Senator Collecting Food and Personal Items to Send Downstate 

State Senator Patty Ritchie is thanking Central and Northern New Yorkers who have responded to her appeal for relief items for victims of severe flooding downstate.

Senator Ritchie announced Thursday that she has opened her offices in Oswego, Watertown and Ogdensburg for constituents to drop off personal and food items that are desperately needed by farmers and families who have been driven from their homes by twin floods caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

Senator Ritchie will continue to collect items through next week, and arrange to deliver them to relief agencies in the affected areas.

Most urgently needed items include:

            Diapers                                               Non-perishable food

Formula                                             Jar baby food

Baby wipes                                         Adult wipes

Personal hygiene items                      Cleaning supplies

New underwear                                   New socks

Over-the-counter medications          Bottled water 

Contributions may be dropped off at Senator Ritchie’s offices:

            Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown

Oswego County Building, 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego

Ogdensburg City Hall, 330 Ford St., Ogdensburg

 Central and Northern New Yorkers are also being urged to send messages to flood victims through a link on Senator Ritchie’s website.