Alphabet City Rescue Mission: LOVE NYC

Well,

I'm sure you guys are all like "Oh really? Another email from this girl?!" but I thought I would share this since it's pretty awesome/crazy news about this fund.

The guys at GoFundMe got a phone call from NPR a few days ago. NPR is going to do a radio program on fundraising in the aftermath of Sandy, and they asked the guys that manage this site to suggest someone who was successful in fundraising efforts. My page got selected!

I'm meeting up with the crew from NPR this afternoon at 2pm and I'm going to take them all over Alphabet City, to the places where we hung out after the storm ... and to meet some of the people we have helped with this $10 grand.

One of the places we are going today is to the offices of the Lower East Side Girl's Club, which are located on Avenue D, right next to my building. They have a bakery called The Sweet Things Bakeshop that was completely destroyed during the flood. That bakery is an entrepreneurial/mentorship program for the girls living in lower-income situations in our neighborhood. We are giving them a check for $1,000 today to help build the bakery back.

I'm really excited to be on NPR and that our little area will get some cool press that will hopefully inspire more people to help out down here. We are still getting back on our feet thanks to you guys. I'll post the broadcast when it runs.
Wish me luck on NPR and thank god it's radio because I suck at being on camera.

All the best!
Jenny

Hi Donation People!

I just got the final check in the mail today, and I'm closing this account right after posting this email to all of you.

I just wanted to send a final message and tell you how thankful I am ... how thankful so many people are that don't even know you guys who donated. I know it's made their Thanksgiving because it's really defined mine this year. I actually just gave a $200 Target gift card to a family who lost everything. It went out this morning from the fund. Good things are still happening daily with this money.

This world is a really small, connected place. I think in the day-to-day it's easy to forget that. So, in a way, I'm thankful for Hurricane Sandy (even as I sit here with no heat - yes, it's out again today in my apt), because she was a reminder ... a terrible refresher ... an unwanted (but possibly needed) reset button for us here in NYC.

I'm reminded: that my neighbors are my neighbors, whether I know their names or not. Every day is a new chance to get to know them.

I'm refreshed: in my outlook on what's important in the long run and what's not. And in hot showers. Literally.

I'm reset: in heading into 2013, loving the memories of a week without power or cell phones or those modern conveniences we all take for granted. My friends took me in and we ate on the street and we learned to love NYC in a way we never knew possible.

I hope all of you are headed into a warm house today, to eat food and to be with people who love you.
I'm headed to a bar filled full of my neighbors. We will watch the parade, eat a giant turkey and drink beer mid-day.

Thanks for saving our village. We love you for it. And if you want to donate more, please hit up Occupy Sandy. Those guys do great work.

Have a wonderful Turkey Day
Jenny

Hey everyone ...

ATTN: THIS PAGE IS CLOSED.

We are so happy and thankful for all of the donations. Right now, I'm trying to manage these funds we've raised and make sure they go to those most in need, with every dollar stretching as far as it can go.

My personal goal was to raise $10k. We've hit that and then some, so our fundraising is complete. I know some of you might wish to contribute, but it's my hope that you will now turn and give it to some other organization. I'm a one-woman operation and my collecting has come to a wonderful (yet necessary) end. I simply don't have the ability to manage any more than I'm doing right now.

So, if you still wish to give, it's my hope that you will give to Occupy Sandy. They have been a crucial, wonderful part of the recovery efforts. You can find them here:

http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/

Another great one is the Brooklyn Recovery Fund:

http://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/brooklyn-recovery-fund-1


Thanks again for all the donations.
Love
Jenny