TAL, LFD Coordinate Drive Efforts as Village Opens Food Pantry, Accepts Donations

Lindenhurst is coming together in the wake of Hurricane Sandy's devastation in the community.

The Village of Lindenhurst opened a food pantry for affected residents at Village Hall on Friday.

It'll be open until 9 p.m., and open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all next week during the regular business hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

"TAL did a huge food drive at Waldbaum's, and we also received a donation from a nearby Target," Village Trustee Maryann Weckerle told Lindenhurst Patch on Friday afternoon.

She said since Village Hall has power, officials have decided to keep the food pantry right at the Hall. And it's also closest to the Great South Bay and affected residents South of Montauk Highway.

She and Deputy Village Administrator Doug Madlon told Patch Village Hall will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food from those wishing to drop it off there or ship it to its location at 430 Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst, New York 11757.

Madlon also said Bob Cozzetto, emergency coordinator for the Lindenhurst School District, is helping to coordinate food and clothing drive efforts by TAL and the Lindenhurst Fire Department.

Cozzetto told Patch on Friday afternoon, "The fire department, TAL and the teachers have combined their efforts, and are setting up a distribution center at Firemen's Pavilion in Firemen's Park."

He said those residents who can make it up to the Park, clothing, non-perishable food and school supplies will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday.

For those who can't they're coordinating efforts to bring busloads of donated jackets and blankets down to the Bay area. In fact, Cozzetto said, one was heading out this afternoon.

Anyone wishing to donate clothing, blankets, non-perishable food and school supplies, he said, could drop it off at the LFD headquarters at 225 South Wellwood Avenue or to Firemen's Pavilion.

Cozzetto said for those seeking to ship donations from out of town should also send it to Village Hall at 430 South Wellwood Avenue.

In addition the LFD will also be holding a food/clothing drive spearheaded by its Ladies' Auxilliary at its headquarters , according to LFD Chief Jim Gallagher.

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