Above: Flooded streets in Hoboken, NJ (photo via Flickr:That Hartford Guy)
As of Thursday night, power was restored to all residents of Southborough. Schools are back in session, town offices are open, and downed trees are being cut up and carted away. Life may be returning to normal here, but it will be some time before those most impacted by Hurricane Sandy will be able to say the same.
A group of Southborough moms has decided to do what they can to help. Next week they plan to send a truck full of essentials to the United Way of Ocean County to be distributed to the residents of Toms River Township in New Jersey, an area hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. The items will be trucked down thanks to a generous donation by Cappello Trucking of Marlborough.
In particular, the group is looking for the following items:
- Water
- Non-perishable foods, i.e. peanut butter, tuna fish, soup, cereal
- Flashlights w/batteries
- Diapers
- Blankets (gently used or new)
- Towels (gently used or new)
- Children’s clothing (gently used or new) i.e. coats, hats, socks, shoes
You can leave donations either on the front porch of the Baldelli residence (258 Parkerville Road) or at the Alpert residence (37 Clifford Road). You can also drop them off at Fit Studio28 in Westborough (122 Turnpike Road). Items must be dropped off by Tuesday, November 6. For more information, contact Carrie Alpert at 508-460-1021.
Donations may also be dropped off at the Southborough Recreation Department on Monday, November 5th, between the hours of 10am and 4pm.
Melissa,
Are you interested in getting things like paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils, plastic containers as well?
That is a great question, Barb. I understand that the organizers are looking for the items listed above and have a vehicle to transport the items requested. There may be a need for additional transportation and/or postage if more items are collected than expected. If anyone has a suggestion to help with these needs, it would be much appreciated! I’m sure those items would be helpful, along with collection boxes or bins. Thank you for your desire to help!
Sorry, Melissa, I meant to address my question to Carrie.
good morning everyone!
thank you to everyone and i mean everyone that has come together as a town, the response has been overwhelming and we are overwhelmed with emotion.
The United Way’s list is specific and we are doing our best to stick to it. Might I ask at this time that if you are interested in contributing clothing that you please do not drop off bags of what you feel people “might need” the only clothing that is being taken at this time are the following: new coats, towels and blankets and socks (if they are gently used that is really fine just please wash them)
plastic cutlery and paper goods have not been requested if we hear of anything new developing we will get the word out for sure
we are in need of D batteries and flashlights
cereal bars
peanut butter and tuna fish
soup **flip top lids if possible
cereal
first aid supplies
diapers and wipes
thank you so much for the outpouring of support!
Hi Carrie,
Where is the preferred drop-off?? Thank you so much to you and everyone organizing this effort.
What about adult clothing? Work related and winter coats? Also have teen girl clothing…
Hi Helen,
No other types of clothing just what is listed and work or winter coats would be great! Thanks~
coats –adults and children
socks
comforters
blankets
towels
UPDATE:
The deadline for contributing supplies to the Southborough Hurricane Sandy Toms River, NJ Disaster Relief Effort is 12.00 noon on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Please note, we have reached our clothing goal so clothing items are no longer needed.
The following supplies are still needed:
GREATEST NEED, Non-Perishable Foods – i.e. peanut butter & jelly, tuna fish, soup, cereal
Water
Flashlights & Batteries
Diapers
Medical and First Aid Supplies
Generators
Blankets (new)
Towels (new)
Again, please leave donations either on the front porch of the Baldelli residence (258 Parkerville Road) or at the Alpert residence (37 Clifford Road). You can also drop them off at Fit Studio28 in Westborough (122 Turnpike Road). For more information, contact Carrie Alpert at 508-460-1021. Thank you to everyone for making this effort a huge success!
I know you have reached your clothing goal….does that include coats?
I have some coats to drop off today that are in wonderful condition. Do you still
want them?
Thanks for putting this together!
Pat,
i became aware of another Southborough resident who has a family member in Seaside NJ who had their home washed away–she is trying to put together a truck to head down there next week. You can either drop off the coats today for our truck or you can put them aside for her drive (she is in the very beginning stages) I am going to touch base with her this afternoon when I go back to Neary to pick up the bins that have been set out for the students who have collected.
we have to help each other it really is the only way to get through life xoxo
Thank you Carrie. I dropped off some coats this morning at the Rec. Center
and they also told me about the second truck going out. I was glad they were
able to take them.
I have heard that you had to turn away some donations this afternoon because you don’t have any more room to store them until the truck shows up……could you confirm this as I have sent an email out to neighbors and I know they have spent time scrambling to gather items to drop off. If it is a matter of having enough space until the truck comes I would gladly offer my garage.
I imagine you are very busy organizing this truck delivery, but if you could, please update us all on whether your original drop off locations (for the 1st truck) are still accepting items as well as the status of the 2nd truck going out.
Thanks so much!
~Pat
Pat,
At the moment I do not know anything about a 2nd truck going out I only know that there is a woman in town who is trying to put something together that is what I posted this morning perhaps someone has come up with an action plan and that is absolutely wonderful if they have.
I am only taking donations until —->5pm<—-the response has been just that overwhelming and I am reaching my limit both physically and mentally.
I will take coats, socks and new blankets at this point I am ***pleading*** with people for both my location and for the other location to not show up with bags of clothing. I am not going to take them it takes so much time to sort through and label bags and I am down to the wire.