Glen Cove organizing Puerto Rico, Mexico relief efforts

The city of Glen Cove is helping organize a collection Saturday to help Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane Maria, and state Assemb. Charles Lavine’s Glen Cove office is collecting donations for Puerto Ricans and for those impacted by the Sept. 19 earthquake in Mexico.

The Saturday collections are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. behind the Glen Cove firehouse, 10 Glen Cove Ave., and from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Glen Cove High School homecoming, 150 Dosoris Lane.

The Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department, Glen Cove City Schools and several individuals and businesses are helping sponsor the collection. Items will go to the Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort, which was launched by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Items that are needed include: batteries, flashlights, first-aid supplies, cases of water, cleaning supplies, diapers and wipes, baby food and formula, feminine hygiene products, and nonperishable food items. All items must be unopened and in original packaging. No clothing will be accepted.

Residents interested in volunteering at the sites should call the mayor’s office at 516-676-2004.

Lavine’s office, at 1 School St., Suite 303-B, Glen Cove, will be collecting items until at least the end of the year during office hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Lavine (D-Glen Cove) said in a statement that the effort is in partnership with Long Island Cares and Mexican Volunteers of Long Island, a group primarily of Mexican immigrants — many with the Islandia-based nonprofit SEPA Mujer — formed after the earthquake. Food, first-aid supplies, bottled water and personal-care products are among the items needed. 

For more information, call 516-676-0050.

Residents also can purchase food and personal care items for Puerto Ricans online by going to: yougivegoods.com/lavine.