Community Corner

Where to Bring Donations for Sandy Victims

What items are needed for storm victims and where to bring them in the Caldwells.

With most power now restored in the Caldwells, residents are turning their focus on efforts to help victims of Hurricane Sandy—a historic storm that devasted large regions of the state from Hoboken to the Jersey Shore.

Rockn' Joe in Caldwell has already collected two truckloads of donations thanks to a drive started by the owners' 17-year-old daughter, Adrienne.

A first truckload of blankets, diapers, sweatshirts, socks and cleaning supplies was brought to Hoboken over the weekend. 

Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We all think of restaurant row and wealthy high-rises that overlook New York. It's not that! It surely wasn't that this weekend," Adrienne's mother, Darlene Sgarlato, said.

On Wednesday, a second truckload of donations brought to the coffee shop was on its way to either Staten Island or the Jersey Shore, depending on where they could gain access. 

Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sgarlato said the most needed items now are not clothes, but hats, gloves, blankets, bleach, toiletries and cleaning supplies, as well as batteries and flashlights. 

Donations can be brought to the restaurant at 339 Bloomfield Ave. in Caldwell. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Sunday.

Around the corner from Rockn' Joe, Runway, a women's clothing boutique, is also hosting a Sandy collection. Items can be dropped off between noon and 3 p.m. Wednesday at 3 Smull Ave.

a girls' consignment store at 3 Brookside Ave. in Caldwell, will hold a collection on Saturday, Nov. 10.

Items needed include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and other toiletries, baby wipes and diapers, work gloves, big black garbage bags, bars of soap, hand sanitzer, lip balm, fleece blankets, sweat shirts and sweat pants (not new, but in good condition), batteries of all sizes. 

The shop also needs volunteers (kids welcome) to help sort and box items to be taken to Sandy Victims.

373 Bloomfield Ave., in Caldwell is also collecting clothing and other items and Sherwin-Williams, 20 Passaic Ave., in Fairfield is accepting food donations to be distributed around the state.

Know of additional drop-off sites of collections for Sandy? Tell us in the comments.


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