Patch Announces Sandy Relief Drive

This week PATCH stands for People All Together Can Help hurricane victims.

In response to countless inquiries about where and how to help,  TE Patch and our sister Patch sites in the region will collect sorely needed items to help families left with virtually nothing in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

More than two weeks after the storm devastated parts of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens the need for supplies is as great as ever.

What can you do?

Bring donations of:

• Non-perishable dry food items that can be eaten right out of the box or can or package (many people are living in shelters or in homes with no cooking or and no refrigeration facilities). There's also a need for instant coffee.
• Diapers (all sizes are in especially short supply and high demand)
• Baby wipes and adult wipes/moist towelettes (for those in shelters or in damaged houses baths and showers are still hard to find)
• Baby formula (that does not require refrigeration for storing)
• Sanitary Products
• Men's underwear (all sizes in new packages)
• Socks
• Batteries
• Small Toys (many kids are facing spending the holidays in shelters or away from the homes they are used to) please no bikes, big games or boxed toys. Space is limited for many families so this should be something the can fit in a pocket, purse or backpack.
• Other basic necessities (items that might be helpful to families who suddenly found themselves without a home).

Where to bring your donations:

EmJ's Cafe: 814 Lancaster Ave. in Berwyn:

• Wednesday 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Thursday 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

654 Lancaster Ave, Berwyn (on the corner of Lancaster Ave and Main Street-directly across from the Berwyn Train Station)

• Wednesday 2p.m.-8p.m.
• Thursday 1p.m.-5p.m.

There is parking right on Lancaster Ave in front of the building and in the back off Main Street.

Editor's Note: The need for items is still accute, more than two weeks after the storm. I spoke with relief volunteers this morning who were in one of  Staten Island's hardest hit areas on Monday. They said it's an unbelievable sight on the ground there as families who just two weeks ago lived comfortably in nice houses are suddenly without homes and living in shelters.

Thank you in advance for helping our neighbors on Staten Island. I would also like to say a special "thank you" to Stacey Ballard of Eadeh Enterprises and to Emily & John Smith of EmJ's Cafe in Berwyn who imediately said 'yes, how can we help?' when Patch asked if they could provide drop off locations.

Patch will be taking a truckload of your donations to Staten Island on Friday morning.

If your business would like to serves as a drop-off location on Wednesday and Thursday please contact TE Patch Editor Bob Byrne at  TE@Patch.com