JOIN OUR EFFORTS to help displaced families in the N.Y. area hit hard by Hurricane Sandy….
There are several ways you can help a family recover from the devastation brought by Hurricane Sandy:
1. Sponsor a Specific Family in need during this critical time by purchasing and sending much needed basic essentials as they rebuild their lives (SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS).
2. Or, Make a Targeted Donation, and we’ll do the shopping for you!
Our newest Hurricane Sandy effort is the “Volunteer Shopper” program. We’ll use your donation to shop for Hurricane Sandy families that we’ve identified as needing help. Based on a questionnaire they fill out or on a phone interview, we’ll shop, pack, and ship the much needed items they’ve lost. Any amount is welcome.
3. For Corporate Givers or other groups…
For corporations, workplaces or other large groups working together, who prefer their donated funds be used to help one or more families, it works the same way as above. We’ll do the shopping and sending, and also keep you updated with complete details (to share) of what your donation has purchased for the family or families we’re helping on your behalf. Email us for more information at pkoner@family-to-family.org.
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Or, give offline. Send a donation through the mail to:
Family-to-Family
P.O. Box 255
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. 10706
How to Sponsor a Displaced Family:
As more families begin to return home or transition into temporary housing, the challenge to re-build their lives will be enormous.
Many will be in need of the most basic items: clothing, sheets, towels, pillows and blankets, dishes …a teapot….everything! For some, all basic living essentials will be needed, from a child’s backpack to a toaster. But even for those families that lost some but not all of their possessions, your help is much needed.
Here’s what you can do to help:
Using the Family-to-Family one-to-one model, let us connect you and one other donor with a family in need of everyday basic essentials as they try to get back on their feet. In an effort to create community, we’re linking two donors with each hurricane family, both for the benefit of the recipients and to make it a little easier on those of you who sign up to help. (If you plan to sign up with a friend only one of you needs to sign up; there’s a space for a 2nd name on the form.)
We’re continuing to gather names of displaced families from grassroots organizers on the ground in Breezy Point, The Rockaways, Broad Channel, Staten Island, Gerritsen Beach (Brooklyn) and Long Island. Each family is filling out a questionnaire listing the items they need the most. Most of these families are blue-collar families who were just getting by; consequently, this disaster has put them over the edge financially.
Please know that we have relied on on-site volunteers in the affected areas to provide us with recommendations of families that are truly in need. It’s important to note that while many families have lost absolutely everything, others have partially flooded homes with less damage but have requested assistance. We aren’t in a position to see first hand the degree of loss each family has suffered. Additionally, some families might have some form of insurance that will cover part of their loss, although few have flood insurance.
Over the next few weeks, (after you sign up with us), we’ll contact you and your co-sponsor with the name and address of one of these families to help, as well as a copy of the questionnaire they filled out. When you receive this information, we ask you to email or send the family you are sponsoring a note introducing yourself, and during the upcoming critical period, coordinate with your co-sponsor to send what you each can from the list. (If you are communicating with your family through the mail, please send a self-addressed, stamped return envelope so they can easily reply to you.)
Some tips:
- Since you will be shipping/posting, keep things light.
- DO NOT SEND CASH. If you’d like, send a visa/mastercard gift card, a gas gift card…or as you receive information from your family a gift card to a local Wal-Mart, Kmart etc.
As your family settles in, try and keep communication flowing and help them think through what they might need in the coming weeks or months. Remember, the trauma will be with these families for quite a long time.
Please be aware that while donations made to Family-to-Family are tax deductible, donations sent directly to a family are not deductible.
TO GET STARTED, FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW.
We’ll contact you as soon as we can with information about your adopted family.
Family-to-Family, Inc. is a not-for-profit company organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York. Given the dire circumstances created by Hurricane Sandy, Family-to-Family has been working with, and relying upon, a number of on the ground, grassroots, community organizers, community volunteers, and community leaders (e.g. firehouse chiefs, local government officials, neighborhood groups) in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. These community leaders and organizers have provided Family-to-Family with the names of families who have sought their assistance. Family-to-Family has established this forum for evacuees to communicate their needs. Because of the exigent circumstances surrounding this disaster, Family-to-Family has not performed the in-depth screening that it customarily performs to determine eligibility for aid. Accordingly, Family-to-Family makes no representations and assumes no liability regarding the actual needs of the requests made through this forum, and cannot reimburse donors for any donations made to a family that misrepresents itself. Family-to-Family continues to act on good faith that all of the names provided to us and requests made through our forum represent families who do require the type of support we offer. However, we recommend that you act with caution in determining the legitimate needs of families making requests on this forum. In the event Family-to-Family learns of any malfeasance or fraud, we will provide sending families with this information and will assist them in connecting with another family truly in need.
