Anyone who would like to donate non-perishable food, water, blankets, flash lights or batteries, GOLES is accepting them at their office (169 Avenue B) today from Noon to 7 pm and the rest of this week until power is restored in buildings that still don't have power due to flood damaged basements. Volunteers are welcome, even if you can only spare an hour.
We ran for, and caught an infrequent bus. Surprisingly, although packed, people cheerfully made room for us. At some point, a rumor circulated that it was the bus driver's birthday. The entire bus sang "happy birthday," followed by "hip, hip hooray." The bus driver got on the loud speaker and said his birthday wasn't until March. We all had a good laugh, and felt better for it.
Gardeners showed up with their tools and some even brought their children to help clean up. After several hours of work, the tree and other items that had been damaged from the storm were on their way to being cleaned up. The tree fell across many garden plots, however, and many were completely destroyed. It will take months, if not years, to restore this East Village oasis.
No one was in the studio and the surrounding businesses and people living in the building are all okay. So we are counting our blessings that the extent of the damage is limited to our physical space.
While the damage is extensive, we are hopeful that we will be up and running again in a few weeks time. We are so thankful for the outpouring of support that we have already received. It's been truly incredible how many hugs, phone calls, texts, offers we have had so far. This is when you really understand how powerful our community truly is.
Passing the gas station ... I heard a policeman screaming 'shut your door' to a woman driver one car away from tanking up. I guess she didn't cause the next thing I heard was her screaming. When I doubled back to see what the commotion was, she was on the ground getting cuffed! I was shocked to see such a display of force upon a mother in front of her two kids.
