On Wednesday, September 24, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Special Assistant to the Borough President Yvonne Graham, Governor David Paterson, elected officials and community leaders gathered at the New York Army National Guard Armory on Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights to call on the public to donate desperately-needed supplies for hurricane relief efforts in Haiti. Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike—as well as Tropical Storm Fay—have left hundreds of residents dead, tens of thousands homeless, and many areas ravaged by hunger, dehydration, destroyed roadways and crumbling infrastructure.

“Brooklyn is the ‘Caribbean Capital of America’—by some counts, we have the largest Haitian population in the United States—and our hearts go out to our Haitian brothers and sisters in need,” says BP Markowitz. “Brooklyn and Haiti share the common motto ‘In Unity There is Strength,’ and Brooklynites have been united once again in opening up their hearts, wallets and pantries to the victims of these storms. I commend the Governor for working with New York’s strong and vibrant Haitian community and making humanitarian relief in Haiti a priority.”

Governor Paterson has directed the opening of the New York Army National Guard Armory in Brooklyn to allow for the collection of donated relief supplies. The facility at 1579 Bedford Avenue at Union Street will be open through September 29th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Soldiers from the New York National Guard are on hand to receive, sort and prepare for shipment donated items for the citizens of Haiti. In addition, the state is accepting donated items at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office building at 163 West 125th Street at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. in Harlem. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The most-needed items include:

•Bottled water (packed in cases or six packs at a minimum). Single bottles are inappropriate donations since they will have to be repackaged

•Rice (dried in bags)

•Beans (dried only and cans)

•Sterno canisters

•Tarpaulin – of any size, preferably 10x10 or larger. It is used for both roofing and flooring

•Nylon cord (100’ rolls)

•Hygiene items limited to toothbrushes, toothpaste, mild soaps

•New underclothes – children sizes

•New hand towels

For more information, please email relief@chamber.state.ny.us or call (212) 681-4010.