Staten Island Cares: BP Fossella to Announce Large-Scale Donation Drive to Support Hurricane Helene Victims
Editor’s note: Staten Islanders have come through for other groups facing difficulties in the past, particularly struggling military families living at Fort Wadsworth. Hurricane Ida also left a wake of destruction as it passed through Staten Island and New York City. For those facing hurricanes, the Salvation Army has some tips they’ve provided, and the preparedness meeting recently held by FEMA and the New York Office of Emergency Management on Staten Island also strives to teach people how to prepare.
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella begins a large-scale donation effort to provide Hurricane Helene victims much-needed items at a press conference on Tuesday, October 8th at 12:00 PM at Borough Hall.
Hurricane Helene, which occurred recently and primarily impacted the American Southeast, has left vast devastation in much of the Southern states. As Staten Island was once on the receiving end of a vast effort of support during and following Superstorm Sandy, Borough President Fossella is organizing the combined resources of organizations and the goodwill of Staten Islanders to extend aid to those bereaved in the South.
This Hurricane Relief Drive will call for the following:
- New socks, sweatshirts, t-shirts, underwear
- Bottled water/drinks
- Feminine care products
- Hygiene/oral care
- Diapers
- Formula and baby bottles
- Canned goods
- Shelf-stable food (no glass)
- Paper goods
- Cleaning supplies
Joining the Borough President in kickstarting and contributing to the effort are the International Association of Fire Fighters, Catholic Charities of Staten Island, Amazon, the SI Economic Development Corporation, the SI Chamber of Commerce, and local elected officials.
In attendance: BP Fossella; Kirk Lester, International Association of Fire Fighters; Joe Delaney, Notre Dame Club; Claire Atalla, Catholic Charities; representative from Amazon; Linda Baran, SI CoC President & CEO; Gina Gutman, SIEDC Senior Vice President; local elected officials
Following is the BP’s statement after the Press Conference, with further details of how Staten Islanders can help:
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella announced on Tuesday the beginning of a Staten Island Hurricane Relief Drive, a large-scale donation effort to provide Hurricane Helene victims with food, clothes and other necessary items.
Hurricane Helene, which occurred recently and primarily impacted the American Southeast, has left vast devastation in much of the Southern states. As Staten Island was once on the receiving end of a vast effort of support during and following Superstorm Sandy, Borough President Fossella is organizing the combined resources of organizations and the goodwill of Staten Islanders to extend aid to those bereaved in the South.
Starting today, the Borough President’s Office is collecting the following donations of:
- New socks, sweatshirts, t-shirts, underwear
- Bottled water/drinks
- Feminine care products
- Hygiene/oral care
- Diapers
- Formula and baby bottles
- Canned goods
- Shelf-stable food (no glass)
- Paper goods
- Cleaning supplies
Those interested in contributing can drop off items at either Borough Hall or the offices of the following elected officials up until the week of October 21st:
- Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis – 1698 Victory Boulevard Suite 2L
- Councilman David Carr – 900 South Avenue, Suite 403
- Councilman Joe Borelli – 2955 Veterans Road West, Suite 2
- Assemblyman Michael Reilly – 7001 Amboy Road Suite 202 E
- Assemblyman Michael Tannousis – 11 Maplewood Place
- Assemblyman Charles Fall – 853 Forest Avenue
- Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo – 2090 Victory Boulevard
- State Senator Andrew Lanza – 3845 Richmond Avenue Suite 2A
Additionally, those interested can also contribute by donating to the Amazon Wishlist found in the attached flier, which will directly deliver items to Borough Hall. [The flyer below is not clickable. This will be updated with the wishlist link. Find the QR code below]:
To best accomplish the gathering of items and delivery to the South, the Borough President has gathered numerous partners in the community. The International Association of Fire Fighters eagerly offered manpower and trucks to haul the collected donations to North Carolina, which they will do during the week of October 21st.
Additionally, Catholic Charities of Staten Island, the University of Notre Dame Club of Staten Island, ConEdison of Staten Island, Amazon and the Carl V. Bini Fund have all committed to providing donations or additional support to the drive.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The bottom line is that our fellow Americans need our help, and we will do our part to help them on their road to restoration.” said Borough President Fossella.
A Statement from Borough President Vito Fossella on Relief for Hurricane Helene Victims
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the many people of the American Southeast who are currently experiencing the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. We on Staten Island are very familiar with how it feels, especially with our history with Superstorm Sandy, and we care.
Our office is now strategizing how to mobilize help for our fellow American citizens during this time of tremendous need, by way of charity, donations and other assistance.
As we know, for the past few years, New York City, the State, and the Federal government have spent billions of dollars to accommodate migrants, many of whom came here illegally. We have opposed many of these policies, and rightfully called them unsustainable, not to mention fiscally irresponsible.
So, we now call upon the federal, state, and local governments to give priority to these American citizens for housing, transportation to safe locations, and support. If any victims are in need of, or want, relocation to New York, or to Staten Island, these citizens should and must take priority over foreign asylum seekers.
The storm, as tragic as it was, should refocus our priorities on our fellow American citizens suffering from hardships.
The vast need in the wake of this hurricane underscores the long-misplaced priority to exhaust millions of dollars on asylum-seekers. This misplaced, unsustainable burden to indefinitely house, fund and support thousands upon thousands of foreign migrants, is one Staten Island certainly did NOT create nor support.
Many times before, we have been on the receiving end of help, and we have a rich history of answering the call.
Staten Island stands ready to help our brethren in the storm-ravaged southern states.
Banner Image: Car driving through rising floodwaters during Hurricane Ida on Staten Island. Image Credit – Staten Islander News
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.