QUEENS — More than a dozen Astoria bars will offer drink specials during a pub crawl “Drink Up To Help New York Dry Up!” Saturaday to help Hurricane Sandy victims.
Among venues participating in the event will be Studio Square, Astoria Brewhouse, Veslo and Bud’s Ale House.
The idea is the brainchild of five Astoria residents — Christina Giorgetti, Stephanie Constantinou, Andrea Triantafillou, Angela Meloni and Ashley Tavoularis — who, like so many other New Yorkers, felt the urge to help the victims trying to rebuild their lost homes and businesses.
They formed a team called The Stand By N.Y. and walked around local bars whose owners enthusiastically supported their idea.
“Astoria was lucky to have missed much of the damage done,” said Tavoularis, 24, who works for a creative media agency. “But other communities were completely destroyed by the storm.”
For a $20 donation, participants will get a paper bracelet that will entitle them to drink specials that the bars will be offering.
Registration points are at Canz located at 40-11 30th Avenue, and Gleason's at 33-08 Broadway, starting at 2 p.m.
T-shirts and rubber bracelets reading "Say 'Screw You' to Sandy” will be sold for extra money at those locations. All profits will go to Hurricane Sandy relief.
Studio Square has also been collecting clothes and shoes for the victims.
"We started the clothing and shoe drive last Thursday and in four days had 35 full garbage bags of donations," said Jennifer Barker from Studio Square. All donations are going to the Goodwill of NY/NJ Disaster Relief Fund for Sandy victims, she added. The drive will continue until further notice.
To learn more, go to: https://www.facebook.com/DrinkUpToDryUpNY.
