Community Corner

Sandy Aid: Branford to New Jersey

Branford residents answered our call, donating more than 2,000 diapers, 50 pounds of new clothes and dozens of cans of formula for the children of Sandy victims in New Jersey.

Julie Mrzljak has been collecting items for the victims of Sandy in New Jersey and New York since the storm struck at the end of October. She and Danielle Gletow - Founder & Executive Director of One Simple Wish, a nonprofit helping foster children and vulnerable families – have gathered hundreds of pounds of clothes as well as new items, which have been distributed to more than two dozen shelters as well as individual families.

So what was the devastation like, first-hand? “I feel the worst part of the experience,” Mrzljak said, “ – it was like seeing everyone’s life in the garbage.”

Mrzljak said she visited Long Beach Island just after the storm and seeing the contents of people’s homes strewn about the curbside was overwhelming. “That made it a lot more real to see that in person,” she said.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This week, we drove the items donated by Branford residents to One Simple Wish’s collection and distribution center in Hamilton, NJ. Branford residents gave more than 2,000 diapers, 50 pounds of new clothes and dozens of cans of formula. The items were collected Saturday, Nov. 17 in front of Town Hall.

Thank you, Branford for your donations and for reaching out to a community you don’t know to help them get back on their feet.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One Simple Wish Information

CURRENT LIST OF NEEDS as of 1pm, Nov 16:

  • Gift cards to pharmacies and food stores and fast food restaurants
  • Paper Goods
Bedding (NEW)
  • Canned goods
Personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, body lotion & body wash
  • (NEW)
Baby supplies such as food, pacifers, onesies, diapers and wipes
  • Medical supplies such as band-aids, ace bandages, heating pads, wound care
  • Cleaning supplies such as bleach, rubber gloves, lysol, surface cleaners

MAIL ITEMS:

1977 North Olden Ave, #292, Trenton, NJ 08618.

Larger shipments can call us at 609-883-8484.

DONATION DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

Bordentown

Nova Computing
117 Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, NJ

DROP OFF TIMES:
Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 10am-4pm

Hamilton

Hamilton YMCA
JKR Branch – 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ

Cranbrook Arts & Humanities Center – 1301 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ (adjacent to the JKR Branch)

Sawmill Branch – 185 Sawmill Road, Hamilton, NJ

Contact: Krissi Zigenfus, Senior Director Member Initiatives 609-581-9622 x112 or mailto:kzigenfus@hamiltonymca.org

DROP OFF TIMES:
Mon-Fri: 5:30am–10pm
Sat: 7am–6pm
Sun: 9am–5pm

The Shoppes At Hamilton
549 U.S. 130
Hamilton Township, NJ
Building #667 - Next to Gymboree

DROP OFF TIMES:
Mon-Fri 4-7pm
Sat and Sun: 10am-2pm 
(609) 298-0515

Lawrenceville

Great Looks 4 Less Salon
3371 U.S. 1, Lawrenceville, NJ

DROP OFF TIMES: 
Mon, Thu: 9am–9pm
Tue, Fri: 9am–6pm
Wed: 9am–8pm
Sat: 9am–5pm
Sun: 11am–5pm

Princeton

Triumph Brewing Company
138 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ

DROP OFF TIMES:
Mon-Wed: 11:30am–1am 
Thu-Sat: 11:30am–2am
Sun: 12pm–12am

Tre Piani, Forrestal Village
120 Rockingham Row Princeton, NJ

DROP OFF TIMES:
Daily, 11am – 10pm

Trenton

One Simple Wish
354 South Broad St, Trenton, NJ

DROP OFF TIMES:
Wed and Thurs 11am-3pm and by appointment.

PENNSYLVANIA

STS Tire and Auto
2751 East Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, PA 
Mon-Fri: 7am-6pm
Sat: 7am-5pm

For any questions: 609-883-8484
info@onesimplewish.org For a list of shelters we are working with and their needs click here. This spreadsheet is updated twice per week or more by our amazing volunteers.

VOLUNTEER

To sign up to volunteer, join our Meetup Group and RSVP today!.

Most volunteer opportunities will take place at our Distribution Center located at The Shoppes At Hamilton
549 U.S. 130
Hamilton Township, NJ
Building #667 - Next to Gymboree

HOURS:
Mon-Fri 4-7pm (with sorting hours from 2-4pm)
Sat and Sun: 11am-3pm 
(609) 298-0515

For up to the minute updates on our work, visit the Hope and Help for Victims of Hurricane Sandy Facebook page.


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