Donate today at OLSH for Sandy relief efforts

An Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School student is doing her part to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Rachel Kim, a sophomore at the Moon Township school, is asking the community to donate items to help with the recovery effort in and around her mother’s hometown in New Jersey.

Marshall Township resident Susan Kim, a native of Tinton Falls, NJ, has joined with some friends with roots in that area to provide assistance for those affected by the late-October storm.

She and Patty Pellegrini, another New Jersey native, got the inspiration while attending last week’s North Hills concert by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, one of the Garden State’s best-known rock acts. They were reminded of Sandy’s carnage and the people who still are in dire straits because of it.

“I told her, ‘I really wish there were something I could do,” Susan recalled. “And she said, ‘So do I.’”

They proceeded to enlist the help of another friend, Becky Piocquidio, to establish several drop-off locations in the North Hills for donations of items. Rachel suggested adding Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to the list.

“She’s going to come with us and write a story or videotape the story for her school,” Susan said.

If you’re interested in helping, be advised that items need to be dropped off by the end of the school day Friday. The group has a vehicle ready to leave for New Jersey on Saturday and deliver items Sunday to various places in and around Monmouth County, which is near Asbury Park, Long Branch and other seaside destinations that were devastated.

Some essentials that are recommended for donation:

• Hygiene products for men and women
• School supplies
• Cat and dog food
• Non-perishable items in cans, boxes or bags
• Non-perishable Thanksgiving items, such as stuffing and cranberry sauce
• Paper products such as toilet tissue, paper towels, napkins and plates
• Baby food, diapers and wipes
• Blankets, sheets and pillows
• Reading glasses