Schoharie County efforts are under way to get relief items to Hurricane Sandy victims Downstate.
Collection points are at the former Guilford Mills plant and Grapevine Farms in Cobleskill and the Village Hall Gallery in Sharon Springs.
The Guilford and Grapevine sites are coordinated by Care for NYS, a new organization that grew out of relief work for Hurricane Irene last year.
"We're collecting stuff they need right now," said Lovey Lee, one of the Care for NYS organizers. "We learned a lot from Irene, and we know what they need now. . .unfortunately."
Items that can be dropped off at Guilford or Grapevine include gas cards, bottled water, coffee, non-perishable food, cookies, crackers, chips, baby food and formula and dog and cat food.
Paper products are also needed, including paper plates, cups and bowls, paper towels, plastic ware and heavy-duty garbage bags.
Other items include all types of toiletries, new undergarments for men, women and children, blankets and towels, cleaning supplies and flashlights and batteries.
Items can be dropped off at Guilford 10am-3pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Items can be dropped off at Grapevine during store hours. Also, anyone donating at Grapevine will qualify for a drawing for a $100 gift card.
Care for NYS is planning to take a trailer or rental truck Downstate, Ms. Lee said.
The Franklin Stage Company is coordinating another drive in Otsego, Schoharie and Delaware counties.
The Schoharie drop-off point is the Village Hall Gallery in Sharon Springs, and items can be dropped off there 10am-noon this Saturday.
For this drive, items needed include bottled water, batteries, flashlights, non-perishable food, ready-to-eat food and cleaning supplies.
Also, candles, lighters, winter wear, blankets, baby food and supplies, gloves and masks, trash bags, rubber boots, non-electric can openers, shovels and instant hand warmers.
Green Circle Accounting in Cooperstown is sponsoring a rental truck and gas to transport the supplies.