Rihanna donates to Sandy relief efforts

R&B star Rihanna is helping to keep victims of superstorm Sandy warm as the winter chill sets in by donating 1,000 sleeping bags to the ongoing relief effort in New York.

Thousands of Big Apple residents were left homeless last week (begs05Nov12) as a result of the former hurricane, which wreaked havoc along THE East Coast, and recovery efforts suffered a setback on Wednesday (07Nov12) as a snow storm hit the same region, causing more hardship for those still struggling to cope with Sandy.

Now the Umbrella hitmaker has pitched in to help displaced New Yorkers by making the generous donation to the New York Daily News' recovery campaign.

And Rihanna is calling on her fans to do their bit to help too - she's holding a special listening party for her upcoming album Unapologetic in Manhattan on Friday afternoon (09Nov12) and is asking devotees to bring items to donate in exchange for entry.

Suggested donations include clothing and hygiene basics, like coats, blankets, diapers, wet wipes, and home-cleaning supplies, which will be collected by Daily News staff and delivered to the needy on Saturday (10Nov12).

The Rihanna & Friends benefit will take place at her mentor Jay-Z's 40/40 sports club.

The singer is the latest celebrity to aid the Sandy relief effort - Lady Gaga has donated $1 million to the Red Cross, while Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Christina Aguilera, Billy Joel, and Jon Bon Jovi helped raise an estimated $23 million for the organization during a star-studded telethon last Friday (02Nov12).