Open Hearts Initiative

Last week, the Queensborough Community College SACNAS Club and Douglaston Open Hearts brought women from a nearby shelter to campus for a tour, info session, and a free book fair!

It was a campus-wide effort to support unhoused neighbors. Thank you to QCC for the warm welcome!

Bronx Open Hearts Chapter Meeting — Open Hearts Initiative Do you live, work, or go to school in the Bronx and want to connect with other neighbors organizing to welcome and support folks experiencing homelessness in our neighborhood? Join Bronx Open Hearts ...

RSVP by clicking the link below.

Learn & Pack Care Kits in Lower Manhattan — Open Hearts Initiative Join Lower Manhattan Open Hearts to learn about homelessness together and pack care kits for homeless neighbors. All are welcome, and refreshments are provided! RSVP to attend here or using the...

Join Lower Manhattan Open Hearts to learn about homelessness together & pack care kits for homeless neighbors!

We’ll be at the New Amsterdam Library on Tuesday 11/18 from 5:30-6:30pm. RSVP or donate:

Want to welcome & support homeless neighbors? Join an Open Hearts chapter!

Our chapters organize community events, change the narrative about homelessness, and advocate for housing justice in our neighborhoods & citywide. openheartsinitiative.org/volunteer

UWS Street Care Kit Distribution! — Open Hearts Initiative Our  Upper West Side Open Hearts  chapter is distributing care kits to neighbors experiencing street homelessness. We need volunteers to help distribute kits on the UWS (location upon RSVP)...

Looking for a tangible way to support unhoused neighbors? Help Upper West Side Open Hearts distribute care kits directly to neighbors experiencing street homelessness!

Saturday 11/15 @ 10am. Can’t make it? Donate supplies to fill the kits!

To volunteer in person or donate, click the link below.

Join us next Monday!

Lower Manhattan Open Hearts Meeting — Open Hearts Initiative Do you live, work, or go to school in Lower Manhattan? Join us for our monthly Lower Manhattan Open Hearts chapter meeting on Zoom. Zoom link will be shared upon RSVP. RSVP using the button below.

RSVP via the link.

The Policy & Advocacy Committee is a group of members who work with OHI staff to shape our organization’s city & state policy advocacy.

Our next meeting: 11/12, 7-8pm on Zoom.

Help determine our policy priorities for the coming year!

To RSVP: openheartsinitiative.org/events/polic...

We're still accepting donations!

Coat and boot drive for neighbors in a Bronx men’s shelter! — Open Hearts Initiative

Bronx Open Hearts is looking for donations of coats or boots for men staying at a South Bronx shelter.

Have any new or gently used items? Arrange a drop-off now through 12/14.

You may also contribute funds to buy new winter gear.
Click the link for info on how to donate.

Monthly Baby Supply Distribution for Families at a Midtown Shelter — Open Hearts Initiative

Midtown Open Hearts’ monthly Baby Supply Drive at a local shelter is on 11/13, 4-5:30pm.

We need folks to help distribute wipes, diapers, baby shampoo, & more! Can’t make it? Donate supplies to help us support families in Hell’s Kitchen.

Click to RSVP to distribute or donate. Location upon RSVP.

Our Upper West Side chapter assembled & distributed 115 Halloween care kits to children living in local shelters.

Each kit contained Halloween-themed items, candy, a pumpkin craft activity, & a hand-written card.

Thanks to those who donated, assembled, or distributed these Halloween care kits!

Brooklyn Open Hearts Chapter Meeting — Open Hearts Initiative Do you live, work, or go to school in Brooklyn? Join us for our monthly Brooklyn Open Hearts chapter meeting. Virtual meeting link will be shared upon RSVP.

Open Hearts Brooklyn chapter meeting tonight at 7pm!

Click below to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

Upper East Side Open Hearts Chapter Meeting — Open Hearts Initiative Do you live, work, or go to school on the Upper East Side ? Join us for our Upper East Side Open Hearts monthly chapter meeting. Zoom link to be shared upon RSVP—RSVP using the button below.

Upper East Side Chapter Meeting TONIGHT at 6pm!

Click below to RSVP and receive the Zoom link.

Upper West Side Open Hearts Chapter Meeting — Open Hearts Initiative Do you live, work, or go to school on the Upper West Side? Join OHI's next UWS chapter meeting. Virtual meeting link provided upon RSVP.

Upper West Side volunteer chapter meeting on Thursday, November 6th, 7-8pm.

Click below to RSVP and receive the Zoom invitation!

Drawing and Painting in Brooklyn! — Open Hearts Initiative

Join Brooklyn Open Hearts on Monday 11/10, from 3pm-5pm for a late afternoon of painting and drawing at a Midwood shelter.

Click the link to RSVP:

Join us Saturday, November 1st, 1:30-3:30pm!

Learn & Pack Care Kits in Lower Manhattan — Open Hearts Initiative Join Lower Manhattan Open Hearts to learn about homelessness together and pack care kits for homeless neighbors. All are welcome, and refreshments are provided! RSVP to attend here or using the...

Join Lower Manhattan Open Hearts to learn about homelessness together & pack care kits for homeless neighbors!

We’ll be at the New Amsterdam Library on Tuesday 11/18 from 5:30-6:30pm. RSVP or donate:

Coat and boot drive for neighbors in a Bronx men’s shelter! — Open Hearts Initiative

Bronx Open Hearts is looking for donations of coats or boots for men staying at a South Bronx shelter.

Have any new or gently used items? Arrange a drop-off now through 12/14.

You may also contribute funds to buy new winter gear.
Click the link for info on how to donate.

Homelessness: Learning From Experience Meeting — Open Hearts Initiative Our monthly Homelessness: Learning From Experience (HLFE) meetings provide a space for unhoused neighbors to share experiences, build connections, and provide input that informs OHI's work. These me...

Our monthly Homelessness: Learning From Experience meetings provide space for unhoused neighbors to share experiences. These meetings are also a chance for housed folks to listen & learn.

Interested in joining on 11/1 from 1:30-3:30pm on the Upper East Side? Click to RSVP & for the exact location.

Book Drive!

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Speak Up in Support of the 59th St. Women’s Shelter — Open Hearts Initiative Background The West 59th Street women’s shelter, which you can learn more about here , will offer shelter and services for women experiencing homelessness. It is part of an effort to expand shelter...

Upper West Siders: speak up in support of the West 59th Street women’s shelter on 10/28 @ 6:30pm.

RSVP via the link. Then we’ll be in touch to share talking points and logistical details!

October Discussion: What Does It Mean to Be Working & Homeless? — Open Hearts Initiative Join us for our monthly Housing Justice is Racial Justice meeting. This month’s topic: What does it mean to be working and homeless? This is an informal reading and discussion group for OHI membe...

Join Housing Justice is Racial Justice, our no-experience-required monthly discussion group, for a conversation about what it means to be working & homeless.

Join to discuss the article “The New American Homeless” on Mon, 11/27 at 7pm on Zoom.

Click the link to RSVP and receive the reading.

Donate or volunteer!

Volunteers Needed for Housing Search Tech Support — Open Hearts Initiative

Help your unhoused neighbors navigate the housing search process by joining Midtown Open Hearts Mon, 10/27, 3-4:30pm at a Midtown East library.

Work one-on-one with shelter residents as they navigate housing websites and applications.

Brief training provided.

RSVP via the link.

Monthly Community Language Exchange/Intercambio - November! — Open Hearts Initiative

Join Upper East Side Open Hearts for their monthly Language Exchange on Sat 11/1, 4-6pm.

English speakers can practice Spanish & Spanish speakers can practice English.

Dinner will be served. Games provided for children.

To practice your conversational language skills, RSVP via the link below.