Local communities sending emergency supplies to people impacted by Hurricane Ian

BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Hurricane-turned-Tropical Storm Ian left a path of destruction across several cities and towns in Florida.

People more than 1,000 miles away in the Pittsburgh area are pitching in to help.

“That’s the good thing about Western Pennsylvania is we have an abundance of people who are ready to help their neighbor and ready to help someone else,” said Dean Hannah, the emergency disaster services director for the Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania.

Before Ian hit, the Salvation Army collected and placed food for 1,500 people down in Florida to be distributed now.

Western Pennsylvania’s chapter is gearing up to send food, cleaning supplies, and even people to help in the days ahead.

“After today, and we really get those needs, we will be able to push anything and everything that they need as far as people, resources,” said Hannah.

In Brighton Township, Beaver County, Luke Berardelli is teaming up with other community members to collect items like tools, cleaning supplies, flashlights, toilet paper, water, toiletries, baby supplies, and more over the next three days.

They can be dropped off at the Brighton Township Social Hall on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“We want to be able to bring as much as we can down,” said Berardelli. “I just imagine all the resources around there are going to get depleted so fast.”

Berardelli plans to personally drive a trailer more than 20 hours to the Naples, Florida area on Monday.

Members of the Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Department will take another trailer.

“We’re going to do what we can from up here and hopefully it helps,” said Berardelli.

To donate to the Salvation Army, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. You can designate that your donation specifically helps victims of Ian.

Below is the full list of items Berardelli is collecting at the Brighton Township Social Hall (5400 Dutch Ridge Road, Beaver, PA 15009):

• New 5-gallon gas cans

• Generators

• Extension cords

• Large tarps

• Hammers

• Boxes of 2-3 inch nails/screws

• Bungie cords

• Baby supplies like diapers, formula, bottles

• Toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, brushes, combs

• Granola bars

• Pop-tarts

• Protein bars

• Toilet paper

• Water

• Flashlights and batteries

• Work gloves

• Monetary donations for fuel, travel costs and extra supplies

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