The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Township Councilwoman Shanel Robinson (D-At Large) is among a group of area community leaders spearheading an effort to gather items needed by survivors of Hurricane Henry in Texas.
Robinson is joined on the Somerset-Middlesex county steering committee by New Brunswick City Council President Glen Fleming, community advocate Tormel Pittman and philanthropist Ashton Burrell of Highland Park.
“I am all too familiar with the calamities of hurricanes and tornadoes as I was raised in New Orleans, and have many friends and family who were impacted by Katrina, who then moved to Houston and have now been negatively impacted by Hurricane Harvey, and I’m originally born in Florida, so I still have family members in Florida who were impacted by Hurricane Irma,” Robinson said at the Sept. 12 Township Council meeting. “I just want everyone to keep them in your prayers.”
Items can be dropped off through the end of September at two locations in the township: from 6-8 p.m. Monday through Friday at Community Fire Company Station 25, 710 Hamilton St. and from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at Nu Trendz Barber Shop, 563 Somerset St.
“Oftentimes people are in a hurry to receive items, but if they’re not there to receive them, or if they haven’t moved back into their homes, we tend to forget,” she said. “So let’s not forget those who have been displaced and impacted.”
Here is the list of items that can be dropped off:
Toiletries: soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, wash cloths, towels, shampoo, conditioner, combs, brushes, sanitary napkins, diapers, etc.
Clothing: New socks, new t-shirts, new underwear, new or almost new pants, and sneakers. No winter clothes.
Non-Perishable Food: canned goods, crackers, Ramen noodles, granola/protein bars, pasta, peanut butter, pudding, dried fruit, cereal, rice, beans, etc.
Cleaning Supplies: heavy duty trash bags, bleach, ammonia, dish & laundry detergent, mops, brooms, cleaning towels gloves, etc.
First-Aid Supplies: alcohol, hand sanitizer, peroxide, Neosporin, Vitamin A and D ointment, Band-Aids, gauze, etc.
Items will be taken to Texas on Oct. 5, she said.
