Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Listen to the Buck Sexton Show Live on TheBlaze Radio

Technology

Will This Story Change Your View of Occupy? Wait Until You Hear How They’re Helping Sandy Victims

Nov. 8, 2012 3:12pm Liz Klimas

For some, donating money to a disaster relief organization might not be as appealing as donating physical goods. In an effort to help victims of Hurricane Sandy rebuild their lives and replace items destroyed in the storm, some have taken to creating online wedding registries on their behalf.

Using sites like Amazon and Target, volunteers have established donation registries, some for specific couples and others for more general community needs.

Mashable reported, for example, that a group going by “Occupy Sandy” established a registry using Amazon. The list included items like blankets, long underwear, flashlights, water pumps, gas cans, diapers and tools. The team of Brooklyn residents who created this registry wrote on the site that they will organize and distribute items they receive to those in need. Many members of Occupy Sandy are self-professed Occupy Wall Street supporters, and however controversial the group may have been during protests last year, the effectiveness of the registry is stunning. When you scroll through it, many of the requested items have been purchased or are close to reaching the desired quantity after only being established on Nov. 4. There’s an Occupy Sandy NJ registry too.

Bloomberg reported Occupy Sandy member John Heggestuen saying the volunteers hope to provide more help where conventional disaster relief organizations might be lacking right now. Last week, the Red Cross was criticized for not providing relief to Staten Islanders in a more timely fashion.

Hurricane Sandy Volunteers Establishing Online Wedding Registries to Streamline Needs and Donations for Relief Effort

(Image: Occupy Sandy registry screenshot)

“We realized that they [Occupy Sandy organizers] knew exactly what they needed and just weren’t getting it quickly enough so we thought a wedding registry would give them exactly what they needed,” Katherine Dolan, who created the registry, along with with Alex Nordenson and Heggestuen, said to ABC News.

Watch Mashable’s report about the use of registries in this way:

On a more personal level, ABC News also reported a story about a woman helping a friend’s family in a similar fashion. Ashley Diamond, a runner and blogger, established a registry on Target for fellow runner Jen Correa of Staten Island and her family. Diamond reported seeing a record amount of traffic on her blog after posting about the registry.

(Image: Screenshot of Target registry)

“This is an example of social media and things that didn’t exist a few years ago can do so much good in the world,” Diamond said, according to ABC News. “The thing that made me just feel so phenomenal is that the blog community, you feel like it’s a small tight-knit community, but you realize how big it is.”

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (91)

Thornyrose13
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:44pm
Even ideological idiots can be nice people and do the right thing. I disapprove of the Occupy movement, and applaud those who are actually trying to help their neighbors. But like any ad hoc charity, I would feel better with a little objective oversight to make sure this doesn’t turn into another scam.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- buttpatriot
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:56pm
  true american heros…
  
  Report this comment
- isobamamadd
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:58pm
  The more you dig into the Wall street mess and the bailouts of the Banks you will see that not all of these people are communists.
  http://www.westernjournalism.com/obama-administration-facing-massive-federal-lawsuit/
  “The idea was that those who direct the overall conspiracy could use the differences in those two so-called ideologies [marxism/fascism/socialism v. democracy/capitalism] to enable them [the Illuminati] to divide larger and larger portions of the human race into opposing camps so that they could be armed and then brainwashed into fighting and destroying each other.”
  
  Myron Fagan
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:02pm
  Americans at heart are among the most charitable and helpful of people in the world; even the nutcases and ‘useful idiots’ of the Occupy movements can help out. Just expect the puppeteers behind the Occupy movements will use them in media campaigns to ‘show how good and honest they are’ as the anarchists are ordered to march.
  
  Report this comment
- Amica
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:04pm
  Ditto
  
  Report this comment
- brickmoon
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:07pm
  Yes, and imagine how much good could have been done to help the victims with the $17 million in overtime pay that had to be spent on law enforcement in Zuccotti Park alone.
  
  Report this comment
- SoCaLCapitalist
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:26pm
  sadly alot of occupiers probably lost the parents basements they had been living in prior to the occupy movement It’s gonna be a hard lesson for many of them to realize it isn’t fun when someone or thing like a hurricane decides to take what their family worked hard to earn.
  
  I hope he occupiers see the light and realize tey can’t change the natural disasters but they can elect politiians that will allo them to save for their own family. Sadly the east coast is going to realize the only people you can really trust is your family and true friends.
  
  Report this comment
- bhelmet
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:29pm
  FIRST question that comes to mind (for me) – What is their angle?
  
  Report this comment
- michael48
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:43pm
  he!! send them to Benghazi…maybe they can find out what the he!! the child king is hiding…but good job with the Sandy folks…and indeed as we find out that the Wall St. crowd is no different than the Oblamer crowd..they’re not all wrong …unfortunately they fell into the socialist take over twits…
  
  Report this comment
- Clara88
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 6:42pm
  Donald J. Trump‏@realDonaldTrump
  
  Tweet me back if u think we should start a petition to fire @hardball_chris for his comments on Sandy & the death & destruction it caused.
  
  Report this comment
- Mil Mom
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 7:56pm
  It says they “will distribute the goods when they receive them” the question is, can they be trusted to follow through or will some of them be filtered off or sold for profit?
  
  Report this comment
- Tyler520
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 9:47pm
  This smells like a scam. They had better account for every cent, else be prosecuted for fraud.
  
  Furthermore, it doesn’t make up for previous behavior; Skinheads and Klansmen clean up local parks, and donate to charities, too – nothing but a PR stunt.
  
  Report this comment
- rickc34
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 11:05pm
  They doing a better job than fema and the red cross. This makes Obama look like a bigger dolt. Good job kids.
  
  Report this comment
- NeilChapin
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 6:26am
  Trying to change their image. Read fresh political comentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:25pm
  Is this a real [OCCUPY](commie) MOVEMENT or a normal help-group just needing a new “edge” to improve their help-results?? Is this the “new office” ******-outreach/CAIR in NYC?? Is this the “we only want to help you and here is the way-up.”??…to communism and/or Sharialaw??
  
  Report this comment
Jaybw6
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:43pm
It’s ironic how those who protest capitalism and the free market in favor of collectivism found an innovative way to help those in need by using tools created by capitalism and the free market when the State solution failed.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:04pm
  And the leaders behind the Occupy movement will exploit it for all the propaganda they can milk from it for Obama to use and confuse the remainder of the nation. He will probably build a case for ‘why the collective is better than the Republic.”
  
  Report this comment
libertarian-revolution
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:40pm
Doesn’t change my opinion. It’s Occupy Wall Street supporters who are doing this. Not Occupy Wall Street themselves. Another example of current society. Someone else does all the work and others claim the glory.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
WiredRight
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:39pm
I’m sure there are “good people” in the occupy movement but I think given a choice, many of the occupiers would choose looting over helping in a time of need.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Shasta
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:39pm
This is nothing. Van Jones says these poeple already saved the entire country.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
CWPrequired
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:39pm
Nope! Same as the terrorist offering the $5mil bucks that was turned down.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Jenasus
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:38pm
OWS Obama’s World Sucks!!!
Always has and always will.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
chips1
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:38pm
My understanding of the story leads me to believe that the OWS people have set up a website so that other people can donate? What are they going to donate? Obama is supposed to handle this. He wanted it, so he can have it. He should have been careful about what he wished for. Charity begins at home. I bought insurance. Why didn’t they?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:38pm
Did anyone actually watch the video? The got 12 blankets, Mexican Flags and sex toys. that’s the list. This is for themselves. Little to nothing will be delivered to anyone but themselves.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- GardenoftheGods
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:45pm
  That was my very 1st thought! They’re using the victims to help themselves…if that’s so, well there’s a special place in hell for people like that!! I’m thankful that Mercury One heard my plea to help the Rockaways…no one had been there to help more than a week after Sandy hit. Now they have help!
  
  Report this comment
Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:38pm
Are they Union?

If not – kick them to the curb. We don’t need the help of NON-UNION people.

Heil Hitler

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:16pm
  LMAO – good one
  
  Report this comment
Star Spangled
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:36pm
Hey even a broken clock is right twice day , it’s still broken.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DelaWiz
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:36pm
Hezbollah is very helpful too, but I don’t hear anyone comparing them to the Boy Scouts or Red Cross. A lot of bad (or downright evil!) organizations stumble onto good deeds, but you have to weigh the complete works to form a balanced opinion. If you just fall for the first charade they pull, that seems…well, unbalanced!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RightUnite
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:33pm
Eh…. Nah… Doesn’t change my mind….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:33pm
Surely nobody believes these are the kids from the streets of occupy. Beware the “youth civil defense force, better funded than the military” You can bet that if nothing else this is simply an ‘organizing’ dry run for recruitment. Who is handing them pay? Who is directing them are th questions. This BS has been in the works for years. Now it is time to make the Hitler Youth look fun, interesting and noble. Expect it.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
seriouslywhy
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:31pm
This is a good idea, but it won’t change my opinion of the occupy movement at all – they have burned that bridge.

This is a good idea – too bad they didn’t think of it before they criticized Romney for his donation event gathering food and supplies for the hurricane victims.

Do you think the criticism of Romney would be another example of “shooting first and aiming later?”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
nostromo
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:30pm
The Amazon registry has the donations go to The Church of St. Luke and St Matthew in Brooklyn who then distributes out to those in need. The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew is an Episcopal church.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
spfoam1
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:27pm
It is good that they help, but the motive for helping is not what it appears to be. The government and OWS (Soros groupies) don’t want to be outdone by The Blaze and Mercury One. I recommend washing those blankets.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
seriouslywhy
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:26pm
The registry set up is a good idea – good for them. (doesn’t change my mind about “occupy”)

Too bad they didn’t think of this before the criticism of Romney when he set up a donation event for food and supplies for the hurricane victims.

Is this another example of “shoot first and aim later?”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
doomytram
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:25pm
Is Urinating and Defecating on peoples property helping the victims? Did someone say Obozo’s Occupy?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
raderby
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:25pm
bet 4 to 1 they will be selling the items for profit. I trust occupy morons like I trust Obloomers when I am on a roof in Benghazi painting an enemy target.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Cavallo
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:24pm
Nothing changes my mind about Marxists. If slimey space aliens invaded and I had a choice of joining with Marxists or the aliens, I’m joining the aliens. Never will I consider Marxists my countrymen, my brothers, or fellow human beings.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
missy8s
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:21pm
It doesn’t change my opinion in even the slightest. I will NEVER stand shoulder to shoulder with a communist, a socialist, a black panther, a KKK member or a Nazi, for any reason, whatsoever.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
asybot12
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:20pm
I hope this true but I have always believed that the Occupy movement was taken over in it’s early days by unions and other radicals. Add in the homeless and other elements out for a freebe and the real occupy movement quickly became a sad thing just taken advantage of.
If this works, well fine with me I never had much good to say or see with FEMA and other bloated “help” groups.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TEIN
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:20pm
Nope, hasn’t changed my opinion…still radical hypocrites that want to tear down the financial structure that makes what they are doing possible…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ilikepeople
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:15pm
Isn’t that what Hamas does?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- spfoam1
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:28pm
  Yes……you hit the nail on the head.
  
  Report this comment
- Ilikepeople
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:34pm
  spfoam1,
  I know, I always hit the nail on the head, but people can’t see the nails.
  
  Report this comment
- ResistSocialism
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:35pm
  right on
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.