cleanup effort today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a thank-you gift: For every four hours you spend cleaning up, you get four hours of free rides when the park reopens. (Even better news: The Cyclone and most of the other rides are still intact.)
Info: E-mail social@caiparks.com to sign up.
The Seagate Command Center
The center is organizing a massive, door-to-door blitz, beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, to clean up as many damaged homes as possible. It’s hoping for 500 volunteers, according to Samuel Follman, the group’s coordinator.
Info: 3700 Surf Ave.; contact the Sea Gate Command Center at
718-705-9666.
Twitter: Follow Congregation Beth Elohim (organizing supplies and volunteers) at @cbebk or Councilman Brad Lander on @bradlander.
STATEN ISLAND
Save our Shores
The death toll on Staten Island rose to a staggering 19, including two toddlers who drowned in the flood waters. The storm pummeled the island and swept homes off their foundation. Local resident Dominick DeRubbio organized Save Our Shores last week to clean out and gut waterlogged homes, and will be at it again on Sunday. The group is also accepting donations (there’s no recommended amount; give what you can). They’ll be used to purchase gift cards from local businesses and distributed to those in need.
Info: Find the Save Our Shores: Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief site on Facebook.
The Carl V. Bini Memorial Fund
Today and tomorrow, groups will empty flooded and destroyed homes. Meeting locations for the weekend will be posted on the group’s Facebook page. Volunteers will be put into teams and sent house-to-house throughout affected neighborhoods.
Info: Visit facebook.com/welovesi.
Guyon Rescue
This new group, Guyon Rescue, is looking for people to man makeshift kitchens at two 24-hour locations. “We have enough food donations, but I need volunteers badly,” says Tottenville resident Frank Gericitano, who took on the task of feeding victims and first responders in the hard-hit areas around New Dorp.
Info: Kitchens are at 575 Mill Road and 192 Ebbitts St.; call Gericitano directly at 917-647-1546 or see facebook.com/guyonrescue.
LONG ISLAND
Long Beach
Residents of the barrier island woke up to a demolished boardwalk, no power and homes and cars buried in feet of sand. The LIRR is running trains to stops on the Long Beach line, where shuttle buses will connect volunteers to the actual beach town. The city is still looking for donations of cold-weather clothing, any kind of cleaning supplies, bleach, mops and buckets, school supplies, and new undergarments and socks, but it also needs hands to sort and distribute. “Manpower is key,” says Matt Kohut, who is spearheading the effort. “We’re the main distribution site for the barrier island,” he says, adding that more than 600 people came yesterday for food and clothing. Volunteers can report to the Long Beach Ice Arena between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Info: 150 West Bay Drive; 516-301-0932, longbeachny.gov, facebook.com/longbeachnyhurricaneinformation.
Freeport
Baby formula, hygiene items and cleaning supplies are needed, as are volunteers to keep up with the influx of donations. Items should be dropped off at the Floor Mart Building across from the Home Depot.
Info: 157 East Sunrise Highway
Twitter tips: Follow @lisandyrecovery, which retweets needs from organizations across Long Island.
JERSEY SHORE
Belmar
This coastal town suffered massive beach erosion, flooding that engulfed homes and saw its boardwalk reduced to driftwood. Helping hands should report to the the town’s gymnasium, where they will be assigned tasks ranging from going door-to-door handing out fliers to update residents without power, or activities such as raking leaves out of sewers. Today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Info: 601 Main St.; belmar.com.
Asbury Park
Asbury Park’s historic boardwalk was severely damaged, while the roof off a church simply peeled off. “We’ve been very lucky in that we had a lot of people come forward to volunteer right after the storm,” says Deputy Mayor John Loffredo. “And [this weekend] we’re doing a cleanup of the lakes.” Volunteers should bring work gloves and report to one of three locations at 11 a.m.
Info: Deal Lake, located at the boat dock at Seventh Avenue and Main Street; Wesley Lake, located at the boat dock off Lake Avenue; and Sunset Lake, located on the corner of Bond Street and Sunset Avenue.
Point Pleasant Beach
The Point Pleasant Beach, which has a milelong boardwalk and amusements, was battered and boats washed up on the train tracks. Led by resident and retired cop Chip DiCorcia, groups here are helping the overwhelmed community clean out homes and pack up valuables, starting at 9 a.m. “It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, so we hope to get as much done as possible,” says DiCorcia. Volunteers will have their IDs checked before being sent out to work.
Info: Report to the Masonic Lodge, 911 Richmond Ave.; 732-245-7187.
Twitter: @JSHurricaneNews is a clearinghouse for donation and volunteer requests.