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.
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.
We Support
