Tis The Season

To Volunteer! [View this email in your browser]( Dear {NAME}, - We’re happy to announce that the work on Albemarle Playground is finished! The contractor wrapped a few small items this past week, and the site is now fully open to the public. Stop by to see the improvements! - As RSV, the flu, and COVID-19 continue to spread, it’s more important than ever to get your flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster. [Both are free and available near you!]( Volunteer Opportunities As we move into the holiday season, it’s not only a time for celebration and family but also a time to give back. Our office is serving as a drop-off location for the Camp Friendship Toy Drive and the People in Need Toy Drive, as well as working with Muslims Giving Back to host our monthly food distribution in Kensington (if you’re in town, we’re looking for volunteers to help out). In the spirit of the season, we wanted to highlight three organizations we’re working closely with groups that need volunteers and donations to help our neighbors in need this holiday season. So, if you have a few free hours, please help out these great organizations! Have some holiday leftovers you don’t want? Drop by any of the [community fridges across the City]( ensure your food doesn’t go to waste. Fridges are also looking for fresh produce, pads, detergent, and other useful household items as well. - [CHiPS]( - CHiPS is a local food pantry and shelter in Park Slope that focuses on supporting single mothers and infants. Founded in 1971 by a group of committed neighbors, CHiPS has helped feed and house thousands of Brooklynites in need. The holidays are especially busy for them, and they need help with food and monetary donations, to support their critical work Click on the link above to access their website to learn how to get involved. - [Camp Friendship]( - Camp Friendship is a community organization committed to providing quality, affordable after-school homework help, mentoring, seasonal sports, and summer programming for kids between 5 and 14. Founded in 1973 as a way to raise funds for kids in need of summer camp, the organization has transformed over the years to serve hundreds of our neighbors. Their food pantry is a vital service in District 39, and this year, we’re partnering with them to host a toy drive (you can drop off toys at our [district office]( Park Slope from 9-5 weekdays until 12/15). - [People In Need]( - People In Need was founded in 2016 with the primary goal of helping low-income immigrant families achieve self-sustainability and they have quickly grown over the past few years. They run a food pantry, diaper hub, and food market, and hold a youth program in Brooklyn to help our immigrant communities. There is no shortage of opportunities to get involved with People In Need, so please check them out! Also, we have been told People In Need is especially looking for drivers this holiday season to deliver food to homebound adults, so if you have a car and a few free hours, please sign up. - [Masbia]( - Masbia launched 17 years ago with the goal of ending food insecurity in our City but in a dignified way. The organization launched a soup kitchen with the goal of not just feeding hungry neighbors but ensuring they did so in a thoughtful atmosphere and in an establishment people wanted to return to. In 2009, they expanded their work to include a food pantry with food giveaways to give people the tools they need to cook for themselves. School District 15 Day of Action School District 15 is pleased to announce a Day of Action - A Community Coming Together! This event will be a celebration of District 15 coming together to fight food and clothing insecurity in our community. Up until 12/15, schools across the district will be collecting donations of snacks, new winter accessories, toiletries, and small toys. In District 39, PS 29 is our drop-off site, but you can check out the attached [flier]( for what supplies to bring and additional drop-off locations and times. Time To Get Civically Minded This year, we’re dedicating Participatory Budgeting (PB) to Climate Justice! This means our office is committing $1.5 million to neighborhood climate and environmental projects proposed, vetted, and voted on by you and your neighbors. Ideas have been submitted, and now the next step is convening a group of community members to deliberate and decide on the projects that will go on the ballot! This "Civic Assembly" will have the opportunity to hear presentations from climate experts, government agencies, and Community Based Organizations before discussing collectively which projects will go on to the PB ballot. This model is based on a form of deliberative democracy known as the Citizens Assembly, you can learn more[here](. We’re asking community members to [nominate]( four people from your community (including yourself if you are interested!) to participate in the Civic Assembly by 12/8! After the nomination window closes, we will randomly select delegates from the nominee pool to create the final group (taking demographic and geographic information into consideration). You can nominate folks with this [form](. The time commitment for the Civic Assembly will be four meetings, each will be two hours long, from mid-Jan to early February. Community Bulletin - As asylum seekers continue to be bused into our City by callous Republican Governors, our City and immigrant advocacy groups are collecting supplies to help migrants in need this winter. Check out [this information]( on how you can support our City’s newest residents. - Construction at the old Key Foods at 120 5th Ave is underway! We’ve been alerted by the applicant that pile driving is expected to last around 3 months at the development site between 7 AM and 6 PM from Monday through Friday. Seismic monitors have been installed to monitor the situation, and we’re aware that noise may become a concern over the coming months. If there are any questions regarding construction activity on the site, please note that the construction hotline is operational and can be reached at (347) 773-1174. - If you’re a homeowner with a household income of $250k or less and you were not able to apply for your $150 Property Tax Rebate, you are eligible to apply until 3/15/23. More on how to apply [here](. - The NYCDOT will perform maintenance on the I-278 (BQE) by closing one lane on Furman Street below the BQE between Joralemon Street and Doughty Street on December 5th from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM As a result, only one lane will be available on Furman Street during these times. Flaggers will be present at either end of the closure. For questions or concerns, please reach out to the Community Liaison, Anita Navalurkar at (347) 647-0876 or anavalurkar@samschwartz.com. - Green-Wood Cemetery’s 10-week paid masonry restoration Spring internship and training program called “Bridge to Crafts Careers” is holding sessions and interviews. If you’re a young person between the ages of 18-27 and interested, contact Michael Salazar at msalazar@obtjobs.org. - Caring for an older relative or friend can be incredibly meaningful, but it can also be very challenging. Heights and Hills offers a menu of services to caregivers based on each individual’s need and desired level of support. You can learn more by calling 718-596-8789 or emailing info@heightsandhills.org. - Got leaves? 🍁🍂🍃 Special Leaf Collection is available today for our entire district! Put your leaves in a paper lawn/leaf bag or an unlined bin and set them out after 4 PM. More info at: nyc.gov/leafcollection. - Looking to help your community? The Citizens Committee is one of the nation’s oldest micro-funding organizations and is currently [offering community grants o]( up to $3,000 and small business micro-grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses.]( For more questions, please email the Citizens Committee for New York City at grants@citizensnyc.org. For small business questions, please email businessgrants@citizensnyc.org. In Solidarity, Shahana [Twitter]( [Website]( Contact us: New York City Council District 39 456 5th Ave Ste 3Brooklyn, NY 11215-4076 [Add us to your address book]( District39@council.nyc.gov 718-499-1090 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.