May 22, 2013

Piscopo: Local Effort Coordinating Oklahoma Disaster Relief

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Dear Neighbors,

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Oklahoma, during this time. The vast devastation to the region is unbelievable, the loss, heartbreaking.

In the wake of horrible tragedies, we come together as families, communities, and a nation, ready to support and help those most in need. There are many relief efforts underway, both nationally, and locally.

I’d like to inform you of one such local effort happening right here in our community.

John DiCostanzo, a Harwinton resident and business owner, is spearheading an effort with his colleagues and friends to collect donations of supplies, non-perishable foods, and goods, which they will be personally transporting to Oklahoma this weekend. The men, who are all current or former firefighters, are coordinating these efforts to collect and transport the goods, and will support any labor and clean-up efforts needed over this weekend.

For the group, this mission is a personal one. One of the gentlemen has a son who is in first grade at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and survived the tragedy. The men, all natives of Sandy Hook, feel that after the incredible outpouring of support following the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, they are compelled to do something to help the people of Oklahoma, and to ‘pay it forward’.

Items will be collected Wed, 5/22, 7:00am-7:00pm, and Thurs, 5/23 7:00am-noon at:
Nexus Consulting LLC
200 Birge Park Road, Suite 4
Harwinton, CT 06791

Anyone wishing to contribute outside of the drop off times, please call John DiCostanza at 203-648-0598 for more information.

For those who are not able to make a donation by Thursday morning, but want to contribute, follow up support is being coordinated. Depending upon the amount of contributions received, the group will either make another trip to Oklahoma, or will coordinate with efforts by their alma mater, Fairfield College Preparatory School, Fairfield, CT.

For more information, please contact John DiCostanza at (203) 648-0598, or (860) 605-9111.

Items needed for donation:
* Clothes for all shapes and sizes (kids and adults)
* Shoes
* Personal hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, feminine products, etc.
* First Aid items (bandages, band-aids, antiseptics, cotton balls, peroxide, etc.)
* Diapers
* Wet wipes
* Formula
* Canned goods / nonperishable food items
* Water
* Blankets / towels
* Sleeping bags
* Work gloves
* Contractor’s garbage bags
* Tools (rakes, shovels, hammers, saws, etc.)
* Backpacks
* Flashlights
* Dry / canned pet food

Please do not hesitate to contact me on this or any legislative issue at my office 800-842-1423 or email john.piscopo@housegop.ct.gov.

Stay informed: www.cthousegop.com