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POINT PLEASANT — It appears the season of giving has arrived early in the area.

Residents have been responding to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort currently under way which will benefit Point Pleasant’s sister city, Point Pleasant, N.J.

Since Friday, about 50 people per day have stopped at the tractor trailer parked in the Ohio Valley Bank parking lot to donate supplies which will be shipped to New Jersey.

Golden Herdman, who is heading up the volunteering schedule at the trailer, said the community has really responded with donations of new blankets, household cleaning items, laundry detergents, bleach, and other personal and household items like paper products, cleaning supplies, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wash cloths, towels, dishes, diapers, silverware, pans, bowels, new linens, new pillows are being accepted. There is no need for food or clothing donations — according to officials in Point Pleasant, N.J., those needs are being met by other organizations. So far, Herdman said more diapers and new linens could be used but the volunteers are appreciative of whatever the community can spare for its sister city.

Herdman said a couple churches as well as the Thomas Do-It Center made large donations, but for the most part, the tractor trailer has been filling up thanks to individual donations.

Darlene Haer, who is one of the organizers of the relief effort, said R & L Trucking in Gallipolis Ferry has agreed to ship the contents of the trailer at no charge to Point Pleasant, N.J. This means none of the monetary donations which have been collected will have to be used toward fuel costs to get the material to New Jersey. Monetary donations are being accepted at the collection site and at all banks and credit unions in Point Pleasant.

Haer said whatever is collected will be driven to a church in New Jersey where it will be distributed to those in need. The Mason County Ministerial Association has been working with the Central United Methodist Church in Point Pleasant, N.J. to make this happen.

“I think it’s wonderful the way the community has responded,” Haer said.

Haer said there is still a need for volunteers to take donations at the tractor trailer parked at OVB. For those wishing to volunteer their time, call Herdman at 304-675-1865. Haer said volunteers from churches, the Point Pleasant American Legion and AMVETS have also been helping collect donations at the OVB site.

Donations will be taken through Sunday, Nov. 18, between the hours of 9 a.m. t0 6 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.