"I will do whatever I can," said West Penn Township resident Charles Blesse as he sorted through donations in preparation for a road trip to New York to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. Blesse will be leaving early Friday morning to New York.

He posted on Facebook, "We are going to New York this Friday to help with clean up from the storm. If anyone would like to donate anything, please let me know. They are in need of strong garbage bags, flashlights, batteries, can openers, face masks, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, work gloves, toiletries, and winter clothing/blankets."If you want to give items to Blesse for his trip, call the Tamaqua Volunteers group at (570) 668-1234 or contact Blesse via Facebook before Thursday night."People helping people, that is what it is about," added Blesse. "We plan on doing whatever the American Red Cross or other disaster cleanup coordinators ask of us."