Kingston, NY Neighborhood Watch Group Ups the Ante.

By Rebecca Martin

Since February of 2010, Michael and Claudia D’Arcy have provided a resource for the entire Kingston community by developing a citywide Neighborhood Watch Group. The two of them as dynamic leaders have helped to support the City of Kingston by putting a face on resident safety with social media, blogs, searches, events….and busts.

Putting a face on resident safety you ask?  Indeed. In some cases, it helps to make it all the more real and immediate for the residents that it serves and here is an instance where this is truly the case.  The D’Arcy’s have come to this work organically by turning a tragedy into something productive and good and the city of Kingston is better for it.

After over a little more than a year of hitting it hard and using their own resources to do so, they are now looking to turn our citywide Neighborhood Watch Group into a 501c3. In doing so, it will allow for grant opportunities and donations for more grass root initiatives to help secure Kingston’s safety.

Help them to help us by making a contribution to OUR cause – and thanks you two for your dedication and service.

Kingston, NY Neighborhood Watch on Indie Go GO

Help the Queens Galley gain the attention of ABC’s Extreme Makeover.

By Rebecca Martin

Today, I had the pleasure to eat at the Queens Galley for lunch while meeting with Diane Reeder and Farmer Jesica Clark. The place was packed at noontime, so we found some open seats and shared our table with others while waiting to be served.

Waiting to be served? At a soup kitchen?

We were greeted promptly by a volunteer who brought us soup, salad and a main course of home made falafel, hummus and a tofu dish. It was “meatless” Monday after all – and it was really good thanks to their dedicated volunteers.

What Diane and the Galley have created is a community atmosphere – something unique and important to support and maintain. If you haven’t had the time to volunteer, or the means to make a contribution – here is a chance to do something meaningful to support them. Diane is asking the community to write a letter to direct the producers to their video so that perhaps they are selected for an ‘Extreme Makeover” in the not too distant future. Diane tells me that they will decide their filming schedule by June and writes:

The Queens Galley has applied for ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

One of the selection criteria is to show we have a broad base of community support. While WE know how many of you are there for us every day now we need to show the casting company that Queens Galley is truly ‘owned’ by a community of people that care. Some of you have eaten here, some of you have gotten shelter here, some of you have sliced, diced and chopped others have written checks and reposted/retweeted when we have a need, event or concern.

The building we are in is literally crumbling around us. This past Winter we met with challenges so severe we came through only by the grace of God and the generosity of people like YOU.

Please consider contacting the production company, either via snail mail (the address is above for Lock and Key Productions 5062 Lankershim Blvd Suite 3005 North Hollywood CA 91601) or via email EMHEcastingdept@gmail.com

Remember to include the link to our youtube video application:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EY2_iHSsDc

Tell them of your experience with us, have you been here? Have you been inspired by us? Do you know someone who has been helped by us?

On behalf of all of us here who are crossing our fingers, lighting candles, burning sage and looking for lucky charms; we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your help in keeping us open and able to be here every day for anyone in need, no questions asked. We’re helping to feed the Hudson Valley…one meal at a time.

 

Diane