Councilman Mathieu Eugene (D–Crown Heights) launched his disaster relief effort, “District 40 Cares” in East Flatbush on Oct. 11. The politician is partnering with area schools and medical centers to raise donations for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Mexico and hurricanes in the Caribbean, and he is calling on his community to assist them in getting aid to those in need.
“When people are affected regardless of where they live or where they are — in New York city we have a tradition of coming together to bring relief to them,” said Eugene. “There are people in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean nations who don’t have a place to live, access to clean water, or basic necessities, and it is our moral obligation to do everything we can do.”
The councilman, who is of Haitian background, recalled the outpouring of support for his native country after the 2010 earthquake, and is asking for that same generosity for the areas recently hit by natural disasters.
“I will never forget when Haiti was hit by a horrible and terrible earthquake, I saw people from all over the city of New York and all over the United States doing everything they could do to send relief to alleviate the suffering of my Haitian brothers and sisters,” he said. “Today we are doing the same thing and I’m asking people to get together with neighbors and leaders, and try to collect the items that are so necessary for those affected.”
New and wrapped donations of first aid supplies, hygiene and feminine products, diapers, baby food, flashlights, and batteries are a few of the items of preference that the ongoing drive is seeking. Drop-offs can be made to the councilman’s office at 900 Rogers Ave. between Snyder Avenue and Albemarle Road in East Flatbush, (718) 287-8762, between 9 am–5 pm. Schools in the area, P.S. 139, P.S. 92, P.S. 249, P.S. 397, I.S. 62, M.S. 2 will also be drop-off stations, and parents and children in these schools can also make donations to the drive, according to Eugene.
“It is very important for schools to be involved because this is another way to teach young people to appreciate life, and to be able to be generous and contribute to society and people when they are in trouble,” he said.
