Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Part of being in a close-knit community is taking care of neighbors in need, and that has been an important mission of the Block Association through our Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. Working with longstanding partners in local community service agencies, we provide support to formerly homeless, people with HIV/AIDS, women and children in city shelters, disabled individuals, veterans and the homebound and frail elderly.

Project Lift

Since 1989, our Gramercy Park community has supported the LIFT Study Program, which provides scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, clothing and other support services for homeless/at-risk children living in homeless shelters.

Kenmore Hall

The Kenmore Hotel was formerly the “epicenter of crime in the Gramercy Park neighborhood.” The GPBA played a major role in the 1994 federal takeover of the property, the largest asset seizure in the history of the federal government

Homebound Elderly

GPBA provides year-round support to homebound neighbors in the neighborhood.  Types of support include meals, clothing, gifts, connection to various social services agencies, and more.

Adopt a Family

Neighbors participate in Epiphany Church’s “Adopt a Family” for Christmas, which benefits family violence prevention, emergency shelter for women and children and formerly homeless individuals.

Backpack Drive

Annual Backpack Drive when neighbors donate backpacks filled with educational supplies to distribute to children living in city shelters before the beginning of the school year

Project Cicero

GPBA supports The Brotherhood Synagogue’s book drive for Project Cicero, providing new and gently used books for kids (kindergarten through high school) in under-resourced NYC schools.

Homeless Shelter

The Brotherhood Synagogue Men’s Shelter runs January through March. GPBA sponsors this program, and has clothing drives to provide socks, scarves, hats, gloves for shelter guests.

Common Table

St. George’s Common Table serves a weekly hot lunch to about 125 individuals in need.  GPBA sponsors this program, and has held pantry drives to provide essential food and supplies.

GPBA Scholars

GPBA identifies students in need and provides scholarships and mentoring, both to students in the local community, and through our Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ partner organizations.

Toy Drive

The Gramercy Park Block Association’s Annual Toy Drive at Paddy Maguire’s Ale House is a chance for neighbors to gather during the holidays and support children in need by donating a new unwrapped toy.

Coat Drive

The GPBA supports the annual NY Cares Coat Drive when neighbors drop off new or gently used freshly laundered coats at the 13th Precinct to help keep their fellow New Yorkers warm.

Playground Cleanup

The Block Association sponsors the annual cleanup of Augustus St. Gaudens playground on 20th Street and Second Avenue. Families from throughout the neighborhood help to clean playground equipment and other fixtures with the help of a professional power-washing team.