Adventure to Donate in Manhattan!!

I made it into Manhattan for the first time in over a week!!!!!!!!

Let's not lose focus here. While incredibly exciting, my journey into the city revolved around donating batteries, diapers, and wipes to families in dire need of basic living needs. We'll begin the journey with my roommate at Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn. We were itching to get out the house and help in a concrete way after our excursion to Red Hook the day before. So we set out to Target to buy the supplies. My friends Liz Dunn Ruiz and Courtney Ferrell were donating too!

First, we had to brave the subways for the first time in over a week. It was scary they were still being worked on, but we had to take our chances. Let's hope it works!! We had to take the 2 train LOCAL (that's right, I said LOCAL) into Manhattan. We didn't complain about the extra 20 stops that were added on to our journey. We had a purpose, to help those in need.

Megan & I headed to Target at the Atlantic Terminal mall right by the new Barclay's Sports Arena (home to the Brooklyn Nets now) to get the goods we needed. Don't let this picture fool you, it was mobbed.

30 D batteries? Check. 45 AA batteries? Check. 2 packs of diapers and 2 packs of wipes? Check.

The first time in the train in over a week. Hello Manhattan!

We showed up at Blarney Stone where Lauren had set up the upstairs bar with longs tables categorized by supplies. Is that all the space she had?

Nope, we found her on the opposite side organizing boxes of materials. 

Thank you to the Dame, Malmstedt, and Richmond families, along with Dena from Long Island and Carrie Tate's family in Las Vegas for helping Megan & I get all of these supplies for families in need!

Lauren is going to drive with her friends to the places in most need. First, they are going to Staten Island to visit her friend who's house was destroyed. They are going to check in with her donation station to give whatever they have the need for. Then, they will drive around the island to donation stations to give help with whatever has been donated. She has coordinated these trips with other friends to reach the hardest hit places in New Jersey, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island as well. I have asked her to send pictures when she delivers the items, so look for those pictures tomorrow or Tuesday. SO AWESOME to see the goods actually go where I want them to, can't wait.

My quarter master for the next few days!

Like hell I'm commuting from Brooklyn tomorrow! I called up Eric Dinowitz, my super awesome coworker at school, to see if he would provide me quarters for the next few days until the A train gets up and running. Otherwise, it'd be at least 2 1/2 hours on the train in the morning going LOCAL (that's right, I said LOCAL) to the BRONX from BROOKLYN (barf). Thank goodness he lives two blocks from school.

So, here's my plan for the week:

1. I'm going to educate the crap out of my students tomorrow. If the cashier at Target has no clue as to the devastation that has occurred (she asked me, "Why is everyone buying batteries today? What's going on?), then my students probably don't know since they live in the Bronx. 
2. Bronx Theatre High School is going to organize the crap out of volunteering activities. A teacher at our school has a sister in law on Staten Island, and we are going to do some serious activities to continue providing aide. I will be posting on this blog throughout the week to let you guys see what we're doing.
3. I'm going to vote on Tuesday and hope to God that Barack Obama gets re-elected. Yo, if you're reading this, vote. Please. 
4. I am re-instating Halloween on Wednesday. That's right, get those costumes out. Wednesday is Ms. Dame's birthday, so say hello to Dame-o-ween. I'll be dressing up as a zombie and handing out candy. Let's see if I can get everyone else to do it too.

The pictures below were taken by my friends that volunteered today in the Rockaways that I wrote about in my previous post. Don't be fooled, the need for assistance is overwhelming. While the storm is over, please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers <3