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Jefferson Countys We Remember campaign sent $3,000 Friday to the Nassau Hurricane Recovery Fund.
But more is needed.
The Northern New York Community Foundation continues to accept individual donations, which will be directed for the assistance of uninsured and underinsured victims of Hurricane Sandy.
The We Remember campaign recognizes that about 20 fire departments in Nassau County sent personnel and equipment to Jefferson County following the ice storm of January 1998 and is attempting to return the favor.
Nassaus recovery fund is at about $30,000, according to Eden Laikin, director of governmental research, office of the Nassau County executive.
So far, we dont expect any federal money, she said. That will go to debris removal and infrastructure repair. Our fund relies on donations and hopes to help uninsured residents with significant property damage.
More than half of those who had significant property damage did not have flood insurance, she said.
In a recent count, 392 county residents have applied to the fund for assistance, Ms. Laikin said.
Ideally, Id like to raise a million dollars, but Id settle for $50,000 to at least help some people get back into their homes, she said. We have several fundraisers coming up, including our own relief concert.
Ms. Laikin said there were 1,000 Nassau residents still living in motels at the beginning of January. The number of Nassau homes destroyed or declared unsafe for occupancy will exceed 1,400, she said.
North country residents are asked to send donations to the Northern New York Community Foundation, 120 Washington St., Suite 400, Watertown, N.Y. 13601, with Nassau County written on the memo line of checks.
David C. Shampine, a Watertown Daily Times reporter who is a member of the We Remember campaign, said that if half of the households in Jefferson County each contributed only $5, we would be doing well in showing our gratitude and goodwill.
Other members of the campaign committee are Joseph L. Rich, Rande S. Richardson and Douglas Anderson. The local campaign began in December, when a box truck loaded with cleaning products, childrens toys and food items made a delivery to the Long Beach Fire Department, Nassau County.
Ms. Laikin, a former newspaper reporter, said she is writing a story about the Jefferson County effort for a Long Island newspaper.