New City Rallies To Help Others In Storm Aftermath

The Clarkstown Police and New City Fire departments are working to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.  All this week the volunteers of the New City Fire Department continue to collect relief supplies for the residents of Breezy Point.  On Friday, Nov. 16,the police department is holding a blood drive from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. in memory of Police Officer Terrance “Terry” McCrudden and to help supplement diminished blood supplies.

The Clarkstown Police Department along with the New York Blood Center will conduct the 12-hour-long blood drive at in the community room of police headquarters located at 20 Maple Ave in New City. Officer McCrudden served with the department for 17 years. He passed away on October 2 at the age of 48 after a battle with cancer.  Donor appointments can be made on-line at www.nybloodcenter.org or by calling (800) 933-2566.  

The New York Blood Center declared a blood emergency last week after blood drives were cancelled because of Hurricane Sandy.  Type O and platelet donors are especially needed but all blood types are in short supply.

The New City Fire Department donation drive continues daily from tonight through Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The requested items include:

• Blankets.
• Non-perishable food items, such as canned soups/vegetables, canned soups, boxed pasta, etc.
• Cases of water.
• Cases of sports drinks, such as Gatorade.
• Coffee/Tea/hot chocolate mixes
• Personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, contact lens solution, etc.
• Baby wipes/diapers.
• Cleaning materials.
• Work gloves.
• All sizes of batteries.
• Flashlights
• Extension cords
• Generators
• Sleeping bags
• Towels
• Pet food (pre-packaged)

The New City firehouse at 15 Maple Ave is directly opposite Clarkstown Town Hall and just up the street from police headquarters. Firefighters direct cars into the firehouse, where supplies are unloaded by volunteers and sorted, stacked, packaged and prepared for shipment.

For more information on the donation effort or donating other goods or services, contact Fire Chief Kenny Flynn by e-mail at kflynn@newcityfire.org