Wayne VOAD Flood Recovery Bulletin Sept 4,2011

Hi Everyone,  I just recieved this email from Rev. Karyn Ratcliffe.  Please take time to read it.  It is so important to our community that we stick together and help our neighbors. This is what makes our town so wonderful! Thank you, Ruby

Ruby,
Please forward this to your People's List. Thank you!

Dear residents of Wayne,

I’d like to issue the following update on the flood recovery efforts being coordinated by the Wayne Township VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster):

The Civic Center at 1006 Hamburg Turnpike (across from Church Lane) has been established as a staging area for the collection and distribution of supplies. Today, over 200 cleanup kits were distributed to people-in-need. Thanks to Strawberry Blossom Garden Center, many of those kits were transported by truck to the Ryerson Avenue volunteer station and distributed there. In addition, donations of cleaning supplies, school supplies, health care items, and non-perishable food items were received. Volunteers came to offer assistance and were immediately put to work. Individuals in need may come to the Civic Center to pick up supplies and food.

We are in the process of requesting donations of school supplies in order to put together over 200 backpacks for K-5. We also need volunteers to assemble the backpacks on Monday evening at the Civic Center, and to deliver them to the schools.

Thanks to Fire Chief John Gabriel, we have the use of a room in the Company 2 firehouse from Tuesday, September 6, through at least Sunday, September 11. We are currently trying to arrange for meals to be provided at that location as well as cleaning supplies and non-perishable food. The hours of service will be established tomorrow. Volunteers are needed to staff the building, organize donations, distribute meals and supplies, and make deliveries directly into neighborhoods.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established a presence in Wayne and will continue to strengthen that presence in the coming days and weeks. They are currently in the process of assessing both the needs of the community and the services being currently provided. Based upon today’s visit by the President of the United States and the Governor of NJ, decisions will be made about the locations of the Disaster Recovery Centers being set up. In the meantime, all affected residents are urged to register with FEMA for disaster assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by going to www.disasterassistance.gov or www.fema.gov. Please have the following available: SSN#, private insurance info (if available), address and zip code of the damaged property, directions to the damaged property, and a daytime telephone number.

Anyone who would like to volunteer in the flood recovery effort is asked to come to the Civic Center to either be put to work immediately or to inquire about how you can help.

The residents of Wayne are asked to donate the following items, which can be dropped off at the Civic Center (8am - 8pm) or at Company 2 Firehouse beginning on Tuesday:

School Supplies: composition notebooks (the ones without spirals); erasable pens; red pens; pencils, folders; 24-box of crayons; small package of thin markers; small package of thick markers; manual pencil sharpeners; colored pencils; glue sticks; highlighters; books they can read (novels for 4th and 5th graders); scissors; 3x5 cards; large book socks; rulers; post-it notes; and BACKPACKS!

Cleaning Supplies: buckets, bleach, gloves, face masks, sponges, scrub brushes, mops, brooms and garbage bags. In addition, we are asking for bottled water, Gatorade and juice boxes for homeowners who are in the process of cleaning out their homes.

Health Care Supplies: toothbrushes and toothpaste

Non-Perishable Food Items: water bottles, cereal, pasta, coffee, tea, tuna, cooking oil, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, soup, mayonnaise, school snacks and drinks, juices, instant mashed potatoes, ketchup, flavored rice packages, canned beans and canned vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots, spinach, mixed). In addition, we need laundry detergent, soap and shampoo.

Gift cards can be dropped off at either town hall or at The Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East (Monday through Thursday, from 9:30am until 2:00pm). The church office will be closed for Labor Day.

Individuals who would like to make a financial donation are asked to make a check payable to “The Wayne Interfaith Network” and mailed to WIN, c/o The Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East. (Note that WIN is an interfaith organization that operates a food pantry housed at The Packanack Community Church. All checks received by the church will be passed on to the WIN President and used specifically for Wayne flood recovery and relief.)

The YM-YWHA, 1 Pike Drive, is offering their showers to anyone who does not have hot water in their homes. Adults and minors (under 18) accompanied by adults are asked to show photo ID and can come during the following hours:

Saturday and Sunday: 7am - 6pm

Monday, 8am - 2pm

Tuesday, 5:30am - 9pm

The Wayne VOAD is currently coordinating an effort to help residents clean out their homes once those homes have been inspected and deemed safe to enter by township officials. Please watch for further information.

It has been a very long weekend for many people, but together we have accomplished a great deal. Please continue to join with us in this ongoing flood recovery effort, and to communicate to me the volunteer recovery activities that you are currently engaged in. Together, we can put Hurricane Irene behind us and look with hope to the new school year ahead.

I wish you all a peaceful Labor Day.

Rev. Karyn Ratcliffe

Chair, Wayne VOAD