Relief efforts under way for hurricane victims

Across the East End, efforts are beginning to aid families in need after Hurricane Sandy tore through the northeast. A few projects are listed below.

Please contact us if you are planning relief efforts to have your information added to this list.

From Riverhead Town: The Senior Center located on Shade Tree Lane in Aquebogue will remain open this weekend as a warming center for our residents from 8 am to 8 pm. The senior center will also be open for residents as a “charging station” for your cell phones and computers. We ask everyone to work cooperatively to access power and please bring no more than two devices.

The shelter at Riverhead High School is closed, but Eastport South Manor Junior/Senior High School remains open as a shelter located at: 543 Moriches-Middle Island Road, Manorville, N.Y.

Riverhead Town Hall at 200 Howell Avenue (next to the police station) and is open weekdays from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm and can be used as a “charging station” for your cell phones and computers.

The town is asking everyone to work cooperatively to access power and please bring no more than two devices.

The Riverhead highway department will be picking up storm debris curbside. Please separate storm debris from loose leaves.

The town’s yard waste facility will remain open with extended hours from 7 am to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; the facility will maintain its normal weekend schedule operating from 7 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday for town residents and local landscapers to dispose of storm-related yard debris at no charge.

Ice is being offered to residents on a “first come, first served” basis at the following locations (bring your own container):

• Riverhead & Yaphank Correctional Facilities
• Cooperage Inn, 2218 Sound Avenue, Baiting Hollow (between 11 am and 5 p.m., one cooler per resident)
• Long Island Ice and Fuel, 656 West Main Street, Riverhead.

From elsewhere in the region:

A Relay for Relief will be held Sunday at Jean Cochran Park in Peconic from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants can walk or run the 1/2 mile track to raise funds for those in need. Donations will also be accepted.

City Harvest is also distributing food at the Riverhead County Health Center. They are accepting cash contributions at 646-412-0643 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and East Enders who want to organize a food drive for City Harvest can call 646-412-0755 to arrange a pick-up time.

The food pantry is also running bare at Community Action Southold Town on Front Street in Greenport, said executive director Linda Ortiz, who said more families have been coming in looking for food since the storm hit.

“Right now we’re looking for extra food, and clothes because some people are not able to get to their clothes,” she said.

She said the pantry could especially use meat, canned soups and milk, particularly boxed milk that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but all food donations would be appreciated.

CAST is open from 9 a.m.to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. for both donations and to help people in need.

“People should just come down and see us,” she said. “If it’s an emergency, it doesn’t matter when they come.”

The Hampton Bays Mothers’ Association is spearheading a gift card drive to help local families. Gift cards can be dropped off at Scottos in Hampton Bays and Southampton Stationary on Hampton Road in Southampton Village. For more information, call Kerry Wilkie at 741-7014.

Joining Active Bodies Studio in Mattituck will be collecting items beginning today through next Saturday to take to a donation center in Freeport to aid Long Beach residents. Items to donate include: industrial  strength black garbage bags, heavy-duty rubber gloves, water, non-perishable food, batteries, generators, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, toiletries, socks and underwear, baby items, toys for kids, gas and gas cans, plastic bins, dog food, manual can openers, plastic bins, clothing, blankets, disposable cameras, markers and poster board, sanitary wipes, cleaning supplies and soap.

JABS is located on 605 Pike Street.

Peconic Bay Winery will be collecting items this weekend, including non-perishable food, bottled water, diapers, formula and personal hygiene items. The collection will also be delivered to the Mastic Library on Monday.

When purchasing non-perishable food, the winery asked to consider items that are healthy and cover a variety of food groups.

Anyone who brings something this weekend will receive a coupon for a free glass of wine to be redeemed at a later date.