Filtering by: “UES”
Upper East Side Valentine’s Free Store
Feb
22
UES, Donation

Upper East Side Valentine’s Free Store

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

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 winter clothing, toiletries (unopened only!), and toys and games (portable is preferred). These items can be dropped off any time 2/17 - 2/21 in Harlem, or from 9 - 5 on 2/21 on the UES (address upon RSVP). Sign up to donate here

Purchase items for donation from the wishlist:  Click here to purchase items for the hygiene kits to be sent directly to the church. Or donate to the paypal for the snack table here!

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Biweekly Shoe Transport
Jan
24
to Feb 28
UES, UWS, Midtown

Biweekly Shoe Transport

After one of our chapter members facilitated a great connection with Tip Top Shoes on W. 72nd St, our Upper West Side, Midtown, and Upper East Side chapters have been working together to regularly transport these shoe donations to a local clothing closet that serves homeless neighbors.

Every other Friday, volunteers pick up shoes from Tip Top Shoes and transport them to the clothing closet on the Upper East Side. It's been a big success so far, and we're so grateful for the generosity of Tip Top Shoes!

We're looking for more folks who are available midday on Fridays to join the rotation of volunteers who help to transport the shoes. Typically only one volunteer is needed each time, so signing up is not committing to picking up shoes every time--it just means we'll keep you on the list and reach out to see if you're available! A car is not required, but you should be prepared to transport a bag of shoes in whatever way works for you.

If you're interested in helping with this, please reach out to Caroline at caroline@openheartsinitiative.org and share your phone number, and she'll add you to the list to help out.

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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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