Hurricane Sandy Relief: How You Can Help

While many Massachusetts residents lost power and those closer to the coast saw some flooding, the state was spared catastrophic damage from Hurricane Sandy. Residents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other coastal areas were not so lucky.

Patch has gathered some local resources if you want to help in relief efforts.

• The First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury announced on their Facebook page that they are working with Church World Service to provide help. Monetary donations can be made through the church or online. More details can be found on their Facebook Page . 
• Girl Scouts of Historic Hopedale are collecting boxed donations for the victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York. Please donate non perishable food, household items, including blankets and personal products. Boxed donations will be collected at Hopedale Junior/Senior High School, 25 Adin St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. For information, contact Theresa Ehrlich, 508-473-0320.

If you'd like to help on a national level, organizations such as the Amreican Red Cross and Salvation Army are accepting donations and volunteers.

• The American Red Cross is collecting funds and coordinating blood donations. The organization sheltered more than 3,000 people across nine states during the worst of the storm. You can donate $10 by phone by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999.
• Sandy has caused the cancellation of about 300 American Red Cross blood drives. To schedule a blood donation at a center near you or for more information about giving blood or platelets, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
• The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) takes donations to rescue and shelter animals affected by the storm. Nearly 300 animals are staying with their owners in shelters in the New York City area, the agency said. The ASPCA is also setting up a distribution center in Syracuse, New York with 4,000 sheltering units, which contain pet food, crates, food bowls, toys, and anything else an animal may need.
• The Salvation Army: You can donate $10 to the Salvation Army by texting “STORM” to 80888. If you are already volunteer-certified, you can sign up to help out with disaster relief.
• AmeriCares: You can donate to AmeriCares’ relief fund to help the organization, which is distributing supplies to 130 clinics in the 13 states affected by Sandy.

If getting in to the thick of the action is more your style volunteers in New York City and New Jersey are being coordinated by phone. 

• Volunteers in New Jersey are being coordinated through an emergency response hotline, 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). Alternate numbers, for when the hotline isn’t staffed, include 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471 or emails can be sent to Rowena.Madden@sos.state.nj.us.
• The New York City agency NYC Service is coordinating volunteers for various relief projects in New York City. Go to its Facebook page  or email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name and email address.

To follow news from some of the most affected areas and see how local residents are faring, here are links to Patch sites:

• Greenwich Patch (CT)
• Hoboken Patch (NJ)
• Ocean City Patch (NJ)
• Point Pleasant Patch (NJ)

Do you know of any other groups in Massachusetts organizing supplies or donations for Hurricane Sandy victims? Tell us in the comments.