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Holiday gift drive for kids on the UES!
Nov
11
to Dec 19
UES

Holiday gift drive for kids on the UES!

Please consider helping spread some holiday joy and welcoming new families to our neighborhood this year! Upper East Side Open Hearts is excited to deliver toys and other gifts to families seeking asylum who are living in a temporary shelter in the neighborhood. Our team has collected wishes from each family including gift ideas for children and adults. 

  • Sign up here and you will be sent your child/family's wish list within 48 hours.

  • Interested in supporting but don't have time to shop/ship a gift - consider donating to our GoFundMe here and we'll do the shopping for you! 

Questions? email HolidayGifts2025@gmail.com!

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Back-to-School Distribution on the UES
Sep
20
UES

Back-to-School Distribution on the UES

Upper East Side Open Hearts is looking for volunteers to help us distribute back-to-school donations to families a shelter on the Upper East Side! Distribution will take place on-site at a shelter on the Upper East Side on Friday 9/20 from 3pm-5pm. If you can help out, RSVP to Caroline at caroline@openheartsinitiative.org.

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Upper East Side Free Store
Jul
13
UES, Donation

Upper East Side Free Store

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). 

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Stroller Fundraiser
May
1
to Jul 31
UES, Donation

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!

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UES Holiday Gift Drive
Dec
1
to Dec 15
Donation, UES

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

  1. 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!

  2. 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.

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Upper East Side Winter Free Store
Dec
10
UES, Donation

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!

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