Relief, Volunteer Opportunities Grow for Hard Hit Long Island

By Henry Powderly

In the days following Hurricane Sandy, social media networks and even Patch's own inboxes have been inundated with the same question: How can I help?

Luckily, a growing list of opportunities is emerging to help the thousands of Long Islanders who remain without power, water and in many cases lost property and homes, especially in hard hit areas such as Long Beach and Lindenhurst on the South Shore. 

Occupy-backed grassroots group@SandyVolunteer has been compiling a list of volunteer opportunities and on Monday sent out the following list. We'll also be adding to it through the day as we hear of more opportunities.

Please comment below of you know of any other way to get help to those who need it the most. 

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 urgently needs the following items: D Batteries Cleaning supplies including mops and buckets, bleach, paper towels Extension cords Matches and firewood They are ok with food and have more than enough clothing. They will be accepting donations until they close at 3:00 today.

4) Freeport: Drop off point from 11-2 on monday 157 E Sunrise Hwy, Freeport, NY 11520. Floor Mart Building across from Home Depot: yellow awning. They're also looking for volunteers at this locations from 11-2 and a second location behind the Ice Arena at Fulton and the Bay. There will be times for Tuesday in the next update.

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

6) 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

7) 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.

8) 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

9) 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

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.