Relief workers from the Wesleyan Church in New York City met the Heuvelton volunteers at the Kingbridge Armory in the Bronx. Team members from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church were Pastor Rusty Bissell, Jim Barton, Dennis Durant, and Paul Lalonde.

HEUVELTON – A truck full of supplies for victims of Hurricane Sandy has made one trip down to the Bronx from Heuvelton and another one is planned soon.

People from Cornerstone Wesleyan Church collected blankets, food and other items last week and set out last Wednesday for an armory in the Bronx.

Parishioner Dennis Durant said there was an “outpouring of people dropping off items” for the run downstate.

“We got to the armory, and it took up a whole city block. We were surprised that there wasn’t a lot in there, but it turns out they were running a very efficient operation, and stuff is going out as soon as it comes in,” Durant said.

“It all started with a conversation at Little Italy Restaurant in Ogdensburg and a phone call to the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Heuvelton,” said Sally Bissell, wife of Cornerstone Pastor Rusty Bissell.

“The men's group at Cornerstone and Joe from Little Italy made up posters that were distributed around the community. The response was overwhelming with local people donating blankets, bleach, and non perishable food items to two drop-off points, at Little Italy and Cornerstone Wesleyan Church.”

The first truck and trailer were full soon full. Pastor Bissell, Durant and others made the trip down on Wednesday.

Pastor Bissell said they saw snow and long gas lines in New York City.

The entire New York City area is still struggling to return to normalcy after Hurricane Sandy brought a storm surge and high winds to the city, knocking out power, filling transportation tunnels, driving sand inland into neighborhoods, and generally wreaking havoc with infrastructure and people’s nerves.

The group is still collecting blankets, bleach, and non-perishable food items and hopes to make a weekly trip to the Bronx.

The drop off sites are Little Italy, 900 State St., Ogdensburg, 276-5639, and Cornerstone Wesleyan Church, 18 York St., Heuvelton, 323-5979.