FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Thursday, November 28, 2001 |
Release #377-01 |
Contact: |
Matthew Higgins/ Lynn Rasic |
(212) 788-2958 |
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Police
Commissioner Bernard Kerik launched the 13th Annual New York Cares Coat
Drive today at the Bowery Mission in Lower Manhattan, joining volunteers
to distribute coats to the Mission's residents. The Mayor, the Police Commissioner
and Ariel Zwang, Executive Director of New York Cares, urged all New Yorkers
to look into their closets and see what they can spare for the needy this
winter.
The Coat Drive, which will run from December 1st - 31st, collects used,
but wearable, coats throughout the Metropolitan area and distributes them
to struggling men, women and children at homeless shelters, soup kitchens,
community organizations, centers for battered women and agencies for senior
citizens. Last year, the Drive collected and distributed nearly 85,000 coats;
this year, New York Cares hopes to collect and distribute 85,000 more.
"Since 1989 the New York Cares Coat Drive has done a remarkable job
of reaching out to people in need," Mayor Giuliani said. "The
people of New York City are proud of this coat drive, which last year alone,
gave hope and warmth to more than 85,000 New Yorkers in need. This is an
affirmation of the spirit of the holidays and the spirit of New York City."
"The NYPD has been a proud sponsor of this program since it's inception,
and we are very happy to join once again in urging all New Yorkers to contribute
what they can to the drive," said Police Commissioner Kerik. "Anyone
looking to contribute a coat can stop by their local precinct at anytime
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - and a police officer will be happy to
assist you."
"Suffering through a New York winter without a coat can be brutal,
and thousands of New Yorkers, including many children, do not have a coat
to keep them warm," said Zwang. "Through this effort, we want
people to recognize that they can help others immensely by simply by giving
a coat."
To make donations easy, New York
Cares has arranged for over 600 drop-off sites throughout the Metropolitan
area.
Drop-off sites include:
- Any New York City Police Department Facility in the five boroughs at any
time, day or night.
- NY Penn Station Amtrak concourse and LIRR level weekdays from 7:30 - 9:30AM.
- Grand Central Terminal weekdays from 7:30 - 9:30AM.
- The Community Resource Center at 75 Rockefeller Plaza (in the lobby of
the Time Warner building, 51st Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues) weekdays
from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
- Participating Blockbuster Video Stores in New York and New Jersey.
- Participating Walgreen's in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and
New Jersey.
- Participating Con Edison Business Offices in New York City.
- Participating Time Warner Cable Office Payment Centers in New York City.
Sponsors of The 13th Annual
New York Cares Coat Drive are The AXA Foundation, United Parcel Service
(UPS), the New York Police Department, WNBC-TV, J. Walter Thompson, Blockbuster,
MovieFone, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). New York Cares
also partners with Jersey Cares on the Coat Drive to expand the program
across the river.
The AXA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AXA Financial, Inc., is a third
time sponsor and major contributor to New York Cares. "This is a cause
that supports a most urgent need -- the need for protection from the extreme
cold during New York winters" said Kathleen Carlson, President of the
AXA Foundation. "All New Yorkers can relate to the severe temperatures.
We anticipate another strong collection effort."
Founded in 1987, New York Cares mobilizes thousands of volunteers each month
to serve on team projects that are coordinated in partnership with schools,
social service agencies, and environmental groups. New York Cares volunteers
tutor children, feed the hungry, assist people living with HIV/AIDS, revitalize
gardens, take homeless children on cultural and recreational outings, bridge
the Digital Divide, visit the elderly and do so much more.
For additional information regarding Coat Drive drop-off sites call: (212)
598-5800 or visit www.nycares.org
www.nyc.gov