Book Drive for the Ramada Shelter
Midtown Open Hearts is organizing a book drive for our neighbors at the shelter at the Ramada on W. 44th St!
Drop off books for adults in English, Spanish, or Cantonese at the Ramada (343 W. 44th St, between 8th and 9th Ave in Manhattan) at the front desk!
Safety Kit Fundraiser for Bronx Neighbors
Some of our Bronx chapter members, in conjunction with medical students at Albert Einstein, have organized a fundraiser for safety kits for unhoused Bronx neighbors! Each kit will contain hand sanitizer, socks, food, water, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, and will be distributed directly on the streets. Use the link below to donate if you’re interested, or to share it with your networks!
Stroller Fundraiser
Upper East Side Open Hearts, in collaboration with the Movement for Justice in El Barrio, is raising money to provide baby strollers and carriages for families living in the HERRC on E. 97th and 3rd Ave. Use the button below to donate!
Douglaston April Free Store
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.
Toiletry Drive for the Newton Hotel
The UWS Open Hearts shelter support team for the Newton Hotel is gathering NEW toiletries for asylum-seeking families living at the Newton Hotel.
Baby Supplies Drive for Midtown Asylum Seekers
NOTE: The drive has been extended through April 5!
Our Midtown Open Hearts chapter is collaborating with Assembly Member Harvey Epstein and State Senator Liz Krueger to collect baby supplies for a neighborhood asylum-seeker shelter!
Drop off items for donation
Donate NEW undershirts (sizes 0-4T), socks, strollers, car seats, diapers, wipes, bottles, baby blankets, baby carriers and backpacks, and baby formula by dropping off at Assembly Member Harvey Epstein’s office (107 Avenue B in Manhattan) from 11am-4pm on the following dates: March 11-15, March 18-22, March 25-29, and April 1-5.
Purchase items for donation through the wishlist
Use the online wishlist to purchase items for donation that will be shipped directly to Assembly Member Epstein's office, and from there will be distributed to neighbors at the shelter.
Donate money to support outstanding needs
Donate here to contribute funds that we'll use to purchase any additional items needed to fill the gaps after the other donations come in.
West 83rd St. Safe Haven Resource Distribution + Community-Building Event
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
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.
Send a financial donation to be used on supplies! You can send donations through PayPal HERE.
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!
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.
Newton Winter Holiday Drive
Our Upper West Side Open Hearts shelter support team for the Newton Hotel shelter is continuing to organize after a successful event last month! Now, they're gathering toys, gifts, and winter gear for the children at the shelter.
To purchase toys and gifts from the wishlist, which will be shipped to one of our volunteers, click here.
Want to help distribute items on Wednesday 12/20 from 4pm-6pm? Send us an email at info@openheartsinitiative.org. Spanish speakers are especially needed!
UES Holiday Gift Drive
Upper East Side Open Hearts is organizing a holiday gift drive for children at a local shelter! We have 200+ wishes to fulfill and need all the help we can get! Here's how you can help:
Donate
Option #1 - HIGHEST PRIORITY: “Adopt” a family to provide holiday gifts! Sign up using this form to be assigned to a family and tasked with providing holiday gifts for them based on the children's wishlists!
Option #2: Don't have time to shop for gifts? Donate through this GoFundMe set up by UES volunteer Maria--she'll use the funds to shop for gifts for any children who aren't able to be matched to a donor.
Volunteer
We anticipate that we'll need extra help assembling and delivering the donated gifts! If you're available on the weekend of December 16-17 and/or on an evening between December 18-20, let Bennett know at bennett@openheartsinitiative.org, and we'll be in touch when we nail down exact details.
Midtown Book Drive
Midtown Open Hearts is organizing a book drive for neighbors at the Hudson Family Residence in collaboration with Manhattan Community Board 4! We're looking for books for children and teens of all ages--in English, Spanish, or both. All books must be in excellent condition or new. You can bring your books directly to the Hudson Family Residence at 440 W. 41st St (between Dyer Ave and 10th Ave) in Manhattan. If you live in Midtown and have books to donate but are unable to drop off, please reach out to us at info@openheartsinitiative.org and we can try to arrange a pickup.
Donation Drive for The Andrews Safe Haven
Lower Manhattan Open Hearts is organizing a donation drive for our neighbors at the Andrews! The Andrews is a Safe Haven offering temporary housing for our homeless neighbors as they navigate a pathway to permanent housing. This is a very specialized type of transitional housing, designed to accommodate homeless individuals who do not make use of traditional shelter.
We are holding a donation drive for the below items:
-Sunscreen
-Hygiene products
-Headphones
-Underwear
-Undershirts
-Sweatpants
You can make a purchase directly from our Amazon wish list at bit.ly/andrews-donations-drive. The items will be sent directly to Michelle Adams at The Andrews.
If you already have items on hand that you'd like to donate in person, please email Elisa at elisamuyl@gmail.com.
Welcome Kits for W. 83rd St Safe Haven
Help welcome new neighbors on the Upper West Side! UWS Open Hearts and B’nai Jeshurun are organizing welcome kits for residents who will be moving into the Breaking Ground Safe Haven at 106-108 W. 83rd St. We will show our neighbors that they are welcome here and provide some commonly needed items!
Donate from our wishlist
Note: Please order ASAP to ensure the items arrive in time to be assembled next week. The shipping address will appear as "Attn: Kiana Davis's Gift Registry Address”—this is the correct address.
Help assemble kits on Wednesday, August 9th
We’ll be assembling the kits on Wednesday, August 9th, from 6:30pm-8pm in the chapel at B’nai Jeshurun (270 W. 89th St in Manhattan). Come join us to help put together the welcome kits and create homemade cards for our new neighbors! Let us know you’ll be there by clicking the link below, which will automatically create an email to be sent, or you can just send an email to info@openheartsinitiative.org using your email client of choice :)
Douglaston Welcome Kits
Douglaston Open Hearts is putting together welcome kits for new neighbors who will be moving into a shelter on Northern Boulevard! Several items are still needed to complete the welcome kits.
Upper West Side Spring Event + Free Store
There’s an Upper West Side Spring Event + Free Store coming up on Saturday, April 22nd, 10am-12pm! All items are free, and everyone is welcome.
¡Habrá una encuentro de primavera + tienda gratuita en el Upper West Side el sábado 22 de abril, 10am-12pm! Todos los artículos son gratuitos y todxs son bienvenidxs.
Want to donate?
Please donate gently used or new:
Seasonal casual clothing for adults, kids, and babies (in good condition only) - men’s clothing is especially needed!
Spring jackets, shoes, backpacks
New toiletries (soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, hand lotion)
New underwear, diapers, hygiene products
Drop off items at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 W. 86th St) at one of two times: on Saturday 4/22 from 9am-11:30am, or on Friday 4/21 from 2pm-4pm. No drop-offs outside of those times will be accepted. We will NOT accept furniture, off-season clothing, or stained/damaged items.
Want to volunteer?
We’re looking for folks who can help set up, assist, and pack up the Free Store on Saturday, April 22nd, 9am-1pm. We’re also looking for Spanish speakers! To sign up to volunteer (or with any questions about donations) use the button below to send an email to our UWS Kindness team!
Toiletry Drive Drop-Off
UWSers! Do you have new or unopened toiletries to donate?
Stop by our table outside 106 W. 83rd St on MONDAY, APRIL 3 from 4:30pm-5:30pm to drop them off!
If you prefer to drop off earlier in the day on Monday, please email donations@openheartsinitiative.org to schedule a drop-off.
Upper West Side Valentine's Event + Free Store
Want to shop?
UWS Open Hearts is organizing a Free Store on Saturday, February 11th from 10am-12pm. The store will be located indoors at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 W. 86th St). The store will be offering winter clothing, toiletries, a Valentine's gift station with cards to make for a loved one, resources and information, and more! Everyone is welcome, and all items are free!
UWS Open Hearts está organizando una tienda gratuita el sábado 11 de febrero de 10 a. m. a 12 p. m. La tienda estará ubicada en el interior de la Iglesia de San Pablo y San Andrés (263 W. 86th St). La tienda ofrecerá ropa de invierno, artículos de la higiene personal, una estación de regalos de San Valentín con tarjetas para un ser querido, información y recursos, ¡y más! ¡Todxs son bienvenidxs y todos los artículos son gratis!
Want to donate items?
Please donate gently used or new:
Winter clothes, coats, shoes, and accessories for adults + kids (men's clothing is especially needed!)
Toiletries (new or unopened only)
Valentine's Day candy and cards (empty/unused)
You can also purchase items for donation using this wishlist.
Items may be dropped off at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 W. 86th St) on Saturday 2/11 from 9am-11:30am. No early drop-offs will be accepted. We will NOT accept furniture, off-season clothing, or stained/damaged items.
Want to volunteer at the Free Store?
We're looking for folks who can help out at the Free Store on Saturday, February 11th in the morning. To sign up to volunteer or to ask any questions about donations, contact the UWS Kindness Committee at donations@openheartsinitiative.org.
Upper East Side Winter Free Store
Want to Shop?
When: Saturday, December 10th 2pm-4pm
Where: Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 E. 80th St (between Park and Madison Ave)
Want to Donate?
To Donate: Donations can be dropped off at the Manhattan Church of Christ, 48 E. 80th Street, on Saturdays from 8AM-2PM between now and 12/10/22. Please notify Carl Garrison when you will be dropping off items by texting 917-714-4026. When you arrive, text Carl again and use the buzzer to buzz the church.
We will NOT accept furniture, off-season clothing, or stained/damaged items. We are also including a holiday section where shoppers can select a gift, so unused gift items are greatly appreciated! If you have any questions about donations, please email info@openheartsinitiative.org.
We are looking for the items listed below.
Gently used/new adult, kid, and baby SEASONAL (winter!) clothing and accessories: coats, gloves, hats, boots (men’s clothing is especially needed)
NEW adult underwear/socks
NEW or UNOPENED toiletries: soap, deodorant, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair products, cosmetics bags, shaving cream, etc.
Unwrapped new (or unused/unopened) holiday gift items
You can also purchase items for donation from our wishlist, which will be delivered to the event.
Want to Volunteer?
To volunteer: We need LOTS of volunteers to help on the day of the event!
Sign up to volunteer here or reach out to info@openheartsinitiative.org if you would like to volunteer on December 10th!
UWS Open Hearts Holiday Event + Free Store
Want to shop?
When: Saturday, December 10th, 10am-12pm
Where: Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (W. 86th St and West End Ave in Manhattan - near the 1 train stop on 86th St)
Offering (one bag per shopper):
Winter clothing
Toiletries
A holiday gift station with wrapping paper and cards to prepare a gift for a loved one
Resources and information
Snacks
Want to donate?
Please donate gently used or new:
Winter clothes, coats, shoes, and accessories for adults and kids (men's clothing is especially needed!)
Toiletries (NEW or unopened only)
Holiday gifts + toys
Wrapping paper
Holiday cards (empty/unused)
Where and when to drop off donations: Saturday 12/10, 9am-11:30am (no early drop-offs accepted), at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew (263 W. 86th St, at West End Ave). We will NOT accept furniture, off-season clothing, or stained or damaged items.
You can also purchase items for donation using the wishlist--wishlist items will be delivered to the Free Store.
Want to volunteer?
Our last UWS Free Store was the biggest one yet, and we need LOTS of volunteers for this one to ensure it runs smoothly. If you are available to help out at the Free Store on Saturday 12/10 for any amount of time between 9am and 12pm, please reach out to donations@openheartsinitiative.org.