Happy Thanksgiving to All- Please READ, Please HELP

[AllanahStarrNYC]

As another holiday season is here, we are all filled with more compassion, joy, and goodwill to others.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and many of us have so, so much to be thankful for. However, there are many people in our community who are still very much in need.

I would really like to employ your compassion for the moment, in asking you help for homeless transgender and GLBT youth this holiday season.

Sylvia's Place (www.sylviasplace.org) is a crisis shelter operating in NYC that offers a place to stay, shower, and meals to homeless LGBT youth in NYC. It is the ONLY crisis GLBT center in NYC for youth where those in crisis can get into the SAME NIGHT.

As a teen who left home at 17, I was briefly displaced for while. Though I never stayed at a shelter, I do know what its like to not have a place to stay and to really struggle to get by and survive. I can only imagine how hard it must be for those who are hungry, afraid, and homeless on the streets of New York City. A 2006 report from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force estimates that a third of homeless youth identify as LGBT. In New York City, this means that something like 8,000 to 10,000 youth are without shelter every night.

These are teens in crisis that NEED our help.

I have been in contact with the director of the MCCNY Homeless Youth Services to organize a fundraiser and food drive for the month of December. I will have the details very soon, and I have gotten great feed back thus far. A generous HA member, who owns restaurants in NYC has graciously offered $750 worth of food for our drive. We hope to be able to raise a lot of money and donations for the center in December.

I know many of you are not in NYC, or some of you may not have the money to spare , but it's not all about money. There are MANY ways you can help with your time and donations!!!

Please visit here for many ways you can help the center:

http://www.homelessyouthservices.org/donate.html

Also, this Christmas there will be a dinner organized for those at Sylvia's Place from 6PM-10PM. Myself and a group of girls will be going to the dinner on Christmas night to visit the kids and spend time with them. You are also welcomed to come by.

In the meantime, if you can not make it to our fundraiser that is OK!

You Can Drop Off Donations Here:

Food Donations:
NOWHERE BAR
322 East 14th St.
Between 1st and 2nd Aves
212 477 4744

SYLVIA'S PLACE
@ MCC Church
W. 36TH St .
Between 9th and 10th Ave
Lucky S. Michaels
Director of MCCNY Homeless Youth Services
LuckyMichaels@gmail.com
212-629-7440 Ext. 226.

I know that no matter what differences we may all have, that we as a community can stand up and help those in the community who are most vaulnerable.

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Allanah

[JonnyT]

thank you allanah, i will be serving thanksgiving meals to the disenfranchised in my area tomorrow. happy thanksgiving and God bless you all :D

[jessicamoore]

though i never been homelless i dont know how that feels im 36 now i started transition when i was 21 and i always did for myself unfortanely some gay youth are not as wise as me and others in from nj but im always in nyc its my 2 home i will most def drop a donation off before christmas god has bless me with my health and streth i nver been broke and a roof over my head and some dont have that.

[ottorocket]

I dont observe thanksgiving as a holiday.

Well then what gives to post in this thread? Who cares what you observe or don't... :x


Thanks Allanah good info and holiday thoughts there

[phobun]

I dont observe thanksgiving as a holiday.
It is irrelevant whether a single self-focused individual observes thanksgiving as a holiday or not, the point is that this is an opportunity to appeal for help in restocking food and resources at shelters, just as the weather is starting to get really cold.

if you live outside of the united states, maybe this appeal could move you to spare a bit for a similar charity in your area...

[Yoda Rules!]

I must say, that is very sweet and classy of you Allanah. You give so much back to the community and it often goes unrecognized. Nice job and Happy Thanksgiving!

[AllanahStarrNYC]

Thanks everyone.

I will keep you all updated on the details of the benefit and such.

Hope everyone had a great holiday.

[phobun]

I dont observe thanksgiving as a holiday.
It is irrelevant whether a single self-focused individual observes thanksgiving as a holiday or not, the point is that this is an opportunity to appeal for help in restocking food and resources at shelters, just as the weather is starting to get really cold.

if you live outside of the united states, maybe this appeal could move you to spare a bit for a similar charity in your area...

Great!!!! Feed malnourished people with weak immune systems chemical sick food for 1 day. Wow i wish I could have thought of such a great brilliant idea. How about this country the usa help the poor all year round. Instead of bailing out criminals in wall street and sending billions of dollars to iraq and georgia.
Damn you're a stupid individual.
It is not for one day, the drive can replenish food stocks and operating cash that will last for more than one day.
Further, no one is saying to feed "chemical sick food".
Give money or blankets if you can't send Whole Foods, dipshit.
Weird fuck.

[WendyWilliams]

BUMP FOR THIS THREAD


I know Thanksgiving has past however Xmas is upon us and lets not forget about our GLBT youth. Sylvia's place is a great organization that I have been donating too for years. They are an awesome group and I hope you will take time to donate or email and find out what items you can send them.

Interview I did back in 2008:

About how many people do you have each night at the shelter and how does that break down too sexuality?

21-27 per night, Trans - 40%, Gay - 30%, Lesbian - 30%

What do the youth do during the day when the shelter is closed?
Volunteer at our food pantry, look for jobs, try to get on SSI, Food Stamps, Medicaid, go to the birth certificate office, get medical services, use our drop-in faciilities and those of our partner organizations. Also some are in school or working to get their GED.

!Besides money what is the most needed items, supplies or things that people can send and where would they send and too whom? Some people dont trust sending money and would really rather send items

Socks, toiletries and underwear are always needed in various sizes and genders. they would send them to MCCNY HOmeless Youth Services, Address 446 west 36th st, new york, nny 10018

How long has the shelter been open?

We opened in 2002. and have been open 365 days a year since and are the only crisis facility for homeless LGBTQ Youth in NYC. We have been on the forefront of the movement to provide for these young people nationally and worldwide.

How many cots does the space hold?

The space holds 6- 10cots max, buyt the youth choose to not use cots to fit more youth in the space. they sacrifice comfort to provide for their peers a safe space to sleep at night.

Can people become pen pals or like a long distance "big sis or brother" to any of the kids and if so how could this happen?

we have a gay santa program where we will mail the dear santa letters out to people, but don't have a pen pal system set up. if you would like to start penpalling... write a general letetr to a youth and I will match it up with somebody interested if possible.


What are some important things that people NEED to know about your organization?

We are a harm reduction, crisis facility which is often the first stop and the last stop for these clients which other programs are noty willing to work with.

Between now and New Years how much money is needed to fit the needs of the shelter?

Between now and New Years, our operating budget is upwards of at least $50,000 to provide adequate staffing, food, clothing, Youth Emergency Funding which helps gets name changes, metrocards to keep jobs of our 27-50 clients per day clothing for interviews, provide mental health services, medical services on site, hiv and std testing and counseling.


Again Website:
http://www.homelessy...org/donate.html (http://www.homelessyouthservices.org/donate.html)