Sandy: How to Help Your Fellow Chathamites

As the weather gets colder in the wake of Tropical Storm Sandy, many Chatham residents may wonder how they can help their neighbors.

Several township residents cooperated to establish a firewood drive at the Sutton Woods Pool House Sunday. To donate firewood or arrange for pickup, call (908) 313-8949.

With the Morris/Essex line of the New Jersey Transit suspended, many Chathamites need a ride to New York City. A hard copy list of people looking for carpools have been posted at every warming station in the Chathams, including:

• The Chatham Borough Fire Department commons room
• Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church
• Chatham Emergency Squad building on Spring Street
• The Library of the Chathams
• The Chatham Club
• Angie's Luncheonette
• Arminio's Italian Corner

Additionally, residents may also call Janice Piccolo at the Chatham Borough Municipal Building to get their names added to the list. Piccolo can be reached at (973) 635-0674 ext. 200.

In the borough, local businesses gathered to establish drop-off locations for donations. Jabberwocky, Kitchen Intuitions, Bliss and the Chatham Sports Shop are all places where residents can drop off the following items to donate:

• new blankets
• new sleeping bags
• canned food
• bottled water
• personal care items
• First Aid supplies
• baby caire items
• flashlights and batteries
• paper towels and toilet paper
• cleaning supplies

The Red Cross needs donations, both financial and, well, bloody. According to a statement from the New Jersey chapter of the American Red Cross, Sandy caused the cancellations of several blood drives and caused the loss of as many as 11,000 blood products.

To make a financial donation or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, visit www.redcross.org or call 800-733-2767. The next blood drive in the area will be Saturday at the Millburn Free Public Library.