Everyone local to the Albuquerque NM area; Stuff the truck will be filling their semi to bring relief to those affected by hurricane Sandy. She has an Atlas truck stationed at Hoffmantown Church (Albuquerque, NM). It is in the Northeast parking lot & will be taking donations from Sunday 11/4 til next Sunday November 11th from 12-6pm everyday. Please do not take your donations into the church.

News story

Here is a link that might be useful: Stuff the truck FB page

roselvr ~ A huge thank you for posting this information. So many want to help, but trying to figure out what and how is a certain obstacle for people. With the ability to donate to the American Red Cross by a simple text from any cell phone, is a definite benefit for disasters like this.

Having too many friends affected, it is great to see people offering all kinds of assistance. I have a friend on SI. While she is able to go back to her home, her siblings weren't so lucky. Each of her 4 siblings along with their spouses and kids are now homeless.

I actually feel physically ill when I think about just how many families' lives were totally turned upside down because of Sandy, the amount of generosity being shown is truly heartwarming.

Again, many thanks for providing so much information!

Thank you for sharing. I've donated to RC, but feel like maybe there is something else I can do. I can't give blood (health issue) and I'm on the other side of the Country, so maybe the best I can do for now is give money.

Today my DH made a contribution to the Red Cross, as well as to the Boston Food Bank, which is sending truckloads of donations to the area. So that may be another option -- I don't know if other cities are sending food donations as well?

I keep seeing pet items needed; our state radio has been great with taking calls from people affected or helping. Today I heard a soup kitchen call in looking for meat because what's been coming in has been mostly canned or soup. Kids items were also badly needed; some have even lost their back packs to flooding.

Pesky; I can't give blood either; I'm really limited to what I can do because of my back which is why I started the list so that I'm helping in some way.

Sue & others in affected states; if you have links to local info like FB sites or radio stations; feel free to post it. A lot of what I posted is for NJ; I haven't had time to venture out to grab other state info.

It started snowing this morning & is sticking down here. I don't know what its doing in North Jersey or the other states. I'm seeing my lawn get white & it's making me sick.

It's sticking here in Summit too. My sister said it's just slushy where she is in SI.

Thanks for posting roselvr.

I donated to the Red Cross, and am donating all of my Dad's furniture to a family who now has to start from scratch in Staten Island. I also bought 2 cases of diapers and sent them to SI with my sister yesterday to get to a family of a first responder who lost their entire home. They have an 18month old, and since SI is an island, supplies are sparse. You cannot buy diapers in any of the supermarkets, drug stores or discount stores on the entire island. Those who are in dire need also lost their cars, so getting off the island to buy diapers is not an option. The gas lines are still really long, at least here in NJ there has been some relief with the rationing.
I've also donated directly to the PTA of an elementary school which was displaced. So many of the families of the school have lost everything. My friend is a teacher there, she was lucky, but so many she knew were not.

I am so heartbroken for my hometown.

I meant to add this in my last post.

The stories are so heartbreaking and tragic, but this one I just can't get out of my head.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.wishuponahero.com/wishes/?id=1316547&fb_action_ids=4845048926708&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%224845048926708%22%3A406332256107290%7D&action_type_map=%7B%224845048926708%22%3A%22og.recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=[]

Polly; I'm so sorry. ~Hugs I know how it feels being far away. It sounds like your dads furniture is going to good use. The story of Zoe is really heart breaking. I'll pass the link on as much as I can. I can't even imagine the pain they have. The only story I've read is the one lady who lost her 2 children.

Do you have any links on where people can help there?

I'm not sure how quick insurance will start helping people get back to their lives & I hope those that get generous donations like you gave will keep passing it to others that need it if they're able to start replacing it. That's all I ever ask when helping someone after donating stuff to a gal & seeing it for sale at her yard sale a few weeks later.

Hurricane Sandy Recovery

This link has a lot of information

Get Help

Register for Assistance: Survivors in declared counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can register for assistance. Learn more information and FAQs before you apply for assistance.
Business Loans - Your business may be eligible for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration.
Government Contracting - The General Services Administration helps federal, state, and local governments get supplies, equipment, and services needed to support disaster relief.

USDA Offers Food Assistance to Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy
State of New York, USDA is working with the state, the Food Bank of New York City, and partner agencies to distribute approximately 1.1 million pounds of USDA Foods. Food will be distributed through nearly 1,000 designated emergency feeding outlets to affected households in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and Rockland counties

New Jersey, USDA worked late last week with the State of New Jersey and the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to coordinate the delivery of 39,000 pounds of USDA Foods to support congregate feeding efforts. The food bank will combine USDA Foods with existing food stocks to produce 15,000 meals per day for 5-7 days to be distributed in cooperation with the Red Cross and Salvation Army at shelters.

USDA is working closely with states and industry partners in affected states to remind Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers of the procedure for manually processing SNAP transactions during power outages, in order to ensure that SNAP recipients living in areas affected by power outages continue to have access to food.

In certain areas in New York, USDA has granted a waiver to allow SNAP recipients to purchase hot foods using SNAP benefits. Under normal circumstances, SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase hot, ready-to-eat foods. USDA has granted this waiver to accommodate individuals that have lost homes, are affected by power outages, or are otherwise unable to prepare food due to damage caused by the hurricane.

USDA has approved requests from the states of Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia and to issue automatic, mass replacements of benefits to SNAP households in certain areas affected by the hurricane. USDA has also approved requests from the states of USDA has approved requests from the states of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia to extend the time SNAP recipients have to report loss of food purchased using SNAP benefits and to request replacement benefits.

*or more information about disaster nutrition assistance, visit direct PDF link. Visit
this link for the latest Hurricane Sandy Response information and resources available from government agencies.

Rose-

I forgot I actually sent the family money who lost the 2 little boys as well. The father is a sanitation worker. The garage he works in which is close to the one my brother works in was collecting money for the family. The DSNY is a tight knit family, they always take care of their own. I'm afraid there is nothing in the world that will help that family get over losing those little boys. So tragic. But I'm sure they could use help with funeral expenses.

I'm trying to spread the word about Staten Island. Do you have a decent site with information that I can give people so they can send diapers etc?

FEMA opens recovery center at the Atlantic City Convention Center

STATEN ISLAND

%^&$ FEMA, Fed Up Staten Island Residents Organize Own Relief Efforts, Want Election Recount

Hurricane Sandy Relief For Staten Island, New York!

How you can help Staten Island's hurricane victims
There is a nice sized list of drop off locations - here

Staten Island FEMA boss Patrick Hernandez works to get everyone registered for aid

Donate to help Staten Island rebuild after Hurricane Sandy

Project Hospitality Staten Island Hurricane Relief Fund-
Project Hospitality is a nationally recognized, 30-year-old Staten Island non-profit agency for homeless services, run by Staten Islanders. It is a 501c3 organization.

A separate arm of Project Hospitality will be established, with a separate bank account named Project Hospitality Staten Island Hurricane Relief Fund.

A committee has been established to hear from applicants and to determine funding eligibility Only Staten Island people affected by this storm will be eligible. The committee is made up of Staten Islanders from various fields, including political leadership, clergy, businesses and judicial. A clear set of guidelines as to who will be eligible will be drawn up to assure that money goes to where it is most needed. Applications to FEMA, for example, may be required in order to apply for funds raised through this volunteer effort.

NYC Gov't- gives FEMA links as well as where to find help

great page that lists what is needed & where NYC Service

NYC Service FB

Mayors Fund To Advance NYC

I remember hearing stories of Red Cross collecting money for one disaster & the money not getting there. A friend just confirmed it was Katrina. This is what he said. :(

Just a heads up from a hurricane veteran in Florida.

The red cross, while the concept is great, the actual job they do, not so much. We survived 6 hurricanes in one year 6 years ago. The same year Katrina hit us and New Orleans. When push came to shove, the red cross solicited billions in donations, and when the rubber hit the road, they kept 90% of them. They only distributed a VERY SMALL amount, keeping the rest in "reserve" for future needs. Difficult to donate to a "charity" that turned so many away here in Florida 6 years ago when we really needed them.

If you are looking for a real charity, that will take what ever you offer them, its the Salvation Army. they take what ever you want to give it can be 5 bucks or a old blanket, they accept both. They are often the first on sight and last to leave, many of them stay in the area a really long time. While the red cross is about huge salaries for their big bosses, and you can see it here the actual victims speak.

If you donate blood, do it at your local blood bank, the red cross accepts blood, but they do not GIVE it away, they charge for it. Yeah that's rite, they are making huge profits on YOUR BLOOD. Often you will get better results working with your local charities, than a national organization like the red cross.

Darius Rucker is giving away $10,000 worth of toys to one lucky city. A bunch of us voted for cities that was hard hit by Sandy

I voted Seaside; I then asked for Staten Island to be added. I debated voting Toms River because it has the most votes (NJ) but Seaside got hit harder

Here is a link that might be useful: Darius Rucker giveaway