Patch & AOL Send Hurricane Sandy Relief Trucks to Long Island, New Jersey

It's been said it's far better to have a neighbor who's near, than a brother who's far away, but in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Americans across the nation have proven to be the best neighbors and the strongest of families.

This past weekend, AOL and Patch employees took an opportunity to pitch in, packing two tractor trailers worth of food, water and supplies in Dulles, VA, and Baltimore. The donations are headed to Hurricane Sandy ravaged areas in New Jersey and Long Island.

Want to join the relief efforts? Click here to donate: https://donate.networkforgood.org/aol

"When a catastrophe of this size hits, we all feel it, both the hundreds of us who live in the impacted towns, and our colleagues who are watching and wishing they could help more. So for us AOLers and Patchers, it feels like a relief and a privilege to get to help out in such a big, immediate way," said Patch Chief Content Officer Rachel Fishman Feddersen.

The AOL trucks will arrive in New Jersey on Monday and Long Island the next day. The deliveries will include many of the essentials residents most need, such as bottled water, blankets, batteries, canned soup, disposable diapers, baby formula and more.

The trucks are rolling as residents in areas such as the Jersey Shore, Staten Island and Long Island are still coping with the aftermath of the hurricane. Hundreds of thousands are still without power, the area transit systems are crippled, and gas lines can go on for miles, as motorists desperately try to fill their cars and residents look to fill gas cans in order to keep generators humming in near-freezing temperatures.

You can join us in the relief efforts. To Donate to Hurricane Sandy Disaster relief, click here: https://donate.networkforgood.org/aol

Donate blood or platelets to the Red Cross

If a financial contribution isn't possible, there are other ways to help, too. The Red Cross is still in need of donors for blood or platelets, especially from those with type O positive, O negative, A negative or B negative blood.

A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 (16 with parental permission in Michigan), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors age 18 and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Local drives include:

• Nov. 5, noon-6 p.m. – Parkway Chrysler Jeep 21560 Hall Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038
• Nov. 9, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. – TRW 4505 West 26 Mile Rd Washington Township, MI 48094
• Nov. 9, 1-7 p.m. – YMCA Mt. Clemens 10 North River Rd. Mount Clemens, MI 48043
• Nov. 11, 8-2 p.m. – St. Isidore Catholic Church Hall 18201 23 Mile Rd Macomb, MI 48042
• Nov. 12, 1-7 p.m. – Duncan Elementary School 14500 26 Mile Rd Shelby Township, MI 48315
• Nov. 13, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. – Lutheran High School North Gym 16825 24 Mile Rd Macomb, MI 48042

Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. Platelet donors should call 313-494-2788 to schedule an appointment.