Go Inspire Go is proud to present this month’s Social Good Spotlight, to raise awareness of organizations doing good in their communities in order to inspire others to take action and ultimately make real social change. For more information and to read past Social Good Spotlights, click here.
GIG SOCIAL GOOD SPOTLIGHT: Nonprofits Providing Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief
Compiled by Marcia Estarija Silva
Please take a moment to think about how you can use your power to help those in need. It’s the simple, small acts that can be a game-changer when it comes to rebuilding lives.
For this Social Good Spotlight, we are featuring local and national nonprofit organizations helping communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Read on to learn about what they’re doing and how you can pitch in.
Atlantic City Rescue Mission
The Atlantic City Rescue Mission meets a critical need in a five-county area of southern New Jersey by serving all populations of homeless men, women and mothers with children and its mission is to provide emergency shelter services and food in addition to its being a full-service, Christian social service organization. It is currently handling a surge of requests and continues to provide shelter, meals, clothes, food-baskets and referrals for housing assistance. Their sleeping dorms are at capacity and overflowing.
Visit www.acrescuemission.org for more information and to make a donation to the Sandy Relief Fund.
Center for Food Action
The Center for Food Action provides emergency food, housing, heating, and utility assistance to low-income people in northern New Jersey. The organization was able to reopen four of its eight sites this past Friday and distribute nearly 60 emergency food packages to hungry families on a first come first serve basis. Two of those sites have electricity and phone services, while the other two are distributing food without power. The situation is critical and food and funds are needed today.
Visit www.cfanj.org to donate money or check out the list of most needed food items.
DOROT
DOROT’s mission is to alleviate social isolation among the elderly and provides services to help them live independently as valued members of the community. DOROT volunteers have helped isolated and homebound seniors in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy by making telephone reassurance calls, delivering emergency meals and supplies, and assisting with delivering meals to its home–delivered meal program participants.
To donate or volunteer, visit www.dorotusa.org
ASPCA
All New York City evacuation centers allow families to bring pets, and the ASPCA has been working closely with them as well as shelters on Long Island to care for more than 400 evacuated pets. Its field team is coordinating animal relief efforts, distributing crates, food, litter and other supplies for thousands of animals throughout the region. The ASPCA works to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide.
Check out the ASCPA blog to get updates from the ground and visit www.aspca.org to make a donation.
Red Cross
Thousands of Red Cross disaster workers are providing aid and comfort to people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Shelters are open across multiple states and feeding operations are ramping up as communities become accessible. Meals are being provided at shelters and mobile kitchens have been deployed. Trailers full of relief supplies have also been deployed to help people as they begin to clean up their homes.
Check out news updates and find out how you can give blood or provide financial support at www.redcross.org.
World Vision
World Vision has distributed relief items – basics like flood clean-up kits, blankets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, food kits, and other essential items like warm clothes and shoes – through local partners in Queens and the Bronx boroughs of New York City and Yonkers, with more distributions scheduled for the days ahead. World Vision teams are assessing other areas of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The organization targets the most impoverished and vulnerable communities in each state and supports local partners – such as churches and community groups – to facilitate clean-up efforts.
Visit www.worldvision.org to find out more about its relief efforts and make a donation to its U.S. Disaster Respond Fund.
Find more Social Good Spotlights here. If you know of an organization that you think should be featured, please help us forward their stories to inspire the world and contact us