Nassau County to aid earthquake victims

As many members of the Haitian community on Long Island anxiously await to hear from loved ones from their devastated homeland, local organizations and county agencies are mobilizing relief efforts to Haiti.

With the death toll rising and searches ongoing for those missing after Tuesday's devastating earthquake, and citizens remain without a sufficient supply of food, water, clothing and medical supplies.

County Executive Ed Mangano, joined by Legislator John Ciotti (R-North Valley Stream), announced that Nassau would be providing 10,000 ready-to-eat meals and 20,000 bottles of water, while also setting up drop-off points for people to bring non-perishable donations.

"We are trying to do it as swiftly as possible," Mangano said. "We don't want it to take 30 days to deliver relief for people who need it today."

Bishop Fernando Rodriguez of the Latin-African American Chaplains Association said he will personally see to it that Nassau County's donations are distributed to those in need. He plans to travel to Haiti on Monday.

James Callahan, commissioner of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, said there is already a tractor-trailer full of food ready to go. He explained that the county keeps a stockpile for local disasters and about 10 percent of that is being donated to the relief efforts.

Mangano and Callahan also announced the establishment of a hotline for callers to get information on how to help. The number, which they said would be up and running by Thursday afternoon, is (888) 684-4278.

For those who want to make a monetary donation, Mangano urges residents to contact UNICEF or the American Red Cross, which can be reached through the county hotline.

"I'm very happy that in a short period of time," Mangano said, "we were able to come together to offer some effective relief."

The drop-off sites for non-perishable supplies are:

- In Elmont at 2081 Renfrew Avenue

- In Mineola at One West Street

- In Hempstead at the Judea Baptist Church at 83 Greenwich Street

- In Uniondale at the Tabernacle of Joy Church at 1070 Brookside Avenue.

Updated: 1/14/09, 7:18 p.m.