Summerville reaching out to Hurricane Sandy victims in New Jersey

SUMMERVILLE — The town wants to repay the Hurricane Hugo relief effort that was supplied by its namesake New Jersey town, Somerville.

Following Hugo in 1989, Somerville collected and shipped two truckloads of relief supplies to devastated Summerville. Later, Somerville’s community newspaper collected $13,000 in donations and flew a check to South Carolina on the jet of publishing magnate Malcolm Forbes, who owned the newspaper.

Somerville has taken some damage from the recent Hurricane Sandy, although not the damage that Summerville suffered from Hugo. The two towns are working together to provide relief and assistance to communities near the New Jersey town that were impacted by Sandy.

Donations of cash or supplies can be made at any of Summerville’s four fire stations. Make checks payable to the Town of Summerville for Hurricane Sandy relief.

Needed supplies are new blankets, warm clothing, toiletries, flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable food and generators, baby food and pet food.

Donations will be accepted until Nov. 30.