There are many opportunities for New Yorkers to help each other in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. We especially love learning about projects that involve kids helping kids, families helping families and schools helping schools. We will continue to share ways your family can assist in Sandy relief efforts in our neighborhood, and beyond. If  you want to share Sandy Relief projects or volunteer opportunities with our community, please contact Lindsay@gymtime.net.

Below is a letter from 12-year old, Gymtime gymnastics team member Emily Parra, and her friend Amanda.

Dear Friends and Families, 

We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and sound. We know that many of you are still experiencing your own hardships and we wish you all the best during these difficult times. It is circumstances such as these that bring New Yorkers together and show how big our hearts truly are. There are many ways to assist those in need with food, clothing and monetary donations and we know that you are all already helping in whatever ways you can. We are writing today to ask for specific donations that will help school children like us affected by Hurricane Sandy.

As most of you are aware, over 65 schools in NYC are closed due to Sandy damage and are set to re-open this week in other school buildings across the city. 30,000+ school children and their teachers will be showing up to attend school at alternate sites. This must be scary and difficult for these kids.  Please help in any way that you can by donating the following items so that the kids can have some normalcy at school over the coming weeks and months while they are displaced from their schools. We are collecting:

  • Writing paper and drawing paper
  • Pens, pencils, markers, crayons
  • Notebooks, note pads
  • Folders
  • Graph paper
  • Workbooks or coloring books (we will take new or old ones that still have available pages to work on) appropriate for grades PK-8

Please drop off items from now until December 14th in boxes or bags marked to either:

  • 444 East 86th Street  “Cavaliero” 
  • 177 East 77th Street, marked “Parra.”

If you need to drop off at a West Side location or if you are available to help with distribution, collection, or have corporate contacts that can help, please email: mindyrobin@yahoo.com. Please feel free to forward this email to all your friends and family.

We thank you in advance for any donation you can make. 

Warmly,

Emily Parra and Amanda Cavaliero 

Related Posts:

  1. Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts: How to Help
  2. Give Thanks by Giving Back!