One month after Hurricane Sandy trashed the northeast coast, tens of thousands of people are still without power, waiting for electricians and contractors to help them put their homes back into working order. And Bay Hundred residents have continued to give generously – from food to tools, coats and cash donations.
The Bay Hundred Hurricane Sandy Relief Team loaded up their fourth truck on Thursday, for a third trip to deliver relief supplies to hurricane victims. This time, they’re meeting up with a grassroots group called Helping Hands, formed by two families who are dedicated to filling in the gap between large agencies and families in need. One of them is a building contractor, who is putting together teams of volunteers and laborers to go in and replace insulation and sheetrock in homes.
For most of us, Hurricane Sandy is over, something that happened way back in October. But for the core group of Bay Hundred neighbors dedicated to helping hurricane victims, the need is as great today as it was weeks ago .
Marianne Stallsmith can’t stop thinking about the people she met in NJ, especially the elderly. “Picture this – she’s 85 years old and she has no insurance. FEMA gave her $21,000 to rebuild, but her entire home is in shambles”, she said. As she talked, she packed donated tools – rakes, brooms, large trash cans, saws and more.
Stallsmith still has daily phone conversations with Miro, the college professor who continues to take relief supplies to the Rockaways, every chance he can. The other day, he took hot food to a senior center, where one elderly woman took him by the arm and said “thank you. We haven’t had any hot food for over a week.”
The Bay Hundred group will continue to collect support for hurricane victims, and expects to provide direct support to some individual families. Marianne Stallsmith and Aida Khalil took a load to New Jersey on Thursday – stay tuned for their report.
To contribute to the Bay Hundred Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund you can send a check to The St. Michaels Community Center and reference Hurricane Relief Fund on the check. Send to PNC, P. O. Box 70, St. Michaels, MD 21663.
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