This fundraiser continues to awe and inspire on day three. While we have gotten a HUGE amount of local donations both in Rome and the Herkimer area, I was a bit worried that we would have trouble filling a tractor trailer with supplies. Then I got a message that the Com...passion Coalition (Pastor Sweet) had called and wanted to talk to me about our efforts. For those of you not familiar, they have been doing charitable work in our area for several years. They are composed of several churches spanning several denominations (hence the name) who were given a warehouse in Utica. They then contacted supermarkets like WalMart, Wegman's, Price Chopper, Hannaford's etc. and entered into an arrangement to take all of their unused products. Well, long story short, they basically have a distribution center filled with every item you can think of, and they give it out to families in need on a daily basis. I tell Pastor Sweet that we have this tractor trailer and he tells me that once we load the trailer with all of our items, measure the space that is still empty and he will fill the rest of the truck up. So, there you have it. Our efforts have led to an entire tractor trailer being filled and taken directly to those in need, all within a three day period. FEMA ain't got nothing on us! Now all we have to do is contnue to collect and sort through all the remaining donations tomorrow and get them to Marcy for the loading oof the truck Thursday, and as Amy mentioned we can use all the spare hands we can get bc even with eight of us going at it at once, we still did not finish the job tonight. Thanks again and God bless!

I am totally humbled and touched by all of the support And willingness to help the community of Lindenhurst NY. I want to thank each and every one of you for your most generous donations. Joe and I, along with my aunt Bonnie, cousin Julie, sister Jill, brother in law Jim, nephew Daniel, dear friend Beth and her daughter Abby spent three hours sorting and packing donations getting them ready for the trip. Tomorrow is another long day of picking up donations and sorting again. If you are able to help sort tomorrow night please let me know. Thank you all so much, with out you this would not have been a success.

Please consider making a donation to the many, many kind people of Rome that are taking trucks to the NY area... Long Island/Staten Island, etc..
Amy Goetz Mellace and her husband Joe are collecting at their homes for a trip heading out Thursday. (As well as, Tricia Austin Macri)
Larry Posselt is collecting at his business, LCS Janitorial, on Martin St.
Diane Cardello is accepting donations to give at Cornucopia on Ridge Mills Rd.
Congatulations to the wonderful people of this area for their time, ingetrity and contributions!!!! Many, many families and their communites down state are really going to benefit and we know how greatly appreciative they are.


For those of you unaware, there are several local efforts underway to send relief to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Joseph Mellace and his wife Amy Goetz Mellace are collecting goods to be shipped to Long Island where Joe has family. He has been able to obtain use of a tractor trailer to send supplies so fill 'er up! He's taking donations at his house, his office on North James Street, Cornuco...pia Candles and Toy Shoppe and at a warehouse at 216 Erie Blvd East. Additionally, Larry Posselt and Bob Cook are efforting to send supplies to Staten Island where Larry has family. Larry has a trailer outside his office at LCS Cleaning Services on Martin Street where you can drop off. Both Joe and Larry will also pick up supplies if you are unable to get to any of the drop-off locations. City Hall in Rome will also be a donation spot. You can drop off goods at City Hall between the hours of 8:30 and 4:30 daily. Joe's load of supplies will be leaving Rome Thursday morning. Larry is still working on his plan based on the pending Nor'easter heading up the east coast this week. Any questions about donating, you can contact any of the above people or me. Let's show those downstaters some upstate love. Awesome effort by all of you! Makes me proud to be a Roman.