Photos: Sandy relief event draws runners, dollars to Peconic

JABS exercise studio in Mattituck held a relay race for Hurricane Sandy relief at Jean Cochran Park in Peconic on Sunday.

Organizers Jill Schroeder, Nicole Alloway and Cyndi Cichanowicz put the word out to friends via email, Facebook, and word of mouth and within a half hour of setting up at the park Sunday morning, they were flooded with donations.

Amy Bailey of Jamesport saw the notice on Facebook and immediately went into action, prompting her family to gather up food, clothing and toiletries.

“I was concerned about using the gas to get here, but I felt it was worth it,” said Amy.

Her 9-year-old son Quinnlan ran 3.5 miles around the track to help raise money.

Nearby, 8-year-old Naomi Cichanowicz was busy making beaded necklaces to award to runners and walkers circling the track behind her.

“When people make one lap, they get one bead,” said Amy. “They come by to pick up their necklaces and they put donations in my jar,” she said, gesturing toward a nearby container filling rapidly with dollars.”It makes me feel good to do something to help people who were hurt by the hurricane.”

As cars packed with donations arrived in a steady stream, runners and walkers continued circling the track.

Brianne Miller, 12 and Shannon Schmidt, 12 of Jamesport were slightly out of breath but happy to show off their necklaces with 4 and 5 beads, respectively.

Five-year-old Maeve Bailey of Riverhead summed up everyone’s sentiments: “I feel poor for the people in the storm.”

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