SOUTH BEND – Local efforts are again ramping up to help those hit hard by Hurricane Sandy on the east coast.
South Bend-based LeSea’s Feed The Hungry is one of those collecting items to help.
WSBT spoke with one woman with a special connection to the hard-hit east coast.
On Wednesday, Diane Carbone drove all the way from Three Oaks, Mich. to drop off a carload of relief items at the Feed The Hungry warehouse in South Bend. It was her second trip in recent days.
She has a strong link to the east coast and efforts to help victims of superstorm Sandy.
“I am a Jersey girl,” said Carbone. “I lived there for 39 years and have family that lives there now that were affected by the storm. The devastation is beyond words. It’s heartbreaking.”
She has made it her mission in life to bring in as much as she can to help with relief efforts. She is planning to make a third trip to LeSea next week, loaded with supplies for those out east.
“Every day, I feel I need to do more,” Carbone said. “We need to just reach out to everyone, because I know that the times are tough.”
The items dropped off at Feed The Hungry by her and others will be shipped for free, along with supplies the local humanitarian group is sending on its own.
“We still got a lot of people that want to bring stuff in,” said Bob Boucek of Feed The Hungry. “There is still a demand. On the receiving end, we always work with local churches and ministries. We are always delighted when people feel the need and want to get on board.”
Boucek says they would appreciate receiving any kind of donations to help with relief efforts but adds what is in big demand are household cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items.
“It’s unbelievable what’s out there, and they just need help,” said Carbone.
To date, Feed the Hungry has shipped 15 pallets of locally-donated supplies to the east coast, along with its own relief items.
The deadline for the organization to receive all donations with free shipping is Monday, December 3.
