LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Eileen Brennan is dropping off one of many loads of supplies at one of the hurricane relief drop-off locations in Scranton at Lace Village on Meylert Ave.
She works out of Zummo's Cafe, one of many places joining efforts to help hurricane victims with an infant supply drive. One of the biggest needs of people affected are heating and newborn baby supplies. Brennan is a co-organizer of a few donation drives in the city.
"So, they specifically need these items very badly, especially premade baby formula only. They can't accept powder formulas because a lot of families don't have clean water," Eileen Brennan says.
Mothers she is in direct contact with ask for bottles and cleaning supplies like brushes. She says the victims who are stuck in remote parts of North Carolina need help staying warm in the mountains.
"The people in North Carolina are asking for no more clothes. They're specifically begging us to send them generators, small heaters, and things that are going to help them live," Brennan says.
Charging banks to communicate with family, indoor-safe propane tanks, and camp stoves are also some of the biggest needs.
"Survival supplies like emergency hot pads or mylar blankets, like anything that can keep someone alive and warm and have a little bit of power, is really, really what they need," says Brennan.
Drop-off locations in Scranton for any supplies are at Lace Village on Meylert Ave. and Zummo's Cafe on Marion St. until October 18. You can also get more information or drop off supplies at the Greater Scranton YMCA in Dunmore until October 14. You can contact Ora Home Company inside Zummo's Cafe for monetary donations. Brennan says monetary donations are more effective in getting victims exactly what they need.
To stay updated on where these donations are going, you can visit Ora Home Company's Instagram page here.
Organizers set up an Amazon wish list for specific needs hurricane victims are asking for.