Greater Ossining Community Katrina Effort Launched

Greater Ossining Community Effort Launched for Hurricane Katrina Relief

Community Groups Unite for Month-Long Fundraising Push

(September 9, 2005)  Over twenty community, student, and municipal groups in Ossining have united to set a month-long program of fundraising efforts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.  The group has pledged to work collaboratively to attempt to raise $50,000 for Katrina relief in a one-span month beginning with a September 15 “Courtesy Toll” at three village sites.  Monies collected will be donated in equal shares to the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.  Ossining High School students are creating a “Fund Thermometer” to track the group’s progress, which will be displayed on the lawn of the high school.

“It was amazing how many people from different walks of life in Ossining were able to come together quickly and organize a detailed plan to help people hurt by Hurricane Katrina.   Once again, Ossining has shown its caring and community spirit.  I’m proud to help coordinate this effort with the entire greater Ossining community,” said Detective JD Apostolico, Ossining Police Detective and coordinator of the Ossining relief effort, along with Ossining Recreation Superintendent and Rotary Club President Henry Atterbury.  Atterbury concurs, saying, “By coordinating the efforts of so many different people and groups, we are able to maximize the amount of help Ossining can provide to those impacted by Katrina.  Ossining is truly a special community to be able to pull together such a large relief effort.”

The first scheduled events are:

Thursday, September 15:      3 pm – 7 pm: Courtesy Toll at three sites:

Arcadian Shopping Center, the intersection of Route 9 & 133, and the intersection of Pleasantville Road & Ramapo Road.

Friday, September 16:           4 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Coin Drive at PTA Circus,

Brookside School campus

Saturday, September 17:       8 a.m. – 11 a.m.: Coin Drive, Ossining MATTERS race, Ossining Community Center

                                                Coin Drive, Farmers’ Market, supermarkets, other Ossining location

Sunday, September 18:          10 a.m. -  11 a.m. Coin Drive, Ossining Ferry-Go-Round, Harbor Square Waterfront Park

                                                1 p.m. Coin Drive, Ossining High School Football Game

Participating organizations include: Ossining Police Department, Ossining Rotary Club, Ossining Fire Department, Ossining Recreation Department, Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Ossining Village and Town employees, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Ossining Village and Town Boards, the Ossining School District, the Ossining Lions Club, Stop & Shop, Ossining Communities That Care, Ossining High School students, Ossining High School Peer Leadership group, Ossining High School Interact Club, Ossining Ministerial Association, Ossining PTAs, Ossining Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Lodge, Ossining Boat and Canoe Club, Ossining Interfaith Youth Corp and Family Ties.  In addition to the joint effort, many of the participating groups are conducting separate relief efforts as well.

Other Ossining organizations and resident interested in assisting the relief effort should contact the Ossining Village office at: 914-941-3556.