GROWING LIST: Long Island Needs Help, Here's How

It's been 12 days since Hurricane Sandy struck Long Island, and thousands of locals are still struggling in cold, powerless homes or crowded shelters. The devastation has prompted a host of organizations to set up relief opportunities to funnel relief to those who need it most. But they still need help.

Occupy-backed grassroots group @SandyVolunteer has compiled a list of volunteer opportunities and places accepting donations. We'll will also continue to add to this list. Please comment below of you know of any other way to get help to those who need it the most, or email henry@patch.com and we'll add your info ourselves.

From @SandyVolunteer:

1) Long Beach: Call 516-301-0932 – to volunteer, please let us know your specialties. We are accepting donations at the Ice Arena. Food & water donations are also being accepted at East & West Schools and Waldbaum’s Plaza.

2) Long Beach Rec Center could use more volunteers to help unpack/sort clothing and distribute donated items! . . . There are hundreds of bags generously donated that need to be unpacked and sorted. They still need warm blankets and coats (adults/children), packaged socks/underwear for children and adults, and hats/gloves in various sizes. Folding tables would help in organizing the clothing that has already been donated.

3) Baldwin: The emergency distribution center at the District Office on Hastings Street is accepting donations.

4) Register with the Long Island Volunteer Center: http://www.longislandvolunteercenter.org/

5) Long Island Cares in Hauppauge needs volunteers to help sort food donations. Check their website for details: http://www.licares.org or call (631) 582-3663 ext 119

6) Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Woodhaven) is also accepting supplies — water, food, clothes: anything non-perishable. They can be dropped off at his office at 83-91 Woodhaven Blvd. For more information, call (718) 805-0950.

7) Occupy Storefront is collecting goods at 59 Railroad Ave Ronkonkoma, New York 11779 Contact (631) 648-8811 you can also check out their webpage here: https://www.facebook.com/occupystorefront

8) All Long Island Ace Hardware locations are serving as drop-off locations for non-perishable food items and clothing donations to those in need on the south shore. LI Ace locations are: 2138 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park | 770-14 Grand Blvd., Deer Park | 246 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset | 1102 Route 110, Farmingdale | 2667 Merrick Rd., Bellmore | 448 Union Blvd., West Islip | 5135 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park | 3899 Hempstead Tpke, Bethpage | 1518 Union Turnpike, New Hyde Park | 3965 Long Beach Rd., Island Park | 2120 Middle Country Rd, Centereach | 1330 Hicksville Road, No. Massapequa | 822 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport | 515 Montauk Hwy., West Babylon | 2323 Jericho Tpke, Garden City Park | 52 E. Main St., Smithtown | 15 W. Main St., East Islip | 360 Route 25A, Rocky Point | 518 Middle Neck Rd., Great Neck

9) Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Lindenhurst is collecting Food/Clothing/Blankets/School Supplies, at their Auditorium: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Volunteers are also needed and welcome. Please contact OLPH at 631-226-7725 or e-mail tojsureau@drvc.org.

10) Woodbury: Donations of blankets and comforters can be brought to Syosset-Woodbury Park: 7800 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

11) Hurricane Sandy has devastated parts of southeast Brookhaven not far from us. EMPOA’s Board wanted to help those in need. Spearheaded by Board member Lauren Stiles, arrangements have been made to collect food, other needed items and checks in front of local King Kullen stores and then to deliver what’s collected to local organizations who are already distributing things to our neighbors in need. For this to work, more volunteers are needed to be at tables from 10 am to 4 pm: Nov. 9 King Kullen, Manorville

This will be straightforward. Sit at a table, explain what’s being done and receive donations. You’ll receive the necessary information and instructions. To volunteer several hours or the day tomorrow in Center Moriches, please call 631-874-2384 right away. For Friday, please call that number or email EMPOA. Donations received will be given to 2 organizations that have already been providing help, so we believe they will continue to do so with what we provide. They are Island Harvest and the Mastic Beach Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. Once volunteers are scheduled, another email will be sent confirming the times that donations can be made.

12) The West Babylon Lions Club on Saturday, Nov. 10, will have a tent set up at Harding Avenue Elementary School in Lindenhurst off of Grenada Parkway. They will be supplying water, cleaning supplies and are hoping to have food available. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

13) Suffolk County Legis. Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma) is holding a “Blanket in a Bag” drive at his district office from Tuesday, November 13, through Friday, November 30. Donors are asked to place a new or clean, gently used blanket in a bag and deliver it to 325 Middle Country Road, Suite 3, in Selden (intersection of North Ocean Avenue in the Waldbaum’s shopping center). The office will accept donations Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Blanket donations will be distributed through Lighthouse Mission and other local charities. For more information call 631-854-9292, or email tom.muratore@suffolkcountyny.gov.

From the Red Cross:

- The American Red Cross has planned daily distribution and feeding sites throughout Greater New York on Sat., Nov. 10, Sun., Nov. 11, and Mon., Nov 12, to provide comfort, meals and relief supplies to communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. You can be a part of this relief effort by signing up to volunteer here: http://www.nyredcross.org/?nd=form__577

- We are recruiting medically credentialed individuals to support NYC shelters. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact HealthServices@nyredcross.org.

Other opportunities:

- The Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center in Riverhead has teamed up with Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank, and has become a donation site for storm victims. Click here for more info.

- EAC’s Meals on Wheels Program needs donations that can be used to offset the cost of fuel for our vans and to purchase supplies such as blankets and flashlights to be distributed to the elderly. To make a donation, please call EAC Meals on Wheels 516-539-0150, ext. 219 or visit www.eacinc.org and click on the “Hurricane Sandy Senior Relief” button on the home page.

- Sandy Help LB was created by a Wantagh-based realtor to help get supplies and help to Long Beachers. For more information and inquiries about how one can help, e-mail SandyHelpLB@gmail.com or call (516) 647-3242.

- The North Merrick Fire Department is collecting donations Friday, Nov. 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the 2095 Camp Ave. firehouse. (223-4102). The following items are requested: battery lanterns, d batteries, 25-50 foot extension cords, bleach, plastic spray bottles, rubber gloves, garbage bags, hot plates, diapers, wipes, serving dishes and utensils, toilet paper, toiletries (toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), warm coats, winter hats, and gloves. Volunteers are also welcome on both dates. They will need assistance loading trucks on Saturday.

- Vounteers are needed at the Long Beach NY, Hurricane Information donation drop-off site, located at 157 E. Sunrise Hwy, Freeport.

- The BBQ Brethren willhost a BBQ all weekend to serve thousands of families in Long Beach. The BBQ Brethren is based out of Smithtown and is the largest association of grilling and BBQ enthusiasts in the world. Volunteers will wrap, store, and deliver food to families. Volunteers are needed.  If you are interested in volunteering, come Saturday and/or Sunday to Long Beach City Hall, 1 West Chester St.; Long Beach NY 11561. Volunteers can arrive at 11 a.m. and will be needed to serve food. For more information, contact Nicole Papadopoulos at npapadopoulos@hopeforthewarriors.org

- Hicks Nurseries, in partnership with Long Island Cares, is a distribution point for food and donations for storm victims.

From now through the end of the year, the nursery will be collecting items to help Long Islanders in need. Items in particular need are bottled water, pouch drinks, new blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, underwear, household cleaners, personal care items, pet food and non-perishable food.  

These items can be brought to the nursery, which is located at 100 Jericho Tpke. in Westbury, seven days a week for fast delivery to Long Island Cares for redistribution. Store hours are Saturday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., open late on Fridays until 8 p.m.

- Tara's Personal Cleaning is collecting and distributing items needed by Sandy victims. Our next delivery is Sunday afternoon and then again on Monday. Please drop off any donations to 204 Middle Road, Sayville. Some suggestions are: personal care items (toothbrushes, mouthwash, feminine hygiene), bottled water and drinks, Parmalat boxed milk, baby formula, winter coats and clothing, lawn/construction bags, cleaning supplies, EasytoEat meals and granola bars, baby supplies, blankets, pillows and sleep sacs and anything else.

-Starting Nov. 13, Legislator Sarah Anker will be accepting non-perishable food items, water, bottled drinks, personal care items, pet food, household cleaning supplies, new blankets, hats, gloves scarves and socks. Donations can be dropped off Monday
– Friday between 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. at the Legislator’s office at 620 Rt. 25A, Suite B, in Mount Sinai.