North Reading Middle School Youth Group Collecting Donations for Sandy Victims

The North Reading Middle School Youth Group is collecting donations for those still struggling with the affects from Hurricane Sandy. North Reading Youth Services Director Erica Hansen, who is the leader of the youth group, will deliver the donated items personally in New York this coming weekend.

The Middle School Youth Group shared Hurricane Sandy stories with Hansen on Monday and decided that they wanted to do something to help. Hansen was in New York last weekend for personal reasons when she saw first hand "how much things were in disarray."

So she decided that she would bring some donations to the Big Apple this weekend, and her Middle School Youth Group wanted to be a part of that.

One group of students from the youth group made phone calls to organizations in Staten Island, mostly schools, that were in need of donations. Another group of students made flyers to hang in their own school to spread the word and let others know that they were collecting donations. 

Here are some items they are looking for:

• Winter jackets
• Mittens/Gloves
• Hats
• Blankets
• Batteries
• Flashlights
• Baby Formula
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Ready-to-eat food (please no glass items)

If you are a middle school student and would like to donate, bring your donation to the cafeteria or Room 10 at Town Hall. Other residents interested in helping out can bring donations to Room 10 at Town Hall. Be sure to drop your donations off by Friday afternoon, as Hansen is heading to New York this weekend.