By Karenlyn Barone
Michael Hanna, owner of Wiseware, a Lynbrook software business had been involved in charity work with a group of fellow musicians, but when Hurricane Katrina struck he knew he wanted to focus his efforts on the devastated areas left in her wake.
Lynbrook Police Detective Fred Fusswinkel, through training seminars, struck up a friendship years ago with a deputy sheriff from Mississippi. Responding to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Fusswinkel was also trying to affect relief efforts. Coincidentally, both he and Hanna contacted Lynbrook High School Principal Santo Barbarino, who suggested the two men, who were acquaintances, combine their efforts. They did and Lynbrook Gulf Relief was born.
"It took me two weeks to locate my friend," said Fusswinkel, referring to Dale Turner, assistant chief of the Lumberton Mississipi Police Department. "When I spoke to him, the first thing he said was that thousands of people were moving into his area and that they needed help. I knew the people of Lynbrook would be generous."
Hanna explained that their fund will facilitate the flow of supplies from Lynbrook directly to the Baton Rouge Food Bank.
"Through Second Harvest, the Baton Rouge Food Bank is now doing the work of 30 food banks that were lost in the hurricane,"said Hanna. "Baton Rouge is now the hub."
Hanna stressed that they are still encouraging people to donate to the American Red Cross by sending checks to the Lynbrook Village Hall, and that the Lynbrook Gulf Relief is being done in addition to that effort - not as a substitute for it.
"No matter what you send, it is never enough," said Hanna. "We want to supplement with other local efforts."
Fusswinkel said, "We are providing person to person, community to community assistance."
The men have already secured a warehouse to store donations. Fred Ragusa, the former owner of Lynbrook Hardware has generously donated his vacant building at 275 Merrick Road for storage and drop-off of bulk items. Through his business connections, Hanna has also gotten a comittment for trucks and fuel to transport the goods.
"I believe we can turn Lynbrook into a collection host for surrounding villages, as well," he said.
Mayor Eugene Scarpato has also designated the Lynbrook Village Hall, public library and recreation center as drop-off locations for non-perishable items. Plans are also underway for a benefit concert to be held at Greis Park on Oct. 1, immediatley following the Lynbrook Expo. And Hanna has secured a special guest for that event - a very rare, guitar designed by a mechanical engineer in Colorado, that just happens to be self-tuning.
"Admission would be a donation of canned goods," said Hanna, who said that details for the concert would be forthcoming.
For now, Fusswinkel and Hanna are asking for donations and volunteers to assist their efforts. If you are interested, call the village hall at (516) 599-8784 for more information, or visit www.lynbrookvillage.com.
"People want to do something and we're giving them something to do that directly effects people," said Fusswinkel.
