Leader
Ann-Gel Palermo
Location
Throughout East Harlem East Harlem, NY 10029
About the project
The East Harlem COAD is a neighborhood-based emergency management coordinating organization comprising residents, organizations, and businesses that work together to address the full disaster cycle. We are led by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff. The East Harlem COAD has dedicated themselves to making East Harlem a safer and more prepared community.
East Harlem residents are concerned about balancing the challenges of COVID-19 isolation along with preparing for a second wave and severe weather. The East Harlem COAD wants to improve awareness of emergency preparedness, both generally and COVID-specific, and provide our community with supplies to help them manage these challenges. The contents of the kits will vary based on community needs, but will include things to help East Harlem residents cope with harsh weather, hunger, cold/flu symptoms, and COVID. This could include (but is not limited to) things like flashlights and batteries, heat packs, portable cell chargers, pantry items, tissues, cold/flu medicine, masks, and hand sanitizer, as well as printed guides to prepare for various scenarios.
The Steps
Upon receipt of funds the EHCOAD can begin ordering essential items. Upon receipt of items, the EHCOAD and community member volunteers will assemble the kits in order to be ready for local distribution.
Why we‘re doing it
In Mid-April, East Harlem topped Manhattan in reported COVID-19 cases. We were disappointed, but not surprised. East Harlem is a vibrant, diverse community of over 120,000 residents, but the effects of structural racism have long positioned us to bear the brunt of public health emergencies. The reality of these inequities is clearer now than ever.
East Harlem COAD member organizations are intimately familiar with the issues faced by the most vulnerable among us, and have demonstrated experience developing creative solutions. We are prepared to meet the unique needs of seniors, children, people who are undocumented, non-English speakers, low-income workers, and large or multiple families who share an apartment.