Hurricane Recovery News from Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies

Need Funds or Supplies for Hurricane Relief?

We pray that all is well with you, your families, congregations and organizations during this difficult time. If your church or organization has been impacted by Hurricane Sandy please let us know about your needs as soon as possible by contacting Onleilove Alston, Faith Based Organizing Associate at 212-801-1356 or oalston@fpwa.org. FPWA is gathering information about impacted organizations in our network because we will receive resources to give you direct assistance in responding those to needs and assisting your community in recovery efforts. If you would like to volunteer to help with the relief effort, you can email or visit the web page of NYC Service – please include your name, email address, and borough to volunteer in the coming days. You can also visit FPWA’s website to donate funds. All donations made to FPWA will be used to provide assistance to individuals and families impacted, and to help nonprofits recover, so they can help people on the ground in communities hardest hit. We understand that the faith community has been first responders in the relief efforts and for this we thank you. FPWA is here for you during this time so please do not hesitate to contact us with your concerns.

This edition of News for the Faith Community is dedicated to providing ways in which you can assist with the relief effort and resources for those who need assistance.

Four Ways Your Congregation Can Help Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy

1. Volunteer
2. Donate Supplies
3. Donate Funds
4. Pray

FPWA Financial Assistance is available for clients or congregants of agencies or churches who are suffering one-time emergency financial situations. Although most requests are for rent or mortgage arrears, we also provide financial assistance with one-time needs such as special equipment not covered by insurance, security deposits, moving and storage fees, essential furniture, decluttering services or other special needs. To refer a client or congregant, please contact Blanche Centeno-Hatwood, ph. (212) 801-1366 or Judy Milone, ph. (212) 801-1350.

*Please note FPWA does not accept request for assistant directly from individuals, but will accept referrals from staff at an organization or faith institution. Clients or congregants may also call Housing Court Answers at (212) 962-4795 to find other agencies that may have emergency funds or programs to assist with rent arrears or mortgage delinquency.

Hurricane Sandy Federal Disaster Assistance is available to anyone affected by Sandy (homeowners, renters, and businesses) can apply for federal disaster assistance. Register at disasterassistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 800-621-3362.  Before you call, be sure to have the following information ready:

• Address of affected property
• Insurance information
• Social Security number

For small to mid-sized businesses that are facing business interruption due to Hurricane Sandy, NYC Business Emergency Loans will be available, with loans capped at $10,000. For information, click on this link or call 311. FEMA also provides loans for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance, and for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster. To learn more visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800- 621-3362.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides loans to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed following a Presidential-declared disaster (such as Hurricane Sandy), and whose losses are not covered by insurance. To learn more, contact the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955.

Abounding Grace Ministries “Grace in the Storm” website provides volunteer opportunities, information about donation drop off sites and the recovery efforts in the Lower East Side(LES) visit: Grace in the Storm.

Episcopal Diocese of New York Volunteer Opportunities Sign-up to volunteer online.

Inter-Denominational Disaster Relief & National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) : to sign-up for a volunteer shift at Kingsbridge Armory (GPS Location 10 West 195th Street Bronx, New York 10468) call 718-473-6993 or Text: NALEC to 90210. Websites: www.nalec.org or
www.iddrnalec.org.

New York School of Urban Ministry is housing volunteer teams and deploying them to hard hit areas in Coney Island, Rockaway, Staten Island and elsewhere in the City. Contact NYSUM here.

Red Cross Blood Donations Needed! Currently blood supplies are low in areas hit by the storm, and the Red Cross is asking people to schedule appointments to donate blood in the New York/New Jersey area. To donate, call 800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org.

Inter-Denominational Disaster Relief & National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC): to donate supplies call 718-473-6993 or Text: NALEC to 90210. To make a monetary donation text HOPE to 501501. Websites: www.nalec.org or www.iddrnalec.org .

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Comptroller John C. Liu Food Drive at the Municipal Building benefiting victims of Hurricane Sandy

All items will be donated to the Food Bank For New York City. The items in the highest demand right now are: pouches of tuna, salmon or chicken, tuna or chicken salad meal kits (the kind that include crackers, a can of ready-made salad, & a fork ). Applesauce cups (4-6 ounce), Juice boxes of 100% juice. crackers, breakfast bars/granola bars, bottled water, canned fruit or fruit cocktail in juice, 8oz shelf-stable milk boxes, single-serve cereal boxes/cups, peanut butter and diapers.

Dates & Times: Monday through Friday 9AM to 6PM

Locations:

• Manhattan Borough President’s Office, 19th Floor South Lobby
• Comptroller’s Office, 5th Floor, Room 517
• Public Advocate’s Office, 15th Floor North

Contact: 212-669-8151 or fooddrive@manhattanbp.org

Remember that Hurricane Sandy devastated the Caribbean and claimed many lives before it hit the United States. Operation USA and the International Medical Corps are aiding those affected by Sandy in Haiti and Cuba.

This letter, signed by more than 30 organizations, asks the chairs of committees on health, aging, mental health and disabilities to hold oversight hearings at an appropriate time on our health system’s disaster preparedness and response. The letter highlights concerns about hospitals, nursing homes and adult homes, and also raises concerns about those in the community who need home care, or need special assistance in emergencies. It was developed by New Yorkers for Family & Patient Empowerment, the Center for Independence of the Disabled – New York, NYPIRG, and Disabled In Action – Metropolitan New York. If you have questions or would like to sign on, please contact Sandy Mattei at smattei@nyc.rr.com.

AmeriCares is delivering medicine and other supplies to people affected by the storm. To donate, visit www.americares.org.

Emergency Shelter Information: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/hurricane_shelters.html

Feeding America is distributing water, food and supplies to thousands of people in the storm’s disaster zones. To donate, visit www.feedingamerica.org or call 800-910-5524.

New York State Chaplaincy Task Force can provide spiritual companionship and supplies to those in need. For more information and to obtain services contact Rev. Marcos A. Miranda, President & Commanding Officer at: 718-749-8534 or nysctf@gmail.com. Website: http://www.nysctf.org/disasterrelief.htm

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides information on power outages, how to contact/find loved ones, alerts, flooding recovery tips, and more at: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/event/sandy/sandy-info.cfm.

Notify NYC: The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) wants you to know you that you can register for Notify NYC, a program designed to provide subscribers with real-time information about emergencies throughout all five boroughs. You can even specify which five zip codes interest you most.  Registration is free via www.NYC.gov/notifynyc, by calling 311 or following @NotifyNYC on Twitter. Those interested can sign up to receive updates in the form of e-mails, text messages, recorded phone calls or via Twitter. Whether you want to stay informed about your workplace, your neighborhood or your child’s school, Notify NYC is your source for emergency information.  Also, any agency in the City that serves populations with special needs can participate in the OEM’s special needs outreach initiative, the Advance Warning System (AWS).  See http://www.advancewarningsystemnyc.org/.

Occupy Sandy provides information for those wishing to volunteer, donate or learn more about recover efforts.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand ’s Guide to Disaster Assistance and Relief Funding

Senator Charles Schumer’s Hurricane Sandy recovery website.

Personal hygiene items and food kits are being provided to thousands by World Vision.

#TeamRockaway Facebook Group-Provides information, photos and encouragement for Hurricane Sandy Victims in Far Rockaway.

Other charities and relief groups offering food, medicine and other assistance include Catholic Charities USA, Direct Relief International, and Operation Blessing International.