Local emergency aid drive this weekend to help victims of Hurricane Sandy

Calling all Good Samaritans! A local emergency aid drive is under way for the victims of Hurricane Sandy and ground zero for donations is the Elba Firemen's Rec Hall at the corners of routes 98 and 262. (That's two miles or so north of the Batavia Thruway exit.)

Bring donations to the Elba fire rec hall from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. "Absolutely NO monetary donations!"

According to Michelle Ostroski and Erin Verratti, an Elba native is traveling from his Staten Island home and coming here this weekend to get badly needed donations for his neighbors.

Locally, "just a group of moms and friends" -- who say they felt helpless watching the TV news coverage and seeing the devastation -- are counting on the citizenry of Genesee County to send this guy packing -- right back to his ravaged neighborhood "loaded for bear."

Needed:

• batteries/flashlights
• bleach
• rubber gloves
• any cleaning products
• large, heavy-duty garbage bags
• new and used clothing of all sizes
• coats, gloves, hats, shoes, boots
• diapers, including adult diapers
• baby formula
• blankets, pillows, towels
• bottled water
• hand sanitizer
• non-perishable foods
• feminine hygiene products
• paper products -- toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, paper napkins
• cups, plastic eating utensils
• toiletry items: soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.
• first-aid kits

If you can't come on Sunday and have items to donate, please contact Michelle or Erin and they will make arrangements to pick them up!

Michelle: phone -- 590-6033  or  e-mail: mostroski@elbacsd.org

Erin: phone -- 356-0718  or  e-mail: Erinverratti2@gmail.com

"If you would like help out on Sunday at the rec hall, come on down! Please feel free to spread the word! Every little bit will help!" ... "There are so many people affected, let's pull together and show our kids that we can make a difference!"