Dear Brothers and Sisters:

On behalf of Fr. Alex, our Parish Council, and our entire Church Family, allow me to thank everyone who has participated in our relief efforts for those effected by Hurricane Sandy. The response from our own members and the broader East End Community has been phenomenal and overwhelming. We are most grateful for everyone who has given of their resources and time to help those in need! While the storm is over and a great deal of help has been offered, there are thousands of people in our area who are displaced, struggling daily to meet their basic needs.

Here is a summary of what our community has done so far, and some options for those who can help us continue our efforts for those effected by the storm:

Over the last week The Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons has:

• Collected thousands of articles of clothing, coats and gloves, blankets, 50 cases of bottled water, canned goods, other non perishable foods, and toiletries which have been sorted, packaged and given out at relief distribution centers in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Island Park.
• So far, our church has collected relief donations totaling $4,684. With those donations, we have purchased approximately 1,500 diapers, 200 bottles of baby food, 265 ounces of powdered baby formula, along with wipes and other essentials for families with infants. We purchased 600 hot meals for hurricane victims that were distributed at the Calvery Church in Red Hook. Additionally, we have provided families with cleaning supplies and disinfectants to assist in the restoration of homes damaged by the storm. So far, we have used just about half of the money collected for relief. More relief items will be purchased and distributed in the coming days, and a portion of our donations will also go to the Archdiocese Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. To learn more about the Archdiocese Fund, visit http://goarch.org/special/hurricanesandy.

We have cooperated with the Greek Orthodox Churches of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn, and Holy Trinity/St. Nicholas in Staten Island, The Greek Orthodox Monastery of All Saints in Calverton, as well as with the Red Cross.

As we continue our effort to offer relief to victims of the storm, please note the following:

• The church will continue to accept donations of clothing, lightly used books, and non-perishable food items through Thanksgiving. We will also gratefully accept monetary donations for those impacted by the storm. Also, as more items come in for distribution, we will need volunteers to help us sort and deliver. To volunteer, please contact Anastasia Karloutsos at Akarloutsos@gmail.com.
• The Island Park Fire Department is collecting clean and dry clothing for all ages for distribution to residents at the Long Island Antique Exchange located at 4338 Austin Blvd, Island Park, NY 11558.

If you will be sending winter clothing please send to this address. It will be sorted and put on racks for residents. It would be helpful if clothing was presorted by size gender and category of clothing.

IPFD volunteer, Chris Casella posted on Facebook that the Island Park community needs the below donations. Please send these donations in marked bags or boxes to the Island Park Fire Department at:

IPFD
440 Long Beach Road
Island Park, NY 11558

Items Needed as of 11/6/12

• Non-Perishable Foods
• Cleaning Supplies
• Hygiene Items – shampoo, soap, tooth paste, Tooth Brushes etc.
• Baby Items – diapers, wipes, formula, food, etc.
• New Socks
• New Underwear
• T-Shirts
• Blankets
• Garbage Bags
• Empty Boxes
• Containers For Packing

Please note: Clothing should be clean, in good condition, sorted and labeled in boxes or bags prior to being brought to church or to other distribution centers. Food items with expired sell by dates can not be accepted.

Again, many thanks to everyone who has participated in this relief effort. We are grateful to God and thank you for your generosity and hard work. Let’s all pray for the speedy recover and well being of those effected by the storm, and thank you again!

– Fr. Constantine