After Hurricane Sandy: New City FD Relief Effort for Breezy Point Swamped by Donations

In the sixth day of their effort to collect essential items to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy in Breezy Point, NY, recover from devastation there, the volunteers of the New City Fire Department say they have been inundated by donations from the public.

Fire Chief Kenny Flynn said tonight that donations having been pouring into the firehouse on Maple Avenue from New City residents, residents from throughout Rockland County and from people across the country who have heard about the relief effort.

The volunteers plan on driving trucks loaded with disaster relief supplies to key locations in the disaster area on Sunday morning. A donation collection drive began on Saturday morning and continues until 9 tonight and from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday.

Flynn asks that no donations be dropped off at the New City firehouse after 9 p.m. on Friday. He said that two 36-foot box trucks have already moved supplies to a warehouse in New Jersey in preparation for shipment to Breezy Point, with another truck coming in tonight and a fourth truck coming in on Saturday.

"The generosity of people has been unbelieveable," Flynn said.

However, Flynn said that as the donation drive is nearing its conclusion, the fire department is asking for those who wish to donate materials to focus on some key items, including:

- Small hand tools, such as pry bars, hammers, hand saws, coal shovels.

- Cleaning implements, such as mops and brooms.

"The people down there need small hand tools like you would use in demoltion work," Flynn said.

The fire department is asking those who wish to donate supplies to not bring in the following items:

- Pillows

- Blankets

- Sheets

- Clothing

Flynn said the latest updates from disaster relief officials is that they have received enough clothing and linens. Additionally, Flynn said personal items are no longer needed, such as diapers, strollers and soaps and other cleaning products.

Volunteer firefighters in Nanuet and Congers also collected donations to support residents of Breezy Point.