An update from the President of the Bowery Mission:
We are happy to report power was restored to The Bowery Mission tonight, but the relief needed does not end as the power goes on. Our neighbors and local grocery stores have emptied their refrigerators of spoiled food, making food in the neighborhood scarce.
Because The Bowery Mission was the first to turn on the lights in darkened city blocks, people are coming to us searching for a warm meal and shelter from the cold weather. Homeless individuals evacuated from city shelters and are coming to us for food. We are serving 3 times as many people with overnight emergency shelter.
Even though we were better prepared than most, we need your help now to meet pressing needs. The Bowery Mission is being blessed by generous friends like you and is distributing food and water to other neighboring agencies. The Bowery Mission Transitional Center on Avenue D has also become an informal distribution point for our 12,000 neighbors in the Lillian Wald and Jacob Riis housing projects.
The Bowery Mission will continue to provide much-needed help in the days to come, as we have for 133 years: with your help. Here are our most pressing needs:
Financial Donations will help with the increased costs of restocking our pantry, gasoline purchased during the loss of power, and pumping out a flooded basement at Avenue D.
Bottled water (especially larger sizes) and packaged drinks.
Packaged food that does not require cooking
Fresh fruit in large quantities
High-energy food like granola bars, nuts, etc.
Sandwiches ready to be distributed
Amidst these exceptional needs, we are also preparing to serve 5,000 on Thanksgiving Day in less than three weeks, and Sandy has stretched our resources and increased the need!
Thank you for your generous support and keeping The Bowery Mission, and the homeless and displaced in New York City in your prayers.
