Nassau County is organizing efforts to offer relief to the people of Haiti desperately awaiting aid since the devastating 7.0 earthquake rocked the island on Tuesday.
“Only by working together can we bring assistance to the people of Haiti,” said Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. “Every nation, town and county is reaching out to help those in need.”
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The shockwaves of the earthquake have been felt across Long Island, especially in Elmont where there is a significant Haitian community.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Haitian community and their families from Port-Au-Prince to Elmont,” said Leg. John Ciotti (R-North Valley Stream). “The people of my district are personally impacted by the destruction of the earthquake in Haiti. We will do everything we can to make sure the assistance is provided as quickly as humanly possible.”
The county is calling for non-perishable items—summer clothing, shoes, rice, canned goods, diapers and bottled water— that can be dropped off at specific drop off locations in the process of being set up.
Nassau County itself has a stockpile of food and water for the county’s own need in case of emergency. Ten percent of this supply—10,000 ready-to-eat meals and 20,000 bottles of water—will be shipped out to Haiti, town officials announced Thursday.
“There are a lot of people who are hungry, thirsty, and there are people who have nothing but the clothes on their back,” said Rev. Allen Ramirez of Hispanics Across America. “There are people whose lives who have been devastated by this earthquake. But in the best spirit of the American tradition we will come together as a community. We will feed people, we will give them something to drink and we will clothe them if necessary.”
Nassau County Where to Donate Hotline: 888-684-4278
For those who are interested in the locations of drop off boxes for non-perishable goods or to donate money to the American Red Cross or UNICEF can call (888)684-4278.
By Rashed Mian
