STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Volunteers from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and Amazon workers packed five Amazon trucks with essential items donated by Staten Islanders for hurricane victims, which are now en route to North Carolina and expected to arrive tomorrow morning.
For the past week and a half, Borough President Vito Fossella, alongside elected officials and local charities, businesses and organizations, has been gathering donations for a Hurricane relief drive to support those in the south impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“When we see somebody in need, we want to reach out. Staten Island has a history of doing so,” Fossella said at the Amazon Fulfillment Center, before the trucks departed. “Staten Island suffered on 9/11 and people, from around the world practically, tried to lend a helping hand. This is our way of saying ‘how can we help?’”
Hurricane Helene struck Florida on Sept. 26, unleashing destruction throughout the southeast from Florida to Virginia. The storm devastated homes and infrastructure, cut off communication and water supplies, and resulted in nearly 250 deaths across the region. In North Carolina, state officials report more than 90 fatalities, with nearly 30 individuals still missing…