By:Andrew Coen
Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby (D-Hempstead Village) announced the town's efforts to collect supplies for the areas affected by the storms, which struck in August and September.
During a Sept. 29 press conference in Mineola, Murray and Goosby were joined for the announcement by representatives of the Five Towns Community Center, the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, Jamaicans for Action and leaders of a number of local religious organizations.
Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne caused many deaths and left thousands of people homeless and widespread destruction in their wakes. In Haiti alone, more than 300,000 people were left homeless. "The devastation that residents of the southern United States and Caribbean have endured is unimaginable to many of us," said Murray during the press conference. "Unfortunately, it is a grim reality for hundreds of people who have been left homeless and bereft in the last six weeks."
The four collection sites the town has set up for the relief effort are at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington St., Hempstead Village; the cafeteria at 200 North Franklin St. in Hempstead Village; the Town of Hempstead Sanitation Building on Merrick Road, in Merrick; and Levittown Hall, on Levittown Parkway in Hicksville. Town officials say they are looking for non-perishable foods, bedding, tarps, collapsible water containers, disposable gloves, toiletries, baby supplies, over-the-counter medical supplies, flashlights and batteries. Collected items will be delivered to the Nassau County Opportunity Commission, which will distribute them to the areas in need.
"Our director, Jonathan Davis, and Peter Visconti were more than elated to assist the people in need from the Caribbean and from the southern states because of the devastation," said Eon Bailey, the organizer of the Island Harvest at the Five Towns Community Center. "Many people at the community center have friends and relatives in the Caribbean and the southern states, so this touches us all."
"It is so important that we do whatever we can to help the victims of the many hurricanes that have hit over the past two months," said Goosby. "I would like to thank all the residents of the Town of Hempstead in advance for what I know is going to be a wonderful relief effort."
"We are compelled to help those in need during this crisis," added Murray. "Many of these victims cannot turn to their local governments for help because their municipalities have also been devastated, which is why we are asking for the assistance of our residents to help those who have nowhere to turn right now."
For further information on the Town of Hempstead hurricane relief effort, call (516) 489-5000.
Comments about this story? ACoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
