By:VICTORIA A. CARUSO
While the terrible events of September 11 will remain in people's memories as disastrous and tragic, they also brought a renewed sense of patriotism and neighborliness among Americans.
Across the Merricks, people are donating supplies, food and money to support those suffering because of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The following provides an overview of local efforts, with information about how readers can get involved.
Musical relief
North Merrick recording artist Peter Stanganelli and his band Rapture are raising money for the American Red Cross and the Interfaith Nutrition Network.
Stanganelli said the money will be donated to families who are in need or have been devastated by the terrorist attacks. "It is very important for those families who have no insurance or whose head of household has minimal or no income," he said.
Donations can be made to Do it Up America, 2221 Jerusalem Avenue, North Merrick, NY 11566 through May 5, 2002. Donors who contribute $10 or more will receive a complimentary copy of the band's contemporary rock CD "Do It Up America." For more information, call 826-7776.
Girl power
Girl Scouts Nicole Gandolfo and Jessie Schnapper of Troop 2008 and
Alisha Schnapper of Troop 2202 worried that emergency personnel at ground zero would become dehydrated as they worked. So, the girls collected more 50 bottles of water and donated them to the American Red Cross.
Girl Scout Alisha Schnapper, 13, also donated supplies, including toothpaste, socks, gloves, shampoo and mouth wash. Schnapper raised the money for these items by selling red, white and blue ribbons to her family and friends.
American Legion
Merrick Post 1282 of the American Legion has distributed more than 2,000 hand-held American flags to Merrick residents, as well as to all Sacred Heart and North Merrick students, and another 3,000 flags have been ordered.
The post also has larger flags available to residents who wish to hang them outside their homes. "People in the past have turned in their old flags to us," said Tom Riordan, past post commander. "Beehive Cleaners has been gracious enough to clean them for us at no charge, and they are available for distribution to residents."
Riordan also said the legion has received several monetary donations in recent weeks. "There are a couple of families in Merrick who have been affected by this tragedy," he said. "All money will be kept local." For more information, call 546-8765.
Student support
All three elementary schools in the Merrick School District collected food, supplies and clothing. Donations made by parents, students, faculty and staff over three days totaled more than 500 cases of water and Gatorade, 400 pairs of work gloves, hundreds of T-shirts and pairs of socks, as well as bins of food and toiletries. Several Merrick doctors and dentists whose children attend the school donated cases of surgical masks and medical supplies, including sponges, bandages and eye washes.
In North Merrick, donation jars will be placed in each of the schools.
Donations from teachers, staff, parents and students will then be sent to such agencies as the American Red Cross. To show their patriotism, North Merrick students tied red, white and blue ribbons around the trees surrounding their schools.
The Merrick Avenue Middle School PTA sponsored a car wash on Saturday, Sept. 15. The event raised more than $5,000, which was matched anonymously and donated to the World Trade Center Relief Fund. For more information, call the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District at 623-8900.
Merrick Kiwanis
The Kiwanis Club of Merrick collected food, clothing and supplies on
Saturday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 22. People donated everything from bottled water and canned foods to gloves, helmets, tools and clothing. Additionally, Rokeach Foods, a kosher supplier, gave 10,000 bottles of water, and the Arizona Iced Tea company donated a truck load of beverages. All items were collected in the Cure of Ars parking lot, loaded into vans and taken to the rescue workers at Ground Zero.
Civic support
The Central Merrick Homeowners Association will donate money
raised through dues and fundraisers to the Widows and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York. "We selected the UFA because we are extremely supportive of the fire departments and their efforts to save those people," said Michele Walsh, the association president. "Their families are going to need help."
Donations can be made to UFA Widows and Children's Fund, c/o Uniformed Firefighter Association, attention: Kevin Gallagher, president, 204 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010.
Church efforts
At Sacred Heart, a car wash was held Saturday, Sept. 15. Many generous car owners paid $10 and $20 to get their vehicle washed, rather than the suggested $5 donation. More than $600 was collected and donated to rescue efforts and victims' families.
The Cure of Ars R.C. Church has waived its religious fee for funerals of World Trade Center victims. The $400 fee can either be donated to a charity of their choice or used for family needs.
Additionally, all collections made at churches in the Rockville Centre Diocese on Sunday, Sept. 23 will aid those affected by the terrorist attacks.
Jefferson Street fundraiser
Residents of Jefferson Street in Merrick decided to turn the block party they had planned for Saturday, Sept. 15 into a fundraiser, which brought in more than $700. The money will be donated to the McDonald's Corporation, which matches donations made by its employees dollar for dollar, and will then sent to the American Red Cross. Several bins of food and canned goods were also collected at the block party and donated to the Ronald McDonald House.
Wellness Council
The Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks is looking into donating to a fund in which all contributions made by area residents will remain local. "The Council is investigating current funds to determine the most appropriate one for the Merrick-Bellmore community," said Kate Collins, council spokesperson. "As individual stories unfold, we will learn about the individual needs. The goal is to donate to a local venue in the community."
For more information, call the Community Wellness Council at 623-8900.
