Lucy gives back to Red Cross

Written by SHAUN SMITH Friday, December 07, 2012 11:32 am

From left are Executive Director and CEO of Lucy the Elephant Rich Helfant, Tiffany Paloff Red Cross disaster response specialist; Carol Cohen, Red Cross Southern Shores executive director; Dr. Dominick A. Potena Lucy board president; and Jeremy Bingaman, Lucy assistant director.

Lucy the Elephant is still standing and more than 1,000 commemorative T-shirts have been sold to spread the good news.

Rich Helfant, executive director of Lucy the Elephant said sale of the fundraising T-shirt have been phenomenal.

“ We have sent out hundreds of packages all over the country; as far away as Alaska,” Helfant said.

The shirt was developed to help offset cost of repairs to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.  Initial estimates to replace damaged areas of Lucy and the I Love Lucy Grille exceed $70,000. Further damage has been discovered underneath Lucy’s Gift Shop, caused by flood waters.

The long sleeve T-shirt is still available at $20 and a portion of the proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief to help our neighbors throughout the state who have suffered a loss from the storm.

“Lucy was very fortunate to have come through it virtually unscathed.  Donating a portion of the proceeds from the tee shirt is our way of giving back to our community”, Helfant said.

The shirt is available in Lucy’s gift shop and www.lucytheelephant.org.

Helfant presented a check for $1,000 to the Red Cross Southern Shores Executive Director Carol Cohen and Disaster Response Specialist, Tiffany Paloff, at Lucy’s Holiday Luncheon Tuesday, Dec. 4 at Ventura’s Greenhouse.

Lucy is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursday, and Fridays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Lucy is closed Christmas day.