The American Red Cross is asking people to understand that the response will cost millions and encourages you to click, text or call to donate. One may visit their website, call 1-800-REDCROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Though personal items cannot be donated, monetary gifts enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.
Smaller businesses and even those agencies which struggle themselves are holding fundraisers and drives as well. Coyote Ridge Horse Farm in Marlborough is partnering with Penske Truck Rental for a delivery to a Staten Island church in desperate need of baby food, diapers, wipes, canned food, batteries, hand-warmers and other items. “This is not some third-world country,” said farm owner, Connie Dirago, “This is our own back yard.” Items can be dropped at Coyote Ridge Horse Farm or Penske Trucks on Route 9W in Middle Hope. For more information, call (845) 236-1136.
The Punishers LEMC of Ulster motorcycle club will be collecting food, water, clothing and nonperishable food items for Staten Island-area agencies, and promises that 100 percent of donations will go to people in need. There will be an enclosed trailer located at Tim’s Auto on 380 Foxhall Ave., Kingston, with drop off 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Prestige Toyota-Hyundai of Kingston says it will provide a drop-off point at its 756 East Chester St. location for supplies. Items being called for include: “industrial strength” black garbage bags, heavy-duty rubber gloves, water, nonperishable food items, toiletries, feminine products, baby diapers, baby wipes, new underwear and socks (all sizes, kids and adults), gas cans, flashlights and batteries, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and generators.
The New York District Kiwanis Foundation is hopeful for financial donations and are collecting nonperishable items to be collected at Mid-Hudson Workshop for the Disabled at 188 Washington St., Poughkeepsie, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. prior to Thursday, Nov. 15: warm coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, hats, scarves, gloves, new socks and underwear, diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mops, buckets, brooms, Clorox, Lysol, face masks for cleaning, work gloves, contractor garbage bags, food, tuna, bread, fruit, shelf-stable milk, cereal, granola bars, protein bars, peanut butter, crackers, juice boxes, baby formula, bottled water, C and D batteries, flashlights, sheets, blankets, pet food and first-aid kits.
Family of Woodstock’s Darmstadt Shelter is looking for water, blankets, food, batteries, flashlights, lamp oil, large-sized diapers, bread, peanut butter, jelly, tuna and canned foods and other dry goods. Collected items will be sent down to the Mastic Beach area in Suffolk County. For more information, call (845) 331-1395.
“I set a goal of five thousand pairs of socks to be donated to the Red Cross in helping friends and love ones hit by Sandy,” said Kingston resident, Daniel Cook. “For every one thousand pair of socks donated, I will be walking two hours.” Cook has been walking throughout the country raising money for suicide awareness as well, in honor of his deceased brother. Socks can be sent to: BrainstormUSA, 12009 Telegraph Rd., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 Attn: Daniel Cook. Cut-off date to send socks is Nov. 17.
Daniel Cook may have the best of intentions, but he should check with the Red Cross before sending them thousands of pairs of socks. The Red Cross does not accept socks, clothing or goods of any kind.
Goods donations after a crisis often become a disaster in their own right, straining volunteer organizations and presenting huge logistical challenges that distract from the work of recovery. This happened locally during Irene, and it is happening now in the aftermath of Sandy. In most cases, money is by far the best thing to give. We wrote about this issue on the Watershed Post recently:
http://www.watershedpost.com/2012/givers-guide-responsible-hurricane-sandy-relief-give-money-not-stuff
Also, from the Red Cross website:
“Unfortunately, due to logistical constraints the Red Cross does not accept or solicit individual donations or collections of items. Items such as collected food, used clothing and shoes must be sorted, cleaned, repackaged and transported which impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel.
The Red Cross does accept bulk quantities of product and services when these items meet our service delivery needs. These donations typically come from manufacturers, suppliers, and/or distributors that can package the items in bulk, palletize them and transport them directly to Red Cross sites. Financial contributions allow the Red Cross to purchase exactly what is needed for a disaster relief operation. Monetary donations also enable the Red Cross to purchase relief supplies close to the disaster site which avoids delays and transportation costs in getting basic necessities to disaster victims. Because the affected community has generally experienced significant economic loss, purchasing relief supplies in or close to the disaster site also helps to stimulate the weakened local economy.”