SAAGNY and PPAI Are Making a Difference for Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Many suppliers have stepped up to help. Companies have donated apparel, blankets, umbrellas, bags, flashlights, lip balm, hand sanitizer and stuffed animals, for the kids. Imagine the impact losing a home has on young children?

Regardless of your location, YOU have the opportunity to help. SAAGNY and the SAAGNY Foundation are taking action. They have moved quickly helping to meet the many needs of those affected by this disaster.

SAAGNY is forming teams to be the “feet on the street” in 5 locations: the Jersey Shore; Long Beach, N.Y.; Rockaway, N.Y.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Staten Island, N.Y. These teams will be coordinating with local groups to get products and manpower where they are needed. Since they don’t have deep pockets, they want to focus on a few places where they can actually make a difference. It’s sort of like “adopting” a town.

One company has generously donated warehouse space in Neptune, N.J. to store the donations they receive. From here items can be sorted and donated.

SAAGNY and The SAAGNY Foundation have pledged $2500 each to seed the Hurricane Relief Fund and all donations will go directly to the relief efforts—buying cleaning supplies, Gatorade or whatever is needed at the time.

Donations have come from various industry groups and individuals.

You are invited to help. Jonathan Riegel, MAS, Executive Director of SAAGNY offers these options for being a part of the relief efforts:

Product Donations: The location to send them somewhat depends on what it is that is being sent. We have had a couple of suppliers ship us skid loads of items. Those are going to a warehouse in N.J. Smaller items are being shipped to the SAAGNY office for distribution to Queens and Long Island. I would suggest that you ask potential donors to email SAAGNY and we will let you know where to send it. We are also somewhat limited in what we can accept. It is becoming harder to find relief centers that will accept clothing and even harder to find those still accepting used clothing. We need to coordinate that part.