Lower Manhattan Open Hearts is collecting donations for their warm workwear clothing drive for residents of a downtown women’s shelter.

Items Needed

New or gently-used business casual clothing of all sizes, including but not limited to:

• Cardigans/sweaters

• Vests

• Collared or plain shirts

• Dress pants

• Blazers

• Coats and jackets

NEW:

• Socks

• Thermalwear

• Underwear

Donations of clothing across the gender spectrum are welcome. Please make sure all clothing is washed before donating!

How to Donate

Two options:

1. Drop off donations in Harlem on February 18, 19, or 20 from 10:30am-3pm. Contact jayme@openheartsinitiative.org to register to drop off and get the details.

2. Pick up available in Queens and Brooklyn through February 23. Contact mahirahbillah@gmail.com to schedule a pickup.

Our Upper East Side Open Hearts chapter is organizing a Valentine’s day free store, offering winter clothing, toiletries, toys, snacks, resources, and more. Everything is free, and all are welcome!

I want to volunteer at the Free Store:

We need LOTS of volunteers on the day of the Free Store, including for shifts before and after the event. Sign up here

Douglaston Open Hearts and Zion Episcopal Church are organizing a Free Store for the residents of the Douglaston Women’s Shelter.

Donate

We’re looking for new or gently-used women’s spring clothing and brand-new toiletries. Please note: we are NOT accepting items outside of these categories.

Drop off your donations at the parish office of Zion Episcopal Church (Church St. and Orient Pl. in Douglaston) on Tuesdays through Fridays, 9am-1pm, before February 16.

Or donate from our Amazon wishlist!

Questions? Reach out to Jayme at jayme@openheartsinitiative.org.

Upper West Side Open Hearts is putting together Valentine’s care kits for families living at several shelters in the neighborhood.

Here’s how to help:

Purchase stocking items from our wishlist. (LAST DAY TO PURCHASE: 2/7)

Donate via PayPal to help us fill any gaps. (LAST DAY TO DONATE: 2/9)

Lower Manhattan Open Hearts is organizing a holiday gift drive and fun gathering for neighbors at a local Safe Haven shelter.

• Volunteer at the holiday gift distribution and gathering at the Safe Haven on Friday 12/20, 7pm-9pm. Location provided upon RSVP. To RSVP, email Jayme at jayme@openheartsinitiative.org.

Upper West Side Open Hearts is organizing a Thanksgiving pie distribution at the Newton Hotel shelter. Here’s how to help:

• Bring a pie to the Newton Hotel shelter on Monday, November 25th from 3:30pm-5:30pm! To sign up and get address details, email Caroline at caroline@openheartsinitiative.org. Please sign up in advance so we know how many pies to expect.

• Donate here to help us fill in the gaps and make sure all our neighbors at the shelter get some seasonal treats!

Our Upper East Side Open Hearts chapter is organizing a summer free store, offering summer clothing, toiletries, toys, snacks, resources, and more. Everything is free, and all are welcome.

I want to shop at the Free Store:

Great! The Free Store will be open for shopping on Saturday, July 13 from 1pm-3pm, at the Church of Heavenly Rest (1085 5th Ave, at E. 90th St in Manhattan). The church is near the M1, M2, M3, and M4 bus stops on E. 90th St and the 4/5/6 train stop at E. 86th St.

I want to volunteer at the Free Store:

We need LOTS of volunteers on the day of the Free Store, including for shifts before and after the event. Get more info and sign up here.

I want to donate items to the Free Store:

There are two ways to donate.

Drop off donations: We're looking for new or gently used summer clothing, toiletries (unopened only!), and toys and games (portable is preferred). These items ONLY can be dropped off at the Church of Heavenly Rest (1085 5th Ave in Manhattan), ONLY on Friday, July 12 from 4pm-6pm and Saturday, July 13 from 11am-1pm. Help us get a sense of what donations will be coming in by filling out the sign up form here.

Purchase items for donation from the wishlist: Click here to purchase items for donation from our Amazon wishlist, which will be shipped directly to the Church of Heavenly Rest (our host for the Free Store event). 

The OHI Midtown chapter is gathering at Pando Park (450 Park Avenue) on Thursday, June 27th from 5:30-7pm to collect more books for the drive at the Ramada Inn women's shelter! They are looking for books in English, Spanish and Mandarin. Drop off your books and/or stay for a drink to meet other members of Open Hearts! Email caroline@openheartsinitative.org if you can make it!

Douglaston Open Hearts + Zion Episcopal Church are offering a Free Store for the residents of the Douglaston Women's Shelter on April 27. Here’s how you can help:

Volunteer at the Free Store

Email info@openheartsinitiative.org and we’ll get you plugged in!

Sort donations

Help sort donations at Zion Episcopal Church on the following dates:

• Wednesday, April 17, 9:30am-12pm

• Friday, April 19, 9:30am-12pm

• Wednesday, April 24, 9:30am-12pm

• Friday, April 26, 9:30am-12pm

Donate items

Purchase items for donation through the Amazon wishlist (these will be delivered directly to the church), or drop off gently used or new items (women’s spring clothing and brand new toiletries only!) at Zion Episcopal Church’s parish office, from Tuesdays-Fridays 9am-1pm.

Over the last few months, new neighbors have moved into a Safe Haven shelter on the Upper West Side. We’re excited to have them as neighbors and are organizing a sidewalk resource distribution and community-building event!

4 Ways to Help

1. Send items for the distribution by ordering from our Amazon wishlist! (Items will be shipped directly to one of our volunteers, who will deliver them to the event.) The Amazon wishlist is HERE.

2. Send a financial donation to be used on supplies! You can send donations through PayPal HERE.

3. Drop off winter gear and shoes! If you have adult-sized winter gear (hats, gloves, scarves, etc.) or shoes that you’d like to donate for our resource distribution, send an email to Bennett (bennett@openheartsinitiative.org) and he’ll follow up with you. NOTE: If you’re looking to donate a winter coat for folks at the Safe Haven, please direct it to the coat drive organized by our friends at B’nai Jeshurun, which folks at the Safe Haven will have access to!

4. Volunteer with us at the distribution! If you’re available on the afternoon of Thursday, December 14th, and want to meet new neighbors and distribute resources to Safe Haven residents, send an email to Bennett (bennett@openheartsinitiative.org) and he’ll follow up with you.