NY Governor Calls For More Supplies To Aid Haitian Relief

ALBANY - Governor David Paterson Wednesday thanked the hundreds of New Yorkers who have donated critical supplies for the island nation of Haiti, following the devastating hurricanes that tore through the region during the last four weeks.

To date, 74 pallets of supplies have been collected at the Bedford Armory in Brooklyn, which the Governor directed be opened and staffed by the National Guard to aid in the collection. Among supplies collected thus far, food items total 6,323 and cases of water total 340.

The Army National Guard facility at 1579 Bedford Avenue at Union Street in Brooklyn will remain open all this week through Sunday afternoon. In addition, the State is accepting donated items at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office building at 163 West 125th at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd in Harlem, and in the Bronx at Cox Nissan, 1235 East Tremont Avenue, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., until Sunday evening.

Three hurricanes in four weeks have left more than 100 dead and tens of thousands homeless in Haiti. Hunger and dehydration are rampant, and Governor Paterson last week issued a call to action to New Yorkers to help collect supplies.


“New Yorkers always come together in a time of crisis to help strangers in other states and nations. I am proud that this time is no exception – this is truly an incredible response,” said Governor Paterson. “When Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana, New York sent help. When Hurricane Ike hit Texas, New York sent help. These same storms have hit Haiti, and New York will send help. We must act now to get vulnerable people essential supplies. The damage inflicted on Haiti by these hurricanes was severe, for the more than 125,000 Haitians living in New York, this affected their families and neighbors. The damage has been compounded by the fact that Haiti was already one of the poorest nations in the world – according to the UN, 53 percent of the population lives on less than a dollar a day. A bottle of water or a package of rice will make a real difference.”

Source: EmpireStateNews.Net