WARM UP TO CHANGE in Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Coat Drive | Blanket Drive | Info Drive
Monday, January 19
A Presidential Inauguration National Weekend of Service Event

Bring the spirit of the Inauguration to Brooklyn through service!
We are in the cold winter months, folks are unemployed, and families are still recovering from high fuel prices from months ago. This is a grassroots service project, and that means it needs you to succeed!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS
• for an Outreach Team to get the word out in advance,
• for a Street Team to canvass Fulton Street with Heating Assistance info, or
• for a Home Team to staff the collection point on the day of service

TO BE A PART OF THE TEAM
Step 1 - click here to sign up for neighborhood canvassing or staffing the collection.
Step 2 - Indicate in the sign up how you want to help (donate, get the word out, staff the collection point)
Step 3 - bookmark and follow this blog to stay in the loop.

1/15/09

Schedule of Tasks & Events

The schedule has been updated to reflect times and locations. The conference calls are critical to our success. We hope you can join us on the phones. Just as critical is getting the word out through organized canvassing. Check back for updates in the event the schedule changes.

Saturday, Jan 17
(!) 7:00pm Organizing Conference Call - Dial in: (309) 946-5100, access code 012009

Sunday, Jan 18
Community publicity
1pm - 3pm, Part III Canvassing on Routes 3, 5 and 6, download to the right (5 people needed)
3pm, Social Meetup for the NFC Championship at Mullane's Bar and Grill, 71 Lafayette Ave. at South Elliott Place.
** Door-to-door and sidewalk canvassing in Ft Greene. Meet at 59 Lafayette Ave (Lafayette & Fulton).

Monday, Jan. 19
Collection & Hospitality, Street Canvassing, Set-up and Tear-down
9:30am - 10:30am: BAM Canvass Team outside of the MLK Tribute (5 people needed) ... meet on the BAM main steps on Lafayette.
10am - 11am: Set-up at Cake Man's (2 people needed)
11am - 12:30pm: 1st Shift Collects (fully staffed, alternates only)
12:30pm - 2pm: 2nd Shift Collects (fully staffed, alternates only), 1st Shift Canvasses HEAP Info
2pm - 4pm: 3rd Shift Collects (fully staffed, alternates only), 2nd Shift Canvasses HEAP Info
4pm - 5pm: Tear Down at Cake Man's (fully staffed, alternates only)

Tuesday, Jan. 20
Drop off to local shelters
To be coordinated with DHS after the coat drive

1/14/09

What is canvassing?

Basically, canvassing is an organized activity going around your community to solicit support, whether it's going door to door or approaching people on the street.

I already know what you're thinking: knocking on doors and talking to strangers in the street is awkward and uncomfortable.

To be honest with you, that feeling is very natural but far from the truth. Personally, I am not from Brooklyn ... I am from a much smaller city in Pennsylvania. So when I began to get involved with the presidential campaign two years back (what a long haul!), I felt the same way.

But you will find that people are very kind and thoughtful, and when they hear that you're trying to help in their community, they open right up. What you think you be an awkward encounter almost always turns out to be a warm conversation and an opportunity to turn a neighbor into a friend.

I hope that you will consider canvassing with us for Warm Up To Change in the days leading up to Monday. It's not a hard sell - everyone knows the times are tough, and New Yorkers are kind at their cores. Once you explain to them what Warm Up To Change is, you will almost certainly have another coat or maybe even a new volunteer.

Watch just how easy it is...
(of course, asking for donated coats is much easier than running for president)

1/11/09

Canvassing on your own schedule

You can contribute to the cause by getting the word out whenever it is convenient for you! Just use the links in the right hand menu to download full page flyers, half-page handbills, and window posters. All you need is a printer and some time!

The goal is to get as many donations as possible.

Target communities for publicity in Brooklyn are
Fort Greene & Clinton Hill (11238, 11217, 11205)
Brooklyn Heights (11201)
Prospect Heights (11238)
Bedford-Stuyvesant (11216)

Of course, canvassing is more fun (and faster) with a friend!