By Steve Mosco
Relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy’s devastating effects on the city moved up a notch Monday as Borough President Helen Marshall advised residents of their donation options.
The borough president said residents and businesses can start donating non-perishable food items to police stations, firehouses and Modell’s stores which will then be distributed by City Harvest to victims of the hurricane in Breezy Point and the Rockaways.
“This is a fairly easy way to donate and help hungry and cold residents still in great need today,” said Marshall. “An army has moved into Rockaway, but still more resources are needed. My office is in contact with LIPA, Con Ed and National Grid in the continuing effort to restore power and heat as quickly as possible.”
Con Ed reported to Marshall that customers in Queens without power numbered approximately 25,000 Sunday night. Another 36,000 to 40,000 Long Island Power Authority customers in Rockaway remain without power.
Con Ed also said it will continue to distribute dry ice to customers still reeling from Sandy’s broad swath of damage. The power company will distribute dry ice at Baisley Pond Park, at 155th Street and Baisley Boulevard in Jamaica, until 6 p.m. Monday or until supplies last.
LIPA informed the borough president that more than 100 of its employees are working on distribution lines in Rockaway and dozens more in substations, but the transformer in Arverne is completely destroyed and will take an indefinite time to replace.
Marshall said anyone who wishes to volunteer should visit nyservice.org and that cash donations should go to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City at nyc.gov/fund.
“Although resources and basic essentials like food and water are still needed by thousands of our fellow residents, there are a hundred thousand miracles occurring in our borough every day,” said Marshall. “The generosity of neighbors and private corporations, like Jet Blue, which has delivered truckloads of food to Rockaway; Rite Aid, which early on provided trailers of relief supplies; and Modell’s, which provided 4,000 items of clothing, to mention a few. The USTA, working with our Queens Economic Development Corp., also was able to get water and other basic necessities to Rockaway.”
Marshall also urged residents without heat to visit one of the borough’s many warming centers to keep the chill away. Warming center locations can be found on the borough president’s website at queensbp.org.
