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Restoring the Union canal: a volunteer-led project in New York

A neighborhood-led restoration of the Union canal needs $2,150 for saplings and equipment.

🇺🇸 United States1,686 views
Grayson A. Campos
Email verified
New York
The Union canal has been used as an informal dump for years. This May, 76 neighbors turned up for a first cleanup, filling 143 bags in a single morning. Now we want to restore it for good. We have a plan agreed with the district council, including native species selected by a local botanist. The area floods more each year, and fish have returned for the first time in a decade after our first cleanup. Restoring it will protect homes and bring back shade. All the labor is volunteered. We just need materials. Funds buy saplings, gloves, bags, hire of a skip, and signage. Where the $2,150 goes: • Native saplings and stakes: $560 • Tools and protective gear: $580 • Waste removal and skip hire: $760 • Signage and educational materials: $250 I'll pay this kindness forward the moment I'm able to.

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  • Ratna Dinda Maulana 🇮🇩 · $25

    “Been where you are, it gets better. - Semarang”

  • Anonymous 🇮🇹 · $50

    “Keep your head up. I'm in Bergamo, thinking of you.”

  • Joseph E. Jefferson 🇬🇧 · $50

    “God bless. Hope this covers a bit of it. - Manchester”

  • Dwi Satria Tampubolon 🇮🇩 · $22.50

    “Wish I could do more. Hope you get the rest soon. - Bogor”

  • Derek K. Romero 🇨🇦 · $10

    “Good luck. - Edmonton”

  • Anonymous 🇵🇭 · $10

    “Be well. I'm in Calamba, thinking of you.”

  • Karin Jönsson 🇸🇪 · $5
  • Asher Sims 🇺🇸 · $30

    “All the best. Only $30 but hope it helps. - Bellevue”

  • Anonymous 🇵🇰 · $100

    “Every little bit - Mardan”

  • Leonardo Felipe Farias 🇧🇷 · $20
  • Nalini B. Van der Merwe 🇿🇦 · $20

    “Rooting for you. Gave what I could this week. - Bloemfontein”

  • Dedi Winata 🇮🇩 · $25

    “Wishing you the best. Thought of Grayson all day after reading this. - Jakarta”

  • Uchenna Danjuma Onyeama 🇳🇬 · $5
  • Colton Fisher 🇬🇧 · $15
  • Anonymous 🇳🇵 · $5
  • Kylie L. Avila 🇺🇸 · $50

    “Every little bit. Gave what I could this week. - Fresno”

  • Efe Nneka Lasisi 🇳🇬 · $31.50
  • Hana Rima Darwish 🇪🇬 · $34
  • Rohan A. Gala 🇮🇳 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇺🇸 · $20

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  • Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Grayson

    • It's all in the list in the story. native saplings and stakes is the big one at $560, I'll post a receipt when it's paid. Thanks, that means a lot.

  • Thanks for sharing this, Grayson. Projects like this are what make a place worth living in. Greetings from Iztapalapa.

    • So sorry you're going through this, Grayson. Your post was clear and honest. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry. All the best.

      • Ronke Wunmi MusaID verified

        Hope it all works out, Grayson. Shared it with a few friends. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry.

        • Thinking of you. Shared this with my family. Please keep us posted. All the best

          • Hope it all works out, Grayson. It takes guts to ask. Well done. Thinking of New York.

            • any update on how things are going in New York?

              • hang in there, Grayson. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes.

                • sending strength, Grayson. More neighborhoods should do this. I'm in public service myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. All the best.

                  • Hope it all works out, Grayson. Shared this with my family. Greetings from Jakarta.

                    • Jimena L. SantosPhoto verified

                      Stay strong. Hope this works out for you. Thinking of New York.

                      • you're not alone. Looking forward to the next update. Thinking of New York.

                        • Stay strong. I hope things turn around soon. Thinking of New York.

                          • Wishing you peace, Grayson. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Love from Málaga.

                            • Hope it all works out, Grayson. Shared this with my family. This is the second need I've supported on here and the first that made me cry

                              • Hope you get there. The breakdown of costs made it easy to trust. Take care

                                • Hope things get better soon. Hope this works out for you. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. Blessings.

                                  • thinking of you and your family, Grayson. Shared this with my family. Love from Mecca.

                                    • Hang in there, Grayson. Hope the build day goes well, wish I lived closer. I'm in accounting myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Blessings.

                                      • I hope things turn around soon. My neighbor in Beersheba donated after I showed her your page.

                                        • Thanks for sharing this. Hope you get there. Love from Reims.

                                          • Sending strength. This could happen to any of us. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected. Thinking of New York

                                            • Good luck. It takes guts to ask. Well done. I hope August is when things finally get easier. Take care!

                                              • I hope things turn around soon. Put this on a community board in Liverpool this morning. Thinking of New York.

                                                $1,766 raised of $2,150

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