Hurricane Sandy Relief: How You Can Help

Westford escaped the kind of catastrophic damage from Hurricane Sandy we're reading about in other states, like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other coastal areas were not so lucky.

Patch has gathered some local resources if you want to help in relief efforts.

Quick and Easy: Text  the word REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes. It is a general fund. More details here.

Raise Your Hand: Volunteers in New Jersey are being coordinated through an emergency response hotline, 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). Alternate numbers, for when the hotline isn’t staffed, include 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471 or e-mails can be sent to Rowena.Madden@sos.state.nj.us.

The New York City agency NYC Service is coordinating volunteers for various relief projects in New York City. Go to its Facebook page or e-mail nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name and e-mail address.

Give Blood: The American Red Cross is collecting funds and coordinating blood donations. The organization sheltered more than 3,000 people across nine states during the worst of the storm.

Sandy has caused the cancellation of about 300 American Red Cross blood drives.

St. Joseph Hospital and the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive in the hospital’s Carl Amelio Room on Monday, November 5, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“Patients will still need blood despite the weather,” said Dr. Richard Benjamin, chief medical officer of the Red Cross, in a statement.  

To schedule a blood donation at a center near you or for more information about giving blood or platelets, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Help a Displaced Pet: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) takes donations to rescue and shelter animals affected by the storm. Nearly 300 animals are staying with their owners in shelters in the New York City area, the agency said.

The ASPCA is also setting up a distribution center in Syracuse, N.Y., with 4,000 sheltering units, which contain pet food, crates, food bowls, toys and anything else an animal may need.

United Way Fund: The United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund has been set up to address near-term and long-term recovery needs of communities most affected by the hurricane. Visit UWSandyRecovery.org to donate to the Fund. You can also use your phone to text RECOVERY to 52000 to make a $10 donation.

The Salvation Army: You can donate $10 to the Salvation Army by texting “STORM” to 80888. If you are already volunteer-certified, you can sign up to help out with disaster relief.

AmeriCares: You can donate to AmeriCares’ relief fund to help the organization, which is distributing supplies to 130 clinics in the 13 states affected by Sandy.

To follow news from some of the most affected areas and see how local residents are faring, here are links to other Patch sites:

Greenwich Patch (CT)

Hoboken Patch

Ocean City Patch 

Point Pleasant Patch

Do you know of any groups in theWestford area organizing supplies or donations for Hurricane Sandy victims? Tell us in the comments.