Open Hearts Initiative
@openheartsnyc
Supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness, advocating for housing justice, creating compassionate communities. Click the link to join a chapter!
Queens Open Hearts collected an abundance of food donations for 59 families living in supportive housing nearby. Thanks to everyone who made this food drive a success! To help with a future event in Queens, email Jayme@openheartsinitiative.org. #Queens #FoodDrive
On Monday, Lower Manhattan Open Hearts held a coffee hour at a supportive housing site in the East Village. Neighbors gathered over coffee, baked goods, & some NYC-themed trivia. We hope to have more of these in fall! To help plan the next coffee hour, email Jayme@openheartsinitiative.org.
We often hear from homeless neighbors that transportation costs can make it difficult to participate in some Open Hearts Initiative events. As OHI has grown, this need has increased. So we’re launching our Transportation Fund: a dedicated way for folks to donate to help cover transportation costs.
Join UWS Open Hearts for a morning of community & action. We’ll be meeting up Sat, 7/18 at 11am. This is a short orientation for new members, community building for existing members, then care kit packing & street outreach for everyone. Click to RSVP: openheartsinitiative.org/events/carek...
New York City is expecting extreme temperatures starting Wednesday, July 1st through the weekend. It could get as hot as 110 degrees. Visit our website for more heat resources, including cooling center maps, safety tips, and Code Red details. openheartsinitiative.org/heat #CodeRed
Last week, Lower Manhattan Open Hearts assembled care kits for homeless neighbors. The kits contained sunblock, shower wipes, deodorant wipes, foldable water bottles, & kindness notes. Thanks to those who donated & assembled kits! Email Jayme@openheartsinitiative.org to join us next time.
On Saturday, Brooklyn Open Hearts held our monthly free store for homeless neighbors. Shoppers were able to take home clothing, shoes, books, hygiene kits, & more. Want to get involved in our Brooklyn chapter (or another chapter near you)? Sign up: openheartsinitiative.org/volunteer
On Sunday, Brooklyn Open Hearts volunteers packed dozens of hygiene kits for homeless neighbors. Kits contained necessities like water, wipes, and hand sanitizer. These kits will be on offer at our free store, which is coming up on Saturday, June 20th from 1-3pm.
Last week, OHI joined Komodo Health to pack care kits for homeless neighbors. Komodo Health’s team members came from all over the country and learned more about homelessness in the U.S. If your org would like to hold an event in your office, contact info@openheartsinitiative.org. #NYC #CareKits
At the end of May, Midtown Open Hearts held their monthly arts workshop at a local shelter. After drawing, everyone played Bingo! We’re grateful housed & unhoused neighbors found some time to create, play, & relax together. To join us at the next workshop, email Shaili@openheartsinitiative.org.
Join to see Will Woods, our Member Education and Programming Specialist! careforthehomeless.org/news/spring-...
Recently, Brooklyn Open Hearts organized a spring/summer free store for homeless neighbors. Volunteers assembled sandwiches, organized donations, & created a warm & welcoming environment. If you’d like to be a part of Brooklyn Open Hearts’ next free store, email shaili@openheartsinitiative.org.
Recently, Midtown Open Hearts organized an afternoon of painting at a shelter in Midtown. Housed and unhoused neighbors created impressive works of art! If you’d like to participate in a future arts workshop in Midtown, contact Shaili@openheartsinitiative.org to get involved!
Help Midtown Open Hearts distribute baby supplies to families living in a shelter in Midtown West. We’ll be handing out diapers and more on Thursday, May 21st from 4-5pm. To support your neighbors and distribute supplies, RSVP at the link. openheartsinitiative.nationbuilder.com/wjbabysupply...
Last week, we had our new volunteer orientation at our monthly Homelessness: Learning From Experience group. We discussed current trends in housing, learned more about OHI, & shared lived experiences. Want to attend a future HLFE group or join a chapter? Click: openheartsinitiative.org/volunteer
Last week, Lower Manhattan Open Hearts held a Book Fair at TriBeCa Synagogue for shelters in the area. Thanks to Second Chapter, we provided a selection of nearly 200 fiction & non-fiction books! If you’d like to organize a similar event in the future, click the link to join a chapter!
We packed canvas totes with no-slip socks, sleep masks, instant coffee, dish soap, laundry detergent, kids’ artwork, kindness notes, and more!
Last weekend, Douglaston Open Hearts had the opportunity to pack 120 welcome kits with the Hope East Church congregation! Everyone showed up to provide a warm welcome to seniors moving into a supportive & affordable housing site in Queens.
Last week, the QCC SACNAS Club & Douglaston Open Hearts hosted residents of a nearby women’s shelter to movie night on campus! The club screened “Nonnas." Afterwards, everyone shared a hearty Italian dinner. Want to bring more events like movie night to Queens? Email Jayme@openheartsinitiative.org
Midtown Open Hearts is collecting baby supplies for a monthly distribution to families at 2 Midtown shelters! To help: Donate via PayPal Purchase from wishlist Volunteer to distribute on 5/7 (2-3pm) or 5/21 (4-5pm) To donate or volunteer, click the link. openheartsinitiative.org/events/midto...
Visit openheartsinitiative.org/events/solut... for details. #StopTheSweeps #SolutionsNotSweeps
ACTION NEEDED: Call your City Council Member to tell them you want real solutions to homelessness, not cruel and ineffective sweeps! #StopTheSweeps #SolutionsNotSweeps
Last week, Lower Manhattan Open Hearts assembled 50 care kits for neighbors experiencing street homelessness. Thanks to volunteers who donated wishlist items & assembled these care kits! To participate in a future street care kit event in Lower Manhattan, email Jayme@openheartsinitiative.org.
Recently, our Brooklyn chapter organized their monthly free store for homeless neighbors in Park Slope. Neighbors shopped and enjoyed bagels & sandwiches with volunteers. Follow us to stay updated on volunteer opportunities at future free stores! #Brooklyn #FreeStore
Want to see real solutions to homelessness rather than approaches that aim to put folks out of sight, out of mind? Use our action guide (linked below) to call your Council Member! openheartsinitiative.org/events/solut...
After promising to stop sweeps, which destabilize and traumatize homeless neighbors, the mayor went back on his word. By sharing their stories, homeless and formerly homeless New Yorkers highlighted the flawed policy and offered sustainable alternatives to get folks housed.
Last week, OHI staff and volunteers joined @safetynetujc.bsky.social at their “Solutions, Not Sweeps” rally.
This month, our Midtown chapter’s baby supply distributions provided nearly 100 families across two shelters with infant necessities. At these monthly events, families pick up diapers, wipes, shampoo, and other baby care items–and get to know neighbors!