Madison Residents Pitching In To Help Sandy Victims

Madison resident Kaitlin McDermott has already successfully delivered a load of needed goods to people who lost everything during Superstorm Sandy, with the help of many people, including her friends in Madison.

And Daria and Suzenne Novak are conducting a food and goods drive Friday and Saturday through America Recovers.

Friends and family help the McDermotts help those in need

Those friends who helped McDermott and her family help others include Kimberly Esty, Tina Garrity, Tom Davidson, Hillary Kennedy, to name just a few, McDermott said.

The first delivery, to Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, included water, toiletries, food, clothes, blankets, generator oil, diapers, wipes, handwarmers, and ear muffs.

"Goodwill Industries is highly organized and has rapid distribution to the hardest hit areas," said McDermott.

Donations can be dropped off at McDermott Auto

"McDermott Auto is again taking donations for those affected by Sandy," McDermott said. "Kindly park in front of the Hummer showroom (where supplies will be gathered and labelled), and ask for a team member from Chevrolet to help you unload.

"We cannot thank everyone enough for your immense generosity!"

McDermott Auto is located at 655 Main Street in East Haven, CT is open seven days a week, McDermott said.

Novak sisters, through America Recovers, set up Madison staging area

Daria and Suzanne Novak, sisters from Madison, provided the following information for the America Recovers initiative:

“This Friday and Saturday please donate directly to Sandy hurricane victims in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut at the Madison, CT staging area. One hundred percent of what’s collected will go immediately to those in the most critically impacted areas.” That’s America Recovers commitment to those willing to assist.

According to America Recovers, a local disaster assistance group, there are areas in New Jersey and New York that remain in dire straits and desperately need assistance with basic needs.

“We have a staging area set up in Madison, CT in the business park across from the I-95 Durham Road exit ramp where we are accepting donations of blankets, towels, baby formula, diapers, steel-toed boots, and other critically needed items for the working communities devastated by hurricane Sandy,” said Suzanne Novak, President of American Recovers.

“AmTrak has agreed to help transport all of what we collect. Volunteers are meeting trains in New Jersey and delivering items directly to the fire departments, church groups and others who can most effectively and quickly distribute them in the severely affected areas,” she said.

“The full extent of this disaster will impact East Coast communities for a very long time,” Novak added. “Right now we need to fill the gap and stabilize the immediate and dire situation families are facing until others can come in to help rebuild what was destroyed. We have identified specific communities in New Jersey and Staten Island, for example, that really need our help.

Long Beach Island, New Jersey, in one of the harder hits regions, has only one operating bridge and is without potable water since MegaStorm Sandy struck on October 29, according to Jackie Siciliano, a resident of the community. She told American Recovers that volunteer firefighters used their own personal vehicles to rescue stranded people, often losing their own property while helping others. To make matters worse, some firefighters are working without steel-toed boots under dangerous conditions since the storm.

“We are asking everyone who can, to stop by the Madison staging area and donate any of the following goods this Friday and Saturday from 10 am  - 2 pm at Oak Park business center at 141 Durham Road. (first building on left in back.)

What’s needed:

Blankets (new lightly used)

Towels/washcloths (new/lightly used)

Toiletries (small sized toothpaste, hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant)

Flashlights/Batteries

Diapers

Baby formula

New stuffed animals/baby or toddler toys

New or lightly used children's books/adult paperbacks

Coloring books/crayons

Cleaning supplies (new mops, brooms, dustpans, plastic gloves, clorox wipes, buckets)

Paper Towels

Toilet Paper

Steel-toed boots (Men's sizes 9-12)

Non-perishable food items

New/lightly used suitcases/backpacks with wheels (to provide supplies to impacted residents)

Cardboard boxes to pack up supplies (used to create cleaning kits)

If you prefer to make a monetary donation, America Recovers is working with Humanitarian International Services Group (HISG) to receive donations that will be used to cover costs associated with purchasing needed items and shipping costs.  You can make donations designated to go to Hurricane Sandy survivors online at HISG: Hurricane Sandy Donations www.hsig.org

If you want more information on how to get involved, please contact Suzanne Novak at 203-645-2209 or email  americarecovers@gmail.com