Red Cross Opens 3 Mobile Meals Distribution Centers Each In Suffolk, Nassau Counties
FARMINGVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The Red Cross has opened six Mobile Meals Distribution Centers on Long Island, three each in Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports
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The centers are open from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. for dinner. Red Cross Comfort kits will also be made available at each location.
Locations are as follows:
Suffolk
Mastic Fire House
180 Mastic Road, Mastic
Suffolk County Community College / Riverhead Campus
121 Speonk-Riverhead Road, Riverhead
H. Lee Dennison Building
100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge
Nassau
Nickerson Beach Park
880 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach
Cedar Crest Park
3340 Merrick Road, Seaford
Christopher Morley Park
500 Searingtown Road, Roslyn
Long Islanders at the County Executive's Office in Hauppauge said they were grateful for a meal.
"We had to throw out all of our food. Of course, we have no electricity, no food, there's no way to cook. So a neighbor told us about this," one woman told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall.
A couple told Hall they had been checking on their elderly neighbor since the storm hit, but said the Red Cross is really a life-saver.
"She has no power, at least we have a generator," one thankful resident told Hall.
"This is great. We just went to some of the stores to try to get some food for her, just bread, jelly. But this is awesome," another resident said.
Many stores and restaurants remained closed due to a lack of power, Hall reported. The Red Cross free meal facilities are offering the comforts of home to storm-weary Long Islanders.
"They're offering inside to charge your devices and that was very helpful. And then the Red Cross is here for lunch and dinner. We had to throw out all our food," a woman told Hall.
Residents said they picked up meals for family and friends who were not able to make it to one of the facilities.
For more information, call the Red Cross at 631-924-6911 or 1-800-733-2767. You can also visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov or the Red Cross of the Greater New York Region.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Red Cross is looking for volunteers. There is a possibility that more shelters will have to be open to accommodate folks who were forced to evacuate. The Red Cross says now is the time to volunteer. To do so, an individual must be:
- Over the age of 16
- Available for 12 hour shift from Wednesday, Oct. 31 to Friday, Nov. 2.
- Able to lift and carry 50 pounds
- Comfortable working with people in stressful situations
For a guide on how to recover after a disaster, click here.
Search for open shelters by texting: SHELTER and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA). Ex: Shelter 01234 (std rates apply) or click here.
For more from the Red Cross or to donate, visit www.redcross.org.
For local Red Cross chapters, see below:
New York
New Jersey
- American Red Cross of Camden and Burlington Counties
- American Red Cross of Central New Jersey
- American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey
- Jersey Coast Chapter
- New Jersey Crossroads
- Southern Shore Chapter
- South Jersey Chapter
Connecticut
