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On Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents who register with Addabbo’s office will be able to collect a free rain barrel at the NYFAC building at 164-14 Cross Bay Blvd.
By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) are set to partner with the City Department of Environmental Protection this weekend in Howard Beach for another giveaway event.
On Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents who register with Addabbo’s office will be able to collect a free rain barrel at the New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) building, located at 164-14 Cross Bay Blvd.
The DEP has allotted only 50 rain barrels for this event, so in order to guarantee that you receive a barrel, you must register through Addabbo’s office. Those who register will get to pick up their rain barrels between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Then, from noon to 1 p.m., if there are any leftover barrels, they will be given away to anyone who did not register on a first-come, first-served basis.
Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo and Coiuncilwoman Ariola
“After a successful giveaway event in Glendale back in May, I am happy to bring another rain barrel giveaway to Howard Beach,” Addabbo said. “The last event was so popular that we had to turn away registrants because we filled the 50-barrel quota in just a few short days. That goes to show the usefulness of these barrels. By storing rain water in the barrels, people can use that to water their gardens or wash their car instead of using the tap from the house. This not only saves money on their water bills, but it is environmentally friendly as well.”
The rain barrels are 55-gallon plastic barrels that attach to a rain gutter to collect and store excess water during periods of rainfall. That rainwater can later be used to complete tasks around the house and outdoors, rather than using fresh water.
“Rain barrels can help take some of the pressure off of our local sewer systems when it rains, and as many of our constituents know, those systems are especially prone to flooding and backups any time we get a storm,” Ariola noted. “Not only that, but these barrels also can help homeowners to save on water bills by providing an environmentally-friendly alternative to using municipal water sources. Really, these are a win-win for all, and I hope everyone takes advantage of the program.”
To register for a free rain barrel, call Addabbo’s district office at (718) 738-1111 and leave your first and last name, and a phone number.
