News clip: Samaritans and Ryan Leeds collect for Hurricane Sandy victims

October 15, 2014 Media

BOCA RATON, Fla. – It’s 1200+ miles away and Ryan Leeds can’t shake the images of his ruined home of Long Island. Pictures flood his inbox. Friends that are first responders call and paint a grim picture.

Ryan’s friend, New York native Lisa Cohen, also now lives in Boca Raton. The texts she has received lately from friends are heartbreaking.

Neither of them could stand it any longer. They started a grassroots effort to collect what their friends need and deliver it in a truck.

“The stores are bare, they were wiped out before the storm and haven’t received more supplies because there is no power,” says Cohen.

“There are people dying because they don’t have what they need to survive, they are freezing,” says Leeds.

Donations are pouring in, but only about one-third of the truck is full. It sits outside Leeds’ business, the Prime Cigar and Wine Bar near the Boca Towne Center Mall. He’s challenging you to fill it.

“So get up off the couch and go get a couple of items at the store that we need,” says Leeds.

The truck will head north once it is filled up.

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boca-raton/locals-band-together-to-collect-donations-for-storm-victims-in-the-northeast