WHITE PLAINS, NY — Joined by dozens of volunteers, County Executive Robert P. Astorino today teamed up with Yankees great Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara Rivera, to deliver a donation of essential supplies that will be shipped by The Mariano Rivera Foundation to aid recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
“I would like to thank Mariano and Clara Rivera for generously assisting us in getting all these supplies to the people who need them most,” Astorino said at the church Refugio de Esperanza in New Rochelle, where Clara Rivera is a pastor. “Westchester is home to 44,000 residents of Puerto Rican heritage, and so the desire to do something to help has been very strong, and very positive.”
Last Friday, Astorino joined members of the Junior League of Central Westchester to ship a donation of 10,000 diapers to a children’s hospital in Puerto Rico. Today, the county’s collection efforts gained a tremendous boost thanks to the shipping support from The Mariano Rivera Foundation.
“It’s always a blessing when you can help others,” Mariano Rivera said. “Together we can accomplish a lot of things, and together we can build up Puerto Rico… When there is this need, we need to step up.”
Spearheaded by volunteers from the Department of Social Services, the countywide Hurricane Relief for Puerto Rico drive will continue at least through November. Please visit www.westchestergov.com/PRRelief or email PRRelief@westchestergov.com to learn more about what supplies are most needed. Collection sites are set up across the county. Monetary donations for the purchase of essential supplies and/or the shipping of same may be made by Chase Quick Pay or PayPal to: PRRelief@westchestergov.com.
In particular, supplies being sought include:
- Baby formula
- Baby wipes
- Blankets
- Bottled water
- Canned and dry pet food
- Canned milk
- Canned, non-perishable foods
- Diapers
- Dish soap
- Extension cords
- First-aid kits
- Garbage bags
- Ground fault protectors
- Hand sanitizer
- Laundry detergents
- Mosquito repellant
- Pain relief medicine
- Pillows
- Ropes
- Sanitary napkins
- Safety glasses
- Stomach and diarrhea relief medicine
- Towels
- Tarps
- Work gloves
Collection bins are located at the following county offices during regular business hours:
- Westchester County Office Building, 148 Martine, Ave., White Plains
- DSS Central Office, 112 E. Post Rd., White Plains
- Mount Vernon District Office, 100 East First St.
- Peekskill District Office, 750 Washington St.
- White Plains District Office, 85 Court St.
- Yonkers District Office, 131 Warburton Ave.
- Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains
- Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Rd, Valhalla