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Hurricane Sandy: You Can Help

Scroll down to find your town or a neighboring town where you can make a difference. Help us by posting more opportunities to help in the comments section below the article.

Stratford

  • A local pizzeria is raising funds for American Red Cross with an event called "Election 2012," which pits two pizzas -- The Feal Good Foundation Pizza and The Meatpacking District -- against each other. Click here for more info.

Easton

  • Volunteers can go to help out at Joel Barlow High School and Helen Keller Middle School. Both places are open as comfort stations over the weekend.

Fairfield

  • As residents in Fairfield and Southport begin to regain power, many are asking how they can help those in need in town. Town officials and emergency personnel have referred those who wish to volunteer to the American Red Cross website to find local opportunities -- here is a list of places/organizations to get involved with or contribute to:
  • Recovery is For Everyone, 1080 Post Road, 203-218-7233
  • Child Guidance Center of Greater Bridgeport, 148 Beach Road, 203-255-2631
  • Operation Hope, Shelters for Men, Woman, and Families, 50 Nichols Street, 203-254-2935. Operation Hope also needs help replenishing their food pantry. They accept non-perishables and are especially in need of canned stew, canned tuna, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and juice boxes. The organization also has a major need for diapers in all sizes.
  • St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen, 661 Old Post Road, 203-259-3013

Greenwich

  • Neighbor-to-Neighbor in Greenwich continues to need donations of food and clothing for the people it serves. Here's what Executive Director Nancy Coughlin told Patch: "We have been unable to do much of anything for the past several days, which has been frustrating. Our office (located in basement of Christ Church annex) lost power Sunday and we didn't regain it until Wednesday. We reopened today (Thursday) — but we have no Internet — and it is hard because I'm sure people have been trying to reach us...She said once they reopened at 8:30 a.m. "we were instantly mobbed — obviously there are a lot of people out there who are need of food — in particular cold foods such as canned foods and cereal ...."A lot of people don't have power and therefore can't cook" she said. The pantry will be open from 8:30 to 12 noon Saturday however it will be closed on Sunday, as per their regular schedule (I guess this has something to do with the church services...) She said Neighbor-to-Neighbor's pantry is in need of canned foods, cereal, fruit juices, beans and fresh bread. She said they were hit hard today but still have some supplies left. The food pantry, which also supplies clothing and other household items to the needy, is open 8:30 am to 12 noon, except Thursdays when it is open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays when it is closed.
  • Stuart Adelberg, president, United Way of Greenwich: Says the agency's role is really to facilitate the coordination of the efforts of the various non-profits — including helping them to find volunteers. "The American Red Cross are really the main planners of all the relief efforts to this point," he said. "They are still on the frontline, for right now, but the other agencies are now starting to kick into action...." He said they are working on "filling in the pockets of need" within the working agencies and assisting in contacting volunteers... however "there is still a lot of chaos out there and we are just getting things sorted out..." He said the YMCA and Boys & Girls Club are open and have implemented special programs for children to help keep them safe and occupied while they are out of school...He said people who want to volunteer or assist Greenwich agencies with relief efforts should call the Volunteer Center at 348-7711. (or visit www.ucanhelp.org.)

Hamden

  • Anyone in need of non-perishable food can call the Hamden Food Bank at 203-562-5129. Those eligible to get food for their family can also receive food for their cat or dog.

Milford

  • The United Way, St. Mary Church and the Senior Center are all serving as drop-off centers for donations to help residents impacted by the storm. A local business, Baby Love, is also collecting supplies and items for babies and children impacted by the storm.

New Canaan

  • Residents seeking to help those without power in New Canaan should call the town’s Office of Emergency Management at 203-594-4100 to see where help is needed. Mostly, the OEM is looking for people to help staff the eight 24/7 phone lines that ring off the hook with every new update that goes out from the agency. Residents also are encouraged the check on neighbors, as many of those who have lost power, phone and Internet may have had a tough time getting out of their blocked driveways.

Redding

  • Volunteers can go to the Redding Community Center or Joel Barlow High School. Trunk-or-Treat is also planned for Saturday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m. Bring candy for the kids. 

Stamford

  • In Stamford, residents looking to help their fellow citizens have several options available to them. Currently, the Red Cross is managing a shelter at the Stamford High School for those displaced by the storm. The Salvation Army is currently handling the distribution of food. Mayor Michael Pavia directed those interested in assisting with relief efforts to contact groups within Stamford like Backyard Humanitarians and other local groups who are community partners with national groups and provide bodies, supplies and manpower. Currently, Backyard Humanitarians said their most needed items are towels, blankets, toiletries and non-perishable food items. All other types of donations are accepted and welcome. You can call Backyard Humanitarians at 203.524.9788. They can also help direct residents to specific locations that need specific items.

Trumbull

  • The Westfield Trumbull Shopping Mall will be accepting donations Nov. 3 through Nov. 11. Donations will be distributed through the Connecticut Food Bank. 

Food items most needed:

  • 100% Fruit Juice (cans / bottles / boxes)
  • Canned vegetables & fruit
  • Chunky soups & beef stew
  • Gluten-free products
  • Macaroni & cheese
  • Peanut butter
  • Powdered milk
  • Rice / dry & canned beans
  • Spaghetti & sauce
  • “Sugar free,” “low sodium,” & “no salt” items
  • Tuna & other canned meat
  • Shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes
  • Diapers, detergent and deodorant
  • Shaving cream, razors and hairbrushes

Weston

  • Those wishing to help in Weston can go to Weston High School where a comfort station will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. over the weekend. The town's storm information line is (203) 454-1161.

Wilton

  • Want to volunteer in Wilton? Miller-Driscoll is the town's comfort station. 

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Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Ashley Riera June 17, 2013 at 03:02 pm
To clarify, for those who are wondering why we can't just take the two cats up with us, we alreadyRead More have four cats, and a dog. We could only take two of the four cats with us, plus the dog (who is 14yrs. old.) The limit for the rental is three pets... this was a hard decision for us all. We would have taken them all if we could.
Bunny The Dog
Alyson Cahill June 13, 2013 at 07:01 am
Edit: Bunny was stolen WITH the truck. Suspect is Caucasian male in his 50s. Truck is red Dodge RamRead More with dent in rear passenger side cab. Please help! Call 203-257-3001 or 203-645-1282 with any information. No questions asked.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Found!! https://www.facebook.com/BringBunnyHome
Shirley B. Backus June 13, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Another example of why to never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle!
A photo of Sam (Credit: Contributed Photo)
Amy Taylor June 13, 2013 at 12:25 am
Thank you so much! You have no idea how grateful we are! You are very special people!!
Kathie June 13, 2013 at 03:58 am
Now that Sam has been found, the reason he ran off was due to the sound of gunfire at RooseveltRead More Forest in the early afternoon as his master was getting ready to take him out of his car. All had been quiet, the park was open, so the loud bangs were a surprise - both to Sam and his "Dad". To the best of my knowledge, when the shooting range is used by the Stratford PD, the park is closed to the public. It was that way always and I believe still is. But now, with non-Stratford police personnel using the range, obviously the Park is NOT closed as was observed/heard yesterday at 2 separate time periods of the day. The range is used by at least one other police department. Of course, there could be unauthorized people using the range too. I just don't know. But what I do know that yesterday (Wed), there was shooting early afternoon, and then again around 6PM. I observed at around 5:00PM, a little boy running up the dirt road that leads to the shooting range. The park remained opened all day! The shooting was NOT being done by the Stratford Police. People do not always stick to the trails, and as we all know, children can be quite curious. Who is to say a child and/or adult gets near the berm or behind it and someone shoots over the berm? What goes up, has to come down. I also was told that neighbors say there is shooting going on quite frequently, even on Sundays. I doubt that this is from Stratford PD, because outdoor shooting usually occurs for a week or so, twice a year. Tighter controls must be done! Surely, the parking area can be checked for vehicles... but I observed yesterday people entering the parking area (adjacent to the driveway leading up to the range) on foot, on bicycles, and motorcycles. So people could be in the park even when no vehicles are observed in the lot. Safety is key here! Procedures need to be put in place and perhaps limitations on when other police department(s) can use the range. It is not fair to the surrounding residents to have to hear the bang bang bang on Saturdays and Sundays. It scares some of them, and I know that one person who lives nearby says her dog gets scared right inside their house! What will it take? A child or an adult wandering near the range, thinking it is OK because the Forest is open... and then, all of a sudden, there is shooting and one gets shot, especially a child? This may sound extreme, but children can move quick and suddenly. I think of that little boy running up toward the range. He could have very well traveled through the woods. I can picture bullets being shot over the berm, not on purpose, but it can happen. Or shots go to the left or to the right; and people could be in the same general area - out of sight of the shooters. Bottom Line: The "public" can not be in the park while the range is "live", or in other words, when there is shooting taking place. As how to ensure that the public is not in the park, is not for me to determine. But the Town has to step up to the plate and address this very important issue.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 11:17 am
So happy to hear that your dog has been found! :)
ShirleyJ June 11, 2013 at 09:00 pm
Great shot! We were looking for the rainbow!!!
samgranata June 12, 2013 at 08:12 am
Great shot! One of my favorite places to take pictures of weather
Jaimie Cura (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 02:03 pm
That's beautiful Carol! I'm surrounded by land so this is so great to see!
re26 June 14, 2013 at 04:19 am
Reagan's quote is from the 1988 GOP convention that 'facts are stupid things'...John Adams made theRead More original quote.
Steve Raguskus June 15, 2013 at 10:20 am
I hope people note how these comments go. Anonymous right-wingers try to change the discussion,Read More prove a point that no one is arguing, and then declare victory. Both "Goodie Bassett" and "Reagan Night" say Ms. Daponte is lying because Tony Smith won't be removed from office. I just re-read Beth's piece to see where she made this claim, but she never said anything of the sort. What she did say was "Both Tony and Linda serve until January 1, 2016." So, where's the "half-truth"? The point of the post is that the new land use District II, comprised of the 3rd & 4th council districts, has no representation on any of these boards. Tony Smith will be the District II Zoning Commissioner, even though he doesn't live in that district. The extreme right can't defend this, so they try to change the subject.
richard brown June 15, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Isn't it odd that the half truths are written by people that won't sigh their real name but theRead More Democrats sign theirs. Huh, guess they don't want to be held accountable for their inuendo's and false acusations.