Jan. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Organizers in Astoria are raising funds to keep their neighbors in public housing warm this winter.
The Astoria Mutual Aid Network is raising money with the community-based organization Transform America to purchase space heaters for Astoria residents who live in public housing.
The organizations have created a GoFundMe to raise money for at least 100 heaters, which they will distribute to residents of public housing who have been living without gas and heat. Each heater costs about $30.
The GoFundMe has already raised more than $3,000.
The Astoria Mutual Aid Network is also collecting warm weather clothing to distribute to residents of the Queensbridge Houses on Jan. 22.
The organization is asking for new and gently-used hats, gloves, socks and scarves. Donors can drop off the items at Rivercrest, located at 33-15 Ditmars Blvd., or LIC Kleaners, located at 30-53 Steinway St., up until Jan. 18.
4 Comments
Don’t worry about the space heaters. Projects were built so fire can’t spread from one apt to the next. The more pressing issue is that many young NYCHA residents walk around with a different type of heater…
Space heaters… hoping the FDNY is on stand by….
I understand the kind gesture and I support it however these houses are owned by the City of New York, our taxes contribute to the care of these places.What I am trying to say is why are we not holding the city accountable if this had been a private landlord not resolving issues involving heat, cooking gas and hot water the city would come down on them in an instant. However whenever the city passes another law or ordinance it never seems to apply to them or they simply don’t follow their own rules. I think it’s time we start treating these residents like humans and hold the city accountable.
So, I pay income taxes and property taxes and sales taxes to pay for public housing, just so I can donate MORE?
Impeach Diblasio Too.