Red Hook Relief is a volunteer-led mutual aid group in Red Hook that started during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They work with at-risk neighbors, and in collaboration with long standing community members, non-profit organizations, local officials and businesses to leverage community access to resources and engage volunteers within a network of mutual care.

Through working directly with local Red Hook organizations like Miccio Community Center, Red Hook Initiative, Red Hook Farms, Red Hook Art Project and Red Hook Container Terminal, they seek to meet the needs of individuals in the 11231 zip code that are most impacted by Covid-19.

Red Hook Relief has more than 75 volunteers who work to deliver hot meals, fresh produce, shelf stable groceries and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks, face shields and gloves to high-risk neighbors who are unable to leave their homes. Their work has been made possible by a collective donation fund.

Red Hook Relief had noticed a large drop-off in volunteers as the city has started to open up.

To request help, call or text 646-481-5041 or email [email protected].

This is the website to fill out if you are interested in volunteering: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2CXj1h2ExYhXawxDhT5N5UTbUiYpftLOQJdR2cGI98xVr3Q/viewform

The group is entirely funded by community donations. All of the donations go to their emergency grocery fund, which is spent on sourcing groceries for the most at-risk neighbors who are financially and physically unable to purchase food.

You can donate via Venmo (@RedHookRelief last 4 digits of phone number 1367) and Cash App ($RedHookRelief).

In the end of June, a pipe broke during NYCHA maintenance and unfortunately left 16 buildings (1,050) apartments without water for almost 12 hours. The water was murky and brown once it came back on.

According to Red Hook Relief founder Jacqui Painter, the mutual aid group was able to step up during this time and purchase, package and distribute over 600 gallons of water by 4:00 p.m. that same day to help out the residents without water.

Tariq Manon