Category Archives: News

The Space has a space!

Posted on by Andréa

The Space is no longer just a figurative term! For the next two months we’ll be inhabiting the first floor of the former squat Bullet Space on 3rd Street in between Avenues C and D.  They have generously allowed us to use their ground floor as a pop-up office.  This is a very exciting step and means we’re just that much closer to securing a permanent place.  We’ll be working out of Bullet Space for two months and in that time we’ll be continuing work on our outreach materials, grant writing, and program development.  Here are some photos of our first day getting adjusted to working together in a place other than Tompkins or a coffee shop.

 



 

 

Bicycle Inner Tubes

Posted on by Andréa

A few days ago, I reached out to the national harm reduction listserv “harmred” to find the cheapest place to purchase ties (tourniquets) which have been in high demand this summer.  Since we’re operating on an in-kind budget we need to be resourceful and the listserv really hooked us up with a brilliant, green, resourceful, and sustainable idea: old bicycle inner tubes.  Today on outreach we stopped by Recycle-A-Bicycle on Avenue C and solicited a donation of broken inner tubes.  They were super generous and are letting us pick up their old inner tubes once a week, that I will then wash and cut to size, so we can hand them out on outreach.  What does this all mean?  Well with the economy in the shitter and funds drying up, we stay creative, and this innovation is our edge.  We, at The Space, take no material or idea for granted and are excited to find quirky ways around the system, so that we can best serve our population.  With that said, if you need a tie, text or call 917.399.0299 or email me at andrea@thespaceattompkins.org

 

 

Anyone who doubts the pervasiveness of opiate addiction..

Posted on by Ian

Simply has to read this fascinating article from the BBC News, “Stoned Wallabies Make Crop Circles”..  To Quote from the article ,

“Australian wallabies are eating opium poppies and creating crop circles as they hop around “as high as a kite”, a government official has said.”

Apparently drug-seeking behavior is even crossing the inter-species barrier now!

Cheers!

-Ian

Comfort Socks

Posted on by Andréa

We’ve mentioned the importance of clean socks before, and how it is necessary to change socks regularly to prevent boot rot and other maladies.  Now, thanks to non-profit Comfort Socks, we will be providing people with even more clean socks since we have a sustainable way to replenish them!  We’re extending an enormous thank you to Comfort Socks for providing this invaluable service, and as always, give us a call (917.399.0299) or an email (andrea@thespaceattompkins.org) if you, or someone you know is in need of a clean, dry, NEW pair of socks.

“Crusties” Back in Tompkins . . .

Posted on by Lisa

So as an outreach worker and someone that lives in alphabet city I frequent Tompkins Square Park quite often. And to my surprise and disappointment the park has been pretty much void of all things dirty this summer. And by that I mean the traveling community that I used to be a part of. In the past Tompkins was the meeting ground for these “kids” as I call them even though many reach into the high twenties and thirties age group. But as many have already noticed or at least read about, this year was different. We have been having to actually search for people to service instead of just sitting in the park as in past years. However, as we had suspected many “kids” have returned to Tompkins and can be seen in the grassy area of the park now instead of in “Crusty Row” the line of benches they used to sit in. Even though it is nowhere near as many as it used to be, it is really nice to see some friendly faces back in Tompkins for the summer.

I’m the evidence: Naloxone Works.

Posted on by Andréa

The Harm Reduction Coalition launched a video storytelling campaign called “I’m the evidence: Naloxone Works.” which shares stories of individuals who have saved lives by administering Naloxone on a person experience an overdose.  Check out their facebook page for the campaign, and contact them if you have a story about a time that Naloxone saved a life.