BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Cheese has organized a drive to collect items New York City and New Jersey victims of Hurricane Sandy need the most. The collection efforts began this week.
Donors can drop off the following items: blankets, candles, flashlights, water, food (non-perishable), lights, flashlights, batteries, diapers and wipes, gloves and masks, rubber boots, shovels, cleaning supplies and bleach, trash bags, serving dishes and utensils, anything that produces heat, winter wear (jackets, hats, gloves, warm stuff).
Donors are asked to not bring general clothing items. Brattleboro Cheese will only accept items on the list and cannot accept any other items, and gently asks for patience and compliance with this requirement.
The owner of Brattleboro Cheese will arrange for delivery of the items to established drop-off points in and around New York City and New Jersey.
Funds in a donation jar (cash only) will go to the tax-deductible “Occupy: Sandy Relief NYC” fund to be “invested in long-term disaster relief rebuilding projects and emergencies” (bit.ly/TJf2rl).
Owner Wendy M. Levy is a native of New Jersey and has lived in and around New York City.
The shop invites all members of the community to bring in the items listed above any time the shop is open: Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.
Rotary Clubs send a truck
Also, the Rotary Clubs of Brattleboro are organizing a collection of relief items for Sandy victims living in New Jersey. On Saturday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., Rotarians will be loading a 26-foot truck at the loading dock between Estey Organ Buildings 3 & 4 (102 and 108 Birge St.)
The following items should be brought in labeled boxes if possible: Clothing (coats, underwear, socks, sweat pants, sweatshirts, and sweaters), blankets, towels, bedding and linens, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, and personal rooming supplies.
Rotarians in Paramus, N.J., will unload the truck and distribute to storm victims. Dana Lewis of Crofter Movers is donating the truck and driver, and Barbara George is donating the use of her loading dock.
For more information, contact Marty Cohn at 802-221-4821 or 802-490-4434.
Other efforts
At press time, Building a Better Brattleboro has noted that Adivasi, a Flat Street store that was battered by Tropical Storm Irene, and Flat Street Rising, a grassroots group formed to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the flooding, were also organizing relief efforts.