The holidays always bring plenty of opportunities for neighbors to give back to one another. On Myrtle Avenue, local businesses and organizations are working to help connect those in need with those who want to give. Below is a comprehensive list of where to give or receive this holiday season on Myrtle:

FORT GREENE TOY DRIVES

Two local toy drives are collecting new, unwrapped toys for all ages, which will benefit local families. Toys are being accepted for both drives at the 5th Annual Fort Greene Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec 9 from 4-5:30 (click here for event details).

FORT GREENE SNAP

Bring new, unwrapped toys to the Fort Greene SNAP office during their regular business hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, at 324 Myrtle Ave (between Carlton & Washington Pk), until Dec 18. The office is also accepting donations of canned and non-perishable foods, as well as coats for all ages.

WALT WHITMAN HOUSES

Bring new, unwrapped toys to the Walt Whitman Resident Association’s office during their regular business hours: Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, at 132 Carlton Ave, until Dec 18.

TOYS FOR THE LITTLEST ONES

Toys and books are being collected to support the efforts of Little Essentials, who works year-round to connect families living in poverty with children under the age of 5 with essentials. Donations can be made at The Owl and the Pussycat Salon (154 Vanderbilt Av, at Myrtle) and Corkscrew Brooklyn (489 Myrtle Av, btwn Hall & Ryerson). See flyer below for details on most-needed toys and types of toys not accepted.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

The Brooklyn Book Bodega
December 8 & 15, 10am – 1pm
Ingersoll Community Center, 177 Myrtle Ave (at Prince St)

CLOTHING, HOME GOODS, & TOYS

Green in BKLYN is collecting NEW articles of clothing, home goods, and toys for the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger (BSCAH) holiday donation drive. Donations can be brought to the shop at 432 Myrtle until December 21st. For more info on this campaign, click here.

COATS & CLOTHING

Coats and clothing donations are being accepted locally at Bishop Memorial Mission. For details, contact the church at 127 Emerson Pl (corner of Myrtle Ave) or (917) 648-3836.

Know of other donation sites?

Let us know and we’ll add it to the list. You can also find opportunities for where to donate your time by visiting our local volunteering guide.

We’ve had an amazing year here on Myrtle Avenue, and we have a lot of people to thank for that. Whether it’s keeping the street clean, supporting local businesses, hosting community events, installing new public art, or connecting local teens with jobs – it really does take a village to pull all of our programs. Throughout November, we will be giving thanks to just a few of our community members who served as wonderful partners this year and contributed to making Myrtle Avenue a great place to be.

Check back here throughout the month to see our growing list of appreciation, which we’ll add to every day. Or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter each day to see our daily #myrtlethanks.

Know an outstanding Myrtle Avenue community member you think deserves some gratitude? Send us a message to nominate someone.

01/30: Myrtle Avenue’s Key Food

Our friends at Myrtle Avenue’s Key Food answered the call when we asked for their help to order turkeys for our monthly food pantry in November, just before Thanksgiving. Now in our 2nd year of partnership, together we’ve provided a Thanksgiving turkey to hundreds of our neighbors. We are grateful for a community of businesses that is as committed to serving this neighborhood as we are. #myrtlethanks

02/30: The Hort

It’s a dirty business, but someone has to plant flowers, pull weeds, and lay down fresh mulch so that Myrtle Avenue’s tree pits and planters look pretty. Luckily, The Hort steps in to do just that. This past year, we’ve worked with crews from The Horticultural Society of New York to undertake all of that work that helps keep flowers, seasonal plantings, and trees looking good along Myrtle Avenue.

Vitality Health & Wellness Bar was one of 12 local businesses who served as a mentor & employer for students in the 2018 class of the Myrtle Avenue Youth Entrepreneur & Mentorship Program.

03/30: Local Summer Youth Employers

Our summer teen program wouldn’t work if we didn’t have local businesses to provide work assignments & mentor the teens in our annual summer job + entrepreneur program. THANK YOU to the 75 local businesses who have participated in the program since 2007.

04/30: Hopalong Andrew

Bringing smiles to little ones across the neighborhood with his cowboy tunes and a warm “Howdy, pardner!”, we’re thankful for talented neighbors like Hopalong Andrew! Hopalong and many others helped us kick off our first ever kids music series at our new plaza, and we can’t wait to have him back next year. #myrtlethanks

05/30: Ingersoll, Farragut, and Whitman Resident Associations

This #MyrtleThanks goes out to our local Resident Associations at Ingersoll, Whitman and Farragut Houses. Thanks for being so passionate about the work you do and bringing resources to residents, by taking a lead role in the Fort Greene & Farragut Fresh Pantry.

06/30: Tanda Francis and “Adorn Me“

We love having public art on Myrtle. We give a #myrtlethanks today to artist Tanda Francis for creating the incredibly beautiful & powerful piece “Adorn Me,” on view now at Myrtle & Washington Pk in Fort Greene Park. Read about the piece at Tanda Francis, “Adorn Me”.

07/30: Courtney at Brown Bike Girl

We know cool people. Cool people like Courtney of The Brown Bike Girl who are passionate about creating healthier communities. Courtney planned a series of fun, free bike adventures departing from our Myrtle Citibike stations this summer, and if you participated you know how cool she is.  We appreciate you, Courtney! #myrtlethanks

08/30: Kevin Shirley at Apple Bank

Kevin has served the community as Apple Bank branch manager for years. He courageously took on an ever bigger role in the neighborhood this year – as the BID’s second ever Board Chair, replacing retiring Chair Dr. Schutte of Pratt.  We’re thankful to work with leaders willing to step up on behalf of the Myrtle Avenue community, and welcome Kevin to the BID helm! #myrtlethanks

09/30: Danny, Neighborhood UPS Driver

Danny of UPS – who’s been delivering in Clinton Hill since 1997! – always goes the extra step (literally) & with a smile in a job that’s anything by easy. That’s why we’re serving him & all of our local postal carriers a big #myrtlethanks today!

10/30: Ingersoll Gardeners

It’s been an honor to work alongside the Ingersoll Gardeners for almost ten years. Thrilled to see them get the recognition they deserve this year as leaders in this community: at Groundswells annual gala and by the local Community Heroes project.  The gardeners are truly heroes in so many ways, and we’re thankful for all they give to #myrtleavenue.

1940’s, Sailors at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

11/30: Veterans

To all of our local veterans, we give a hearty #MyrtleThanks. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your families have made in the name of service to our country.

12/30: Move on Myrtle Performers

29 Plaza events this summer = A BIG #Myrtlethanks to the 25 musicians, 4 DJs, 11 kids performers, 8 yoga teachers, 1 personal trainer that made June 21st to September 21st in the Plaza a huge success. We couldn’t have done it without you!

88th Precinct runners at the New York Marathon, 2018.

13/30: NYPD 88th Precinct

A big #myrtlethanks to our local law enforcement for supporting our work via organizing community meetings, helping us obtain permits, co-sponsoring bike registration events, joining our local NSTAT team and more!

Students enjoying their time at Da Ciro.

14/30: V-ELMS

Special #MyrtleThanks today to local org V-ELMS who connects local middle schoolers with adult mentors & unique learning experiences in the neighborhood, like this fun day at Da Ciro on #myrtleave. To learn more or to sign-up as a mentor, visit V-ELMS.

14/30: Streetplus

A huge #myrtlethanks to our street team #Streetplus who keep #myrtleave in tip-top shape by removing graffiti, watering our plants & trees, sweeping up litter and emptying trash bins EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Thank you! 📷: Street Ambassador, Harouna

14/30: Joseph M.

Loves family, friends, fresh food, anything tech, Pokémon Go, podcasts, writing and searching out deals — and Myrtle Avenue. He’s our friend – and boy are we lucky. A HUGE #myrtlethanks to Joseph who has been our right hand in everything from Plaza and general events + helping on streetscapes programs. Thank YOU, Joseph!

17/30: Turkey Donors

Look what you did! Because of neighbors like you, we have given out 400 turkeys in our community this season, at the Fresh Pantry and to a local shelter.  We’re thankful for neighbors like you, and all our supporting partners…#myrtlethanks!

18/30: Misha TyutTyunik

We’re thankful for color. And specifically, we’re thankful to artist @mdot_season for bringing lots of it to #myrtleave this past summer with his playful #fortgreene mural at Myrtle & Carlton. #myrtlethanks #30daysofthanks

19/30: Myrtle Village Green

We continue to be impressed by the active and diverse community at Myrtle Village Green, a local community garden that is not only a garden, but also a classroom, gathering place, and a true center for community. And that’s why we send them a neighborly #myrtlethanks!

20/30: Benefit Kitchen

When we met our friends at Benefit Kitchen, we knew we were going to make magic as partners. Tech + mission + heart are the ingredients they use to produce a tremendous positive impact on people’s lives, and we are thankful that Benefit Kitchen trusted us to bring this innovative tool to our community this year. Founder Melanie is up for a Downtown Brooklyn tech award this year, and we’re rooting for her! Vote for Benefit Kitchen here:

Vote for Benefit Kitchen

#myrtlethanks

21/30: Recess Art

We are grateful to be part of a community that is home to artists, arts institutions, and a creative spirit.  A wonderful addition to our neighborhood is Recess (hyperlink), an organization that reimagines space for art, how people engage with artistic processes, and art’s role in conversations about justice. Thanks for choosing Clinton Hill as your new home, Recess #myrtlethanks

22/30: Our Followers

We wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! And we also say THANKS to you, #myrtleave’s followers, fans, neighbors, champions, and more. It’s because of you and your engagement in your community that make #myrtleave a truly one-of-a-kind place. #myrtlethanks

23/30: Intergenerational Community Arts Council

Check out this awesome block party on #MyrtleAve planned by the Intergenerational Community Arts Council with artist-in-residence, Najee Omar. #Myrtlethanks for bringing arts and cultural events to the Avenue this year, including our biggest #BlackArtstory kick-off event to date.

24/30: Myrtle Avenue Small Businesses

On #SmallBizSaturday we send a #myrtlethanks to each merchant behind the 150 locally-owned businesses on #myrtleave in #fortgreene & #clintonhill. Thru their hard work, they help keep our neighborhood unique, home-grown & diverse. THANK YOU!

25/30: NSTAT

#Myrtlethanks to our NSTAT stakeholders which consists of Ingersoll residents, local org partners and NYC agencies. Together, you keep the needs of Ingersoll residents at the forefront + work hand-in-hand to hear and try to address them.

26/30: Tillary Women’s Shelter Staff

The Tillary Women’s Shelter has a staff of dedicated, caring people who are committed to supporting the 200 residents there. We were honored to begin working with them this year, helping to raise $10K last month for essential everyday items like bras, socks and toiletries. We’re inspired by the staff at Tillary and all our local shelters, and reminded of the power and importance of helping others.

27/30: Our Community Schools and Educators

How sweet is this note written by a @TrilokSchool student about everything they are thankful for?! With that in mind today’s #myrtlethanks goes out to all our community schools and educators for everything they do in and out of the classroom!

28/30: Crosswalk Petition Signers

#MyrtleThanks: To the 1,000+ petition signers, we say THANK YOU for helping to get @NYC_DOT to install a much-needed pedestrian crosswalk at Myrtle & Grand! Thanks to your support, DOT has scheduled a crosswalk to be installed there any day now!

29/30: Department of Sanitation

#MyrtleThanks to @nycsanitation for picking up trash, recyclables and those errant couches and pieces of furniture that would otherwise make Myrtle Avenue a cluttered mess. Thanks to your important work and tremendous efforts, our streets are clean and our community beautiful.  You’re part of the foundation that makes our community great!

30/30: Community Heroes

We are lucky to have residents, artists, businesses and organizations that make our community such a wonderful place  Our final #myrtlethanks goes to Community Heroes, the public art project that shines a light on the everyday heroes. Nominate a hero, click here:

Community Heroes

And though we celebrate Thanksgiving once a year, we are still grateful and THANKFUL to everyone that helps make our community great, on a daily basis!

In September, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is partnering with Brooklyn-based women’s health group Tell Every Amazing Lady (T.E.A.L.) for national ovarian cancer awareness month. For the third year in a row, we will be teaming up with T.E.A.L. to participate to help raise awareness by adorning Myrtle Avenue storefronts and street trees with teal ribbon. The purpose of the ribbons is to bring awareness to women about the disease that over 22,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with this year.

T.E.A.L’s primary mission is to educate women about ovarian cancer and to raise funding for research. Several businesses are providing opportunities this month for their customers to easily donate while they shop. Stay tuned for upcoming teal-colored promotions!

Want to help support T.E.A.L.?

Here are three easy ways you can help the fight against ovarian cancer:

• Sign up for the 10th annual T.E.A.L. walk/run
• Click here to get involved or to donate
• Volunteer to help us tie ribbons on Myrtle Avenue on September 14th. Contact us to sign-up.

A new selfie spot has popped up on Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene. A colorful mural was painted last week at Myrtle and Carlton Avenues by artist Misha Tyutyunik, and commissioned by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership.

Fort Greene Patch has the full story:

“A new mural to show pride in Fort Greene has taken over the side of a laundromat on Myrtle Avenue this week.

Artist Misha Tyutyunik painted the colorful “FORT GREENE” mural on the side of the 340 Myrtle Ave. laundromat, on the corner of Carlton Avenue, which he completed on Wednesday.

The piece was put together by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, who said they wanted to brighten up the corner with a piece celebrating Fort Greene.

“We had a vision for a simple mural that would bring some life to a blank wall and express neighborhood pride, and Misha did a fantastic job executing it in his style,” said Meredith Phillips Almeida, executive director of the group, in a statement.

Tyutyunik started the piece earlier this week and it took him two days to transform the drab green wall into the colorful neighborhood piece, Phillips Almeida said.”

Joined by local leaders, city officials, and business owners, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership Executive Director Meredith Phillips Almeida cuts the ribbon to officially open Myrtle Avenue Plaza and to kick off its summer series “Move on Myrtle” of free programs in the new public space. More images from yesterday’s event available here . (All photos by Samuel Stuart.)

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership (the Partnership) officially opened Myrtle Avenue Plaza, a 25,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn between Hall Street and Emerson Place, on Thursday, June 21 with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony aligned with the kick off of its free summer public program series: “Move on Myrtle.”

Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership Executive Director Meredith Phillips Almeida hosted a brief ceremony attended by officials and local leaders including Raffaele DiMaggio, Vice-President, TD Bank, and the Partnership Board Member; Gregg Bishop , Commissioner, Small Business Services, City of New York; Laurie A. Cumbo , Majority Leader, New York City Council; Emily Weidenhof , Plaza Program Director, New York City Department of Transportation; Joseph R. Lentol , New York State Assemblyman; and Frances Bronet , President, Pratt Institute.

Visitors to the Plaza on opening day enjoyed performances for Make Music New York, a citywide music celebration, by acts including the Benny Lopez Latin Jazz Band, Edwin Vazquez Musica, Utril Rhaburn Nomadic, Squala Orphan, Mijori Goodwin, and Thomas Piper and Friends.

Myrtle Avenue Plaza was initially conceived in 2007 by the Partnership, which oversees the BID and the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project, and it was one of the first public space improvement projects funded by the New York City (NYC) Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Plaza Program in 2008. The project spans four blocks and turned two blocks of an asphalt service road into a tree-lined pedestrian destination with 50 benches and tables forming a space for recreation and community events. Construction of Myrtle Avenue Plaza was managed by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), which broke ground on the project in October 2014.

The project cost approximately $7 million. In addition to the funding from NYC DOT, funding came from the New York City Council through Letitia James, who now is the city’s Public Advocate and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office at the recommendation of former President Marty Markowitz. Since the project was underway for nearly 10 years, current New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo and current Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams tirelessly supported the project through to completion.

“ We are proud to see the residents and merchants in our community enjoying this vibrant new public space,” says the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership Executive Director Meredith Phillips Almeida. “It’s been exciting to watch our vision come to life after years of community outreach, fundraising, design, and construction. We look forward to producing programs this summer in Myrtle Avenue Plaza that bring an element of art and culture to the avenue and that allow us to serve our community as well as attract new visitors to our district.”

“Through our network of 75 BIDs across the five boroughs, we know that communities thrive when they come together,” says Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services. “ By opening this new plaza, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is helping to build a stronger neighborhood by providing a space for residents, merchants, and visitors to come together.”

“ The development of Myrtle Avenue Plaza has created a vital epicenter for the neighborhood and its local businesses. TD Bank is proud to support ‘Move On Myrtle’ 2018 as part of its commitment to ensuring that small businesses thrive,” says Peter M. Meyer, NYC Market President, TD Bank.

One of the Myrtle Avenue Plaza project highlights is a public art installation by New York-based artist Matthew Geller titled I Ought To (2017) for which he used carbon and stainless steel, cast iron, cast glass, and concrete to create a trio of round stools capped by a circular corten steel and hand-cast glass concave canopy. According to the artist, “ the canopy is a witty conflation of the pedestrian and the sacred: a 19th-century illuminated manhole cover enlarged to the size of a rose window, a standard feature of Gothic cathedrals.”

The first public programming series to take place at Myrtle Avenue Plaza, “Move on Myrtle” is sponsored by TD Bank and will include fitness programming, interactive events for kids, lunchtime jazz performances, and sunset dance parties. Below is the full list of summer 2018 programs, which are free and open to the public. All will take place at the Myrtle Avenue Plaza on Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Emerson Place. Subway: G train to Classon Avenue.

A full lineup of events can be found here.

From local events to street cleaning to new business wants, Myrtle Avenue shoppers had a lot to say in our recent neighborhood survey. Over 550 people responded to the survey both online and through paper surveys available at local businesses and distributed at local events. Below are some highlights of what people had to say.

Top 5 Takeaways

1. THE BIG DRAWS The top three activities that bring people to Myrtle Avenue most often are grocery shopping, dining out, and banking
2. COMPETITORS Fulton Mall and online shopping are the places survey takers find themselves shopping most often (besides Myrtle Avenue of course)
3. SHOPPING When asked, “what items had you purchased in the past month that you wish you could have bought on Myrtle Avenue?,” the top three responses were apparel, specialty or organic food, and a  gym membership
4. APPEARANCES 90%+ of people are satisfied with Myrtle Avenue’s cleanliness and appreciate the custom tree guards that feature local artwork
5. EVENTS When asked about what types of local events people would like to see happen on Myrtle Avenue, the most popular responses were live music and health and wellness activities.

Some Choice Words

When asked to name businesses people would like to see open on Myrtle Avenue, it was clear there are some things more popular than others. The word cloud above shows that the clear winner for “most in demand” business is a full-service gym.

We asked survey takers to use three words they would use to best describe Myrtle Avenue. The clear favorites here were diverse, convenient and friendly.

Who We Were Talking To

Of the 560 survey takers, we asked a few simple demographic questions to help us ensure we were hearing from a diverse group of locals. Below is a brief snapshot:

• Over two-thirds of the survey takers lived on Myrtle Avenue or nearby in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill
• About half of the people have lived in the neighborhood for 10 years or more
• 16% of people lived in a household earning less than $25,000/year; another 20% fell within $50,000-100,000/year; another 20% with household incomes of $150,000+/year
• 35% of respondents have children living in their household
• About half of the survey takers were between 25-44 years old, and another third between 45-64 years old.

Have Something To More to Say?

Although the survey is now closed, you can always provide feedback or ideas about the Myrtle Avenue to us. Send us an email or give us a call at (718) 230-1689.