Walgreens supplements Sandy relief effort

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has made additional donations totaling $100,000 to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

The company, which includes Duane Reade in New York and New Jersey, is making two $50,000 contributions, one to the Empire State Relief Fund announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the other to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund established by Gov. Chris Christie.

The Empire State Relief Fund distributes financial aid in the hardest hit areas across New York State, specifically directed at costs associated with providing long-term housing and rebuilding homes. The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund is providing aid to families who have been affected by the destruction of the storm.

"With this generous donation, Walgreens is continuing their work, alongside dozens of other major businesses and organizations, in supporting communities hit hard by Hurricane Sandy and providing much needed financial support to help with the rebuilding and recovery efforts,” Cuomo stated. “In addition to their financial donations, Walgreens and Duane Reade worked hard in the storm's aftermath to reopen pharmacies to ensure patients and customers had access to the medicine they needed, and I commend them for their continued support and generosity."

The donations follow Walgreens earlier $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Walgreens and Duane Reade also raised more than $5 million in customer donations for the American Red Cross. In addition, Walgreens donated several semi-trailer truckloads of blankets, bottled water and other goods to people in need immediately after the storm.