New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today launched a Relief Drive to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"Hurricane Katrina has touched all of our lives," Thompson said. "This disaster has left so many people in the Gulf Coast homeless, injured and without the most basic resources for survival, and it is essential that we assist those in need."  

The Comptroller's Office will be collecting desperately needed items such as canned food, can openers, batteries, baby food and formula, clothing and diapers and cleaning supplies. 

Thompson also will be collecting donations at two of his upcoming events:

•  Caribbean Heritage Month Celebration , Wednesday, September 14 th at 5:30 pm, at the New York City College of Technology, Klitgord Auditorium, 1 st Floor, 285 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York

•  African-American Day Parade Breakfast , Sunday, September 18 th at 11 am, located at the Alhambra Ballroom, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard ( 7 th Ave btw 125 th & 126 th St ), 5 th Floor, Manhattan , New York

Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 10 AM and 4 PM at the Comptroller's Office of Community Relations (OCR), located at 1 Centre Street , Room 1330, New York , N.Y. , 10007 . For more information, call the OCR at (212) 669-3089.