Tis the Season…

If you weren’t able to make the community service event last Sunday, it’s not too late to give back this holiday season.

MYD has teamed up with Hands on New York for a good ole’ fashioned toy drive. Donated toys will be distributed to children with the misfortune of living in domestic violence or homeless shelters in Manhattan. So, while you’re out this weekend doing your holiday shopping, grab a toy or two of any value and bring it on down to the MYD general meeting next Tuesday.

Seriously, any toy will do, so don’t be timid. You’ll be handsomely rewarded with big smiles and good karma.

MYD TOY DRIVE
Tuesday, December 15
7:00PM
461 Park Ave South, 10th Floor
Bring a toy of any value for kids in NYC shelters.

The Youth of New York Need YOU!

Young helping the young — that’s the theme for MYD’s community service events this quarter, and we need your help!

Here’s what’s going on:

Dinner with LGBT youth at New Alternatives

New Alternatives is a center for at-risk LGBT youth, and our service event will prepare food and serve dinner. Support New Alternatives’ guiding principles of harm reduction, youth development and empowerment. Assist young members of our community as they transition from the shelter system to a new apartment, school, or move on to whatever their next step may be.

Heather is also looking for help prepare and/or provide a presention on MYD after dinner ends. The leaders of New Alternatives are true activists. They believe in a comprehensive approach to outreach and would like us to tell their students how to become involved.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Middle Collegiate Church, 50 E 7th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenue)

Meet Heather outside the church at 5:45pm

Sign up by emailing Heather today at service [at] goMYD [dot] com

Paint-A-School

Did you know that the Department of Education lost $180 million from its budget last year? This is forcing schools to cut or postpone revitalization and upkeep projects. But thousands of New York City public school children deserve brighter, safer, and more stimulating learning environments.

Join MYD and 8,000 fellow New Yorkers on Saturday, October 17, to give our schools what they need and fundraise to support New York Cares’ year-round programs.

New York Cares Paint-a-School Day
Saturday, October 17, 2009 @ 8:30am
Starbucks: 315 7th Avenue (corner of 28th Street
Please RSVP to Heather @ service [at] goMYD [dot] com

You must donate or raise $20 to attend this event.
Sign up and join MYD’s team HERE.

Click “Register Here” and then “Join a Team”
Team Name: Manhattan Young Democrats

If you’re interested in education policy, you might also consider joining the Education Issues Committee.

Start a Sea (or River) of Change

This Saturday – 9/19 – is International Coastal Cleanup Day.  On this day, volunteers across Americanand the world unite to pick up trash along our waterways.

According to the Ocean Conservancy,  nearly 400,000 volunteers collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash in 100 countries and 42 US states last year.

This is the third time that International Coastal Cleanup Day will take place in Hudson River Park. The Manhattan Young Democrats will join the Clean Sanctuary Campaign to help with the cleanup.

Volunteers will log the types of trash collected.  At the end of the day we will have a record of exactly what is fouling up our shoreline.

The negative impacts of ocean trash are numerous.  Click HERE to read the full report by the Ocean Conservancy.

Join us this Saturday:

International Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9am to 11am (meet at 8:45)
The Gansevoort Section of Hudson River Park.  Pier 54, one block south of 14th Street at the Hudson River.  Under the giant arch.
RSVP to Heather at service [at] goMYD [dot] com.

Hudson River Park Clean Up: The Sequel

Last weekend, MYDers turned out to take another crack at cleaning up the huge mess that is the Hudson River under the leadership of new Community Service Director Heather James. Councilman and Comptroller hopeful David Yassky showed up (note: not an endorsement) and everyone got a nice tan. Still a looooong way to go on the clean-up, though.

The final episode of the Hudson River Clean-up trilogy is coming up on Saturday, September 19th. Email Heather at service [at] goMYD [dot] com to sign up or get more details!

More photos from Saturday’s event here.

The Outcome That Mattered.

Recall two weekends ago on a pretty Saturday in Central Park, MYD played the New York Young Republicans in a game of kickball. Today, MYD’s Community Service Director Sarah Gudernatch mailed out the REAL point of the game–a check for $280.00 that will go to the New York Coalition Against Hunger, raised from donations made at the event.

Here are some of the zingers overheard on the field and from the peanut gallery at the game (we got caught up in #nyequality and didn’t have a chance to post previously!):

Emmy to NYYRC’s Matt, who was all alone until 10 minutes before the game started: Where’s the rest of your team?
Matt: Busy running the economy.
Gloria: He said ‘busy ruining the economy’! Can I quote you?

Justin (after pitching to a NYYRC player): Guys, you let a lefty on your team?

During the 5th inning Justin notices a problem with the NYYRC’s outfield but his generosity wins out:
Justin: How many men can you have on the field?
Umpire: Seven
Justin:  They’re playing with an extra man on the field. I’ll let it go; it’s for charity. But I just wanted it noted.

Coming up, we’ve got another Soup Kitchen event this Saturday and then as we get into the height of summer, Hudson Park clean-up efforts. (MYD calendar here. See pics from previous events here.) It’s all part of MYD’s giving back to the community. Email Sarah at service@goMYD.com to get involved!

Hat Tip: Gloria

Thanks MYD! Love, Mike Bloomberg

MYD planted 500 of 20,000 trees planted on Saturday. That’s nearly 2.5%!

All Hands On Deck For NYC

Join MYD and 5,000 other New Yorkers on Saturday, April 25th as we clean up and revitalize parks, playgrounds, community centers, and schools for Hands on New York Day! Each volunteer must raise or donate at least $20, but don’t stop there, help us support this great cause–give your time and ask your friends to chip in too! Find more details here. Hands On New York Day is coordinated by New York Cares and seeks to plant 20,000 trees in partnership with MillionTreesNYC.

Meet your fellow MYDers, plant a tree, make a difference–start your Spring off right.

Young & Homeless in NYC

A recent study published by Convenant House , which operates shelters for young people, reveals the number of young and homeless in New York City has increased by one-third since last year. On any given night, approximately 3,800 young people are on the street.

[T]he study, one of the largest-ever examinations of young homeless people in New York, found that their future did not look much better — because they are dangerously isolated from mainstream channels of work, family life and basic schooling.

Forty-seven percent of the group said they had been disciplined physically before entering the shelter, 37 percent said they had been victims of physical abuse, and 19 percent had endured sexual abuse. Forty-one percent said they had witnessed violence in their homes.

The vast majority said they found it difficult or impossible to find a good job. Seventy-eight percent said they were unemployed when they entered the shelter. Among those who had jobs, 41 percent said those jobs were “off the books.”

Kevin M. Ryan, the president of Covenant House, a privately financed agency with facilities in 20 cities nationwide, including Philadelphia, Detroit, Newark and St. Louis, said he hoped the study alerted the public “to the growing crisis of homeless youth in New York City."

Want to help MYD make a difference in young people’s lives? Email Sarah Gudernatch, MYD’s Community Service Director .