Whether you’re looking for that special gift before the last day of Hanukkah or in time for Christmas delivery, we’ve got a novel solution to your holiday giving dilemmas—the gift of Brooklyn.

Things are still nowhere near normal in coastal Brooklyn—but your generosity is making a difference.

As we near Thanksgiving, it’s clear that many Brooklyn families will not be celebrating the holiday as they might have imagined. From Gerritsen Beach to Red Hook, communities across Coastal Brooklyn are still reeling from the after effects of Hurricane Sandy; heat, gas, and power remain out for many and for those who’ve been staying in shelters or with friends, it is uncertain when they’ll be able to return home, if at all. Nevertheless, there’s much to be thankful for this week.

The outpouring of concern from our communities in the wake of this monstrous storm confirmed the need for us to establish a locally focused fund to provide Brooklynites with a way to ensure that their charitable giving can benefit the tireless organizations and agencies that serve our neighbors each day.

Last year, friends and family members of a remarkable young Brooklynite turned to the Foundation for help in setting up a fund to honor her life. Before her tragic passing at age 22, Hope Reichbach had been a vibrant presence in local politics and advocacy here in her native Brooklyn. Her loved ones knew that the best way to keep her spirit alive would be by encourage the work of other young people who wanted to give back to their communities.

Brooklyn is one of the world’s great artistic communities. Every year, more and more people in the arts are migrating here and making it their home. But for generations, Brooklyn has also produced great artists—young people with big talent and big dreams who got their start in our borough.

While the Brownsville story most often heard over the past few months has been about tragic gun violence—particularly among youth—the other side of the story, less frequently told, is of a community fighting back and seeking change. And we’re on their side.

With the start of the first day of school comes the sad realization that another fantastic summer in Brooklyn has come to a close. We’re saying goodbye (for now) to afternoons at the Red Hook Pool, movie nights under the Brooklyn Bridge, Celebrate Brooklyn shows in Prospect Park, and the non-stop action on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

Last August on a rooftop in Southside Williamsburg, alongside community leaders armed with paint rollers, we launched our most ambitious effort yet toward making Brooklyn a model of urban environmental sustainability.