Oklahoma: Don't Visit, But Please Send Cash

Oklahoma urges out-of-state residents not to mail or truck in supplies, but would appreciate charitable contributions

  Oklahoma and FEMA officials are asking those who want to help tornado victims to make charitable contributions, but not to mail or truck in any supplies. Even as Oklahoma officials are emphasizing how much they appreciate that folks from out-of-state want to roll truckloads of supplies into the tornado-ravaged area of the state, they have to politely decline because it would divert attention from handling the ongoing crisis and possibly create a mountain of items no one will want. "Please don't send used clothes or supplies and, no, we can't have trucks coming in," said Ann Dee Lee, a volunteer helping the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management's public relations department field media calls. On Tuesday, plans were brewing among Jersey …

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Hurricane Sandy

Lots of Donations, Lots of Victims, But How To Bring The Two Together?

Organizers need a way to bring storm victims into the regional distribution center at Saint Benedict in Holmdel.

Update Nov. 4: Anyone with gas and time to ferry donations is asked to contact Mary at 732-915-9228. On Saturday in the dark gymnasium at Saint Benedict School in Holmdel where power has still not been restored, hundreds of local volunteers efficiently sorted and folded a river of donated clothes and toiletries into categories, and stacked them on tables ringing the room.   Coordinator Mary Mykityshyn of Holmdel said the need is so great for storm-ravaged victims of Keyport, Union Beach, and Keansburg. But the Bayshore residents don't have a way to get to the regional distribution center at Hillcrest and Bethany Road in Holmdel.  "A major problem for us is that the need is out there, but they can't get here," she said. A system had not …

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Hurricane Sandy

Drop Off Donations at Bayshore Churches For Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Needed: Mens boots, X-large t-shirts and cash donations.

Churches have begun acccepting donations of cash, gift cards and clothing for Bayshore victims of Hurricane Sandy and emergency workers.  The donation drive is being run by Hazlet's Clergy Council, headed by Municipal Chaplain Barry Mulligan of Maranatha.  Donations may be made during daylight hours on Wednesday, October 31st.  "What's most needed is mens boots, shoe size 11 and 12, and extra large t-shirts," said Sue Mulligan, the wife of pastor Barry Mulligan.  The Mulligans live in Keyport, and were devastated by the destruction of the waterfront. "We've never seen it like that before," she said. 

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