SEARSPORT — A group of Waldo County citizens is organizing collection and donation of aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy in the Long Island area of New York City.

According to Cheryl Garland Pike of Searsport, donations of daily care products, home supplies, clean clothing, blankets, sheets, coats, hats, gloves, baby supplies, non-perishable food, toilet paper, pet food/supplies, personal hygiene supplies, etc. are being collected at the Searsport Public Safety Building through Friday.

Aubuchon Hardware on Route 1 in Belfast and the Belfast Curves are also drop-off locations. Donations at Aubuchon are being accepted Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday all day until the truck is full and ready to depart. Also needed are coats, hats, boots and shoes for children and adults. Pike is offering to pick-up donated goods if needed.

H.O. Bouchard Inc. of Hampden is donating a truck and fuel to take the goods to New York, and Dysarts is donating the trailer, according to Jeff Bouchard, the company's operations manager who is also one of two drivers that's donating time to make the delivery.

Bouchard said his company's involvement in the aid delivery came from fellow driver Raymond Tucker, who has a daughter in the local Girl Scouts. Tucker will be making the trip to New York with Bouchard.

"Raymond called me last weekend and said his daughter was involved in Girl Scouts and they were organizing this effort and in need of a truck to get the aid to New York, and that's how we got involved," said Bouchard. "We very rarely, if ever make deliveries to Long Island, but we're happy to help fellow Americans in need."

The trip to Long Island is about 450 miles one way, and at $4 per gallon of fuel, the trip will cost Bouchard's $350-$400 in fuel, said Bouchard. Expenses also include tolls and wear and tear on the truck, but it's all worth it.

"We are really looking forward to making the trip," said Bouchard. "I have no clue yet where exactly we are going or who we are meeting on the other end, but it will be a long trip and well worth it."

The truck is due to leave around midnight Saturday, which will put them in Long Island between 7 and 8 a.m. Sunday.

"We'll unload and then turn around and come home," said Bouchard.

For more information about donating, contact Pike via her Facebook page.

In addition, Amy Slack of Waldo is organizing collections through the local Girl Scout Service Unit. Call Slack at 342-2191 or Megan Low at 505-2280, or contact Slack via her Facebook page.