UPDATE - District 7490 Relief Efforts

On Friday, November 16, our own Peter Wells, Coordinator of Relief Efforts for District 7490 gave club members a first-hand account of the latest work being carried out by the District on behalf of the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

To date, Peter and 145 volunteers have taken in 32 truck or car loads and have delivered 14 very full van or SUV loads to our area, to the Jersey Shoreline and to the east coast of New York. They have filled, and then emptied the 4,000 square foot warehouse/sorting center in Paramus 3 times! Using 10 vans and 2 trucks, they have even passed along 20 TONS of used clothing to Goodwill, the Salvation Army and the Vietnam Vets Association. In addition, over $40,000 has come into the District in monetary donations.

At this point, the first phase of the relief effort has been completed. Any further shipments will be re-routed to Eatontown or to Far Rockaway. Our District will begin Phase II under the direction of Ridgewood AM Rotarian Jay Fowler. That effort will involve the restoration and rebuilding of sites that were damaged and is expected to begin sometime after Thanksgiving.

Still needed 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. You are asked to 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. 

Peter thanked everyone for their cooperation, donations and support through this first phase.

President Joeen Ciannella expressed the pride we all feel in Peter's indefatigable efforts and thanked him for a job well done.