Multi-District Disaster Relief Goes to Work

Prior to the start of this Rotary Year, DGE Bonnie Sirower asked Peter Wells to be a part of her team. Accepting the position of District Disaster Relief Chairman for 2012-13, he never expected to encounter SANDY!

Since the storm hit the NY metropolitan area on October 29, Peter has worked indefatigably to coordinate what has become a multi-district effort to restore well-being to the region. In the process he has been awed by the response from Rotarians from around the world. One of the first offers of help was received from a club in Siberia!

Beginning on October 31, Peter began to send e-mails to Rotarians throughout District 7490 to keep people abreast of the situation as it evolved. Contacts were established, needs were determined and volunteers were solicited to deal with Phase I of the crisis. From Peter's most recent update of Nov. 9:

On Saturday we hope to pack up and make deliveries to Moonachie, Jersey City, Hazlet, Long Branch, Asbury Park and Brick. Thereafter we will continue to collect bottled water, non-perishable food, baby diapers and food, pet food, batteries and flashlights, new coats and blankets, new hats and scarves, new coats, new linens and pillows, new bedding, ,new clothes for people of all ages. Please note that we CANNOT accept any old or used clothing or bedding of any type.

Our greatest needs now are cash donations and gift cards for stores such as Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart and Target, so that displaced residents can buy food, supplies, etc. to rebuild. Please send donations to the Rotary District 7490 Walter D. Head Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, c/o Calisto Bertin, Bertin Engineering, 66   Glen Avenue, Glen Rock, NJ 07452, USA. 

At Thursday night's meeting at Bibi'z members were repeatedly reminded by Peter and others of the magnitude of people's generosity in times of great distress. The impact of this storm will be felt for many months. You are urged to regularly visit http://nynjrotary.org/disaster-relief for the most up to date information. From their most recent posting:

So far, we have received shipments from Maryland, North and South Carolina, E. Stroudsburg, PA, and we know we have more trucks coming in from Vermont and from other  areas across the country. We had volunteers from both Rotary clubs throughout our District 7490 sorting out what has been donated, as well as volunteers referred by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  Additional donations have been sent directly to the other districts participating in this endeavor.

On Saturday, November 10, we will pack up supplies and drive them to locations suggested by the District Governors of Rotary Districts 7500 in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, Rotary District 7640 in Cape May and Atlantic Counties, Rotary District 7250 in Nassau,County, Brooklyn and Queens in New York and in Suffolk County.