The Bradford-Sortwell-Wright American Legion Post #54 has announced its support for “Operation Muck Out,” the Sandy Relief Fund to help with the clean-up support after the hurricane. The effort “Operation Muck-Out” is a joint project of AmeriCares and World Cares Center, a program to remove mud, mold and debris from flood-damaged homes affected from the storm.

The kind of cleanup that’s required after flooding of this magnitude is more than a homeowner can handle on his or her own – particularly seniors and people with disabilities.

World Cares Center, which trains, organizes and empowers volunteers and community leaders to respond to disasters. The humanitarian aid organization has been aiding disaster survivors around the world for 30 years, and supported similar volunteer clean-ups after last year’s earthquake and tsunami and Japan. World Cares Center ran a similar clean up after Hurricane Irene last year in New Jersey.

For the next two weeks, local merchants, in the area are hosting “Drop off Boxes” in their businesses for people to drop off donations for the project. Items needed include: bleach, disinfectants, pails, mops, brooms, rubber cloves, work gloves, garage bags, flash lights, batteries, and pet food.

Donation cans are available at the follow businesses according to Legionnaire Dale Skillin:  Ames Supply, Wiscasset; Big Al’s. Wiscasset;  Jim’s Auto Trim, Wiscasset; Wiscasset Ford; Hancock Lumber, Boothbay; Hammond Lumber, Damariscotta; and Green Acre Tree Farm, Edgecomb.

There will also be a benefit spaghetti supper at St. Mary’s Church rectory, on Lincoln Street, in Bath, Thursday, Dec. 13, beginning at 6 p.m. to raise funds for “Operation Muck Out”.

According to Wiscasset resident Paul Foley, an active participant in the project, a truck filled with the donated items, will leave Wiscasset in about two weeks for Staten Island, NY to be distributed and used by World Care Center volunteers.

Donations of cash may also be sent to the American Legion Post, P.O. Box 214, Wiscasset, Me. 04578.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4532 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.