People at home can help the victims on the East Coast

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Since this weekend local volunteers have been shipped out to help with the damage done by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. Now, volunteers are reporting back. They're asking for money and blood.

"This is going to be a multimillion-dollar relief effort," The Tippecanoe County Branch of the American Red Cross Executive Director Bob Wollenburg said.

Wollenburg said the Red Cross isn't taking item donations. They need monetary donations so they can immediately buy items for the victims in the shelters.

"It costs over $12 a day to feed someone in the shelter," Wollenburg said. "We have 11,000 people in the shelter. You can tell how quickly that adds up."

If you're not able to give money you can come to the Indiana Blood Center and donate blood. Volunteers say the disaster area needs it. The Lafayette Blood Center has already shipped units out.

"We sent 180 units out [Wednesday]," Assistant Manager of Lafayette's Indiana Blood Center Matthew Lamb said. "We're just on stand by to see what the rest of the needs are."

Indiana Blood Center officials said there is always a need for blood. Now there is even more of a need because the blood centers in the disaster area can't operate.

"The blood centers aren't able to operate because of the flooding and electricity outages," Lamb said.

Both men have confidence the community will do all they can.

"We've received the same outpouring of response for this [hurricane] as we have for every other one," Wollenburg said. "It just never ceases to amaze me, the generosity of this community."

To make an appointment to donate blood visit donorpoint.org. To donate money visit redcross.org.