WFMU: See Our Friends, Help Our Friends WFMU definitely took quite a hit from Post-tropical Cyclone Whatserface, and we hope you'll continue to pledge your support to keep us afloat. But while WFMU lived as an island for a couple days, no community arts organization is really an island. Some of our friends, and many of our neighbors were hit pretty hard as well. Here are some of them, as well as some good grass roots organizations doing excellent relief work. Norton Records Our good friends Billy Miller & Miriam Linna suffered severe flooding at their warehouse in Red Hook. In addition to nearly 1/4-million records, irreplaceable photos, original fanzines, rare paperbacks and memorabilia were destroyed. They need volunteers at their Prospect Heights offices. email them at Nortonrec@aol.com Coney Island USA Our longtime pals, the good people behind the Mermaid Parade and the preservation of classic Coney sideshow culture, were hit just as hard as you might imagine. They're looking at a long crawl out of the muck, and are badly in need of donations financial and practical, as well as volunteers. South Sound, Translator Audio, and Civil Defense These 3 independent recording studios share the same building in Gowanus. They were all decimated by the storm. They are seeking donations through this link. Printed Matter The great Chelsea-based publisher of artists' books has lost about $200,000 of often irreplaceable materials. Eyebeam The ever-forward facing non-profit art and technology center still seeks skilled volunteers to help maintain their archive in multiple media formats. To volunteer, call Marko: (646) 284-4187 11/14 update: Eyebeam has set up a page for secure donations here. WBAI, the progressive radio lynchpin, was temporarily evacuated from its Wall St. studios and forced to cancel a major fundraising event. Help them recoup via the link. New Amsterdam This independent record label and event/rehearsal/residential space in Red Hook got decimated, losing much of their catalog, as well as priceless musical instruments and gear. The Kitchen The venerable experimental performance space suffered flooding and damages estimated at nearly $500,000. Smack Mellon This DUMBO gallery and artists' residence once hosted a WFMU benefit. They were hit with 6 feet of East River poison sludge, which destroyed 6 of their artists' studios. Primary Information The publisher of artists books, out of print publications and editions has lost a sizeable portion of their inventory. Occupy Sandy Occupy Sandy NJ This group formed out of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and their flexibility and mobility has allowed them to provide relief in a uniquely fast and unfettered fashion. Barrow Mansion Downtown Jersey City Recovery This ad hoc Downtown Jersey City-based relief organization is accepting volunteers and donations between 10am & 6pm. They are handing out food and other donated supplies until 6pm each day. Check their website often for updates. Rebuild Hoboken Many of WFMU's DJs, staffers and friends call this devastatingly hit mile-square city home. FEMA's Jersey City Disaster Recovery Center is located at 350 Montgomery Street. Operating hours are Monday-Sunday, 8am-8pm. If you have any questions call Alberto Pillot, FEMA Public Information Officer at 609-508-2235 Operation Jersey Strong is using Facebook to organize relief efforts for the most badly hit residents of the Jersey Shore. The Community Foodbank of NJ is currently distributing over 100,000 lbs of food to displaced residents in NJ. They need donations of money and certain non-perishable food & grocery items. Hurricane Sandy Rockaway Aid Another ad hoc group that has quickly established direct funding for those hit hardest in Rockaway. Brooklyn Recovery Fund A joint effort between the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to create a pooled fund to provide support to Brooklyn's nonprofit organizations to assist the communities and individuals most affected by Hurricane Sandy. Text "Brooklyn" to 25383 to donate $10 to the Fund Rainbow Rapid Response is a relief center in hard-hit Union Beach NJ. Aid For Rockaway is a Facebook-based ad hoc organization linking volunteers to provide supplies and direct assistance to the Rockaways. Park Slope's Congregation Beth Elohim is organizing deliveries and relief in Far Rockaway. Click the link above to sign up to volunteer. The Joan Mitchell Foundation and CERF+ are two organizations providing relief and emergency funding for visual artists affected by the storm. Yes, Mitik the baby walrus is safe; but Coney Island's wonderful NY Aquarium is in bad shape. Click on the link to make a secure donation. FEMA has compiled a list of ways to donate and volunteer in NJ Donations: Call Center: 855-NJ-DONATE (855-653-6628) Website: ndmn.us Email: Donate@gov.state.NJ.us Volunteers: Call Center: 800-JERSEY-7 (800-537-7397) Website: NJ211.org Email: volunteer@gov.state.NJ.us Monetary: Website: sandyNJrelieffund.org Email: info@sandyNJrelieffund.org Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund PO Box 95 Mendham, NJ 07945