Hi Fastlaners. As you know, the entire East Coast has been heavily effected by Hurricane Sandy. One forgotten area that has been hit extremely hard is Staten Island, NY. Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, over 20 people confirmed dead, with more washing up each day, over 100,000 homes still with out power (5 days already), no gas at gas stations for cars, generators, saws, hundreds of families on the streets, and an absolute mess along the entire east shore of Staten Island.

You can click this link to see a small fraction of the damage: 26 Photos Showing Hurricane Sandy's Destruction Of Staten Island

I have set up a donation tab on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ThePaintBrushCover?ref=hl. Click on the "Donate Social" Tab on the bottom right of my cover photo. All proceeds will go to Staten island families in need. Any donation at all will be greatly appreciated. Every dollar counts. Please find it in your heart to help out these devastated families.

If you are in the area, and would like to help out, please feel free to PM me. I will be volunteering all day tomorrow. My wife and I have actually cancelled my birthday party scheduled for tomorrow so that we can help out.

Thanks for you help!

-Sal

P.s. - I would be very grateful if you can share my facebook link with friends and family. Thanks again!

I'm involved with a project right now and we're going to be donating 100% of all profit to the relief. It's really devastating what has happened. The stories I've heard and read shook me to the core. A woman was holding on to her 2 and 4 year old son and then a sudden surge of floods swept the kids away. She stayed up all night going house to house to see where they were but the wind was so bad that no one could hear her screams. The kids were found 1 block away.

Yes, that wasn't too far from my firehouse. Right down the block from where I stood the night of the storm, a family with a house right on the water, decided to stay in their home because looters looted their home last year during Irene. A huge wave swept their enitre hom away along with 4 others. They found the body of a 13 year old girl that morning and just found the father yesterday. They also found the mother alive, but she is in critical condition. This literally happened about 500 feet from my in-laws home, where I stood the night of the storm.

Likwid24 said:

Yes, that wasn't too far from my firehouse. Right down the block from where I stood the night of the storm, a family with a house right on the water, decided to stay in their home because looters looted their home last year during Irene. A huge wave swept their enitre hom away along with 4 others. They found the body of a 13 year old girl that morning and just found the father yesterday. They also found the mother alive, but she is in critical condition. This literally happened about 500 feet from my in-laws home, where I stood the night of the storm.

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I've been getting goosebumps ever since this storm has hit reading and listening to stories like this. It shows you how people will value what they built their life upon over their actual life.

done

Thank You Dave. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. I'm hoping more will follow. :thankyousign:

Done.


I didn't give much, but small amounts can add up to one big one.


There was a time I would not have done this, but I have started to realize that clinging onto money is the opposite of success.

If I can't make that money back, then shame on me. At the very least I help someone who needs it, just like I remember when people helped me when I needed it the most.


What comes around, goes around.

I just shared your link on fb. I posted the pictures too. thank you for all that you are doing to help Sal.

its devistating

Done. Thoughts and prayers go out to the affected people and their loved ones.

We have had some bad ones in my neck of the woods and there is no sense of community like helping out the clean up effort.

With all due respect to Likwid24 and his good intentions, one of the very best organizations to donate to from my experience is the Red Cross.

Our house was hit by an F4 tornado when I was a kid and I remember the Red Cross being the first on the scene to help out. It was remarkable how prepared, organized, and knowledgeable they were; knowing what to provide and how to help following a natural disaster. The Red Cross and the Mennonites were a great help to our community the days and weeks following with assistance, cleanup, and rebuilding. That's something I'll never forget.

Speed++ to Likwid24 for offering to help, that's great man!

kwerner said:

With all due respect to Likwid24 and his good intentions, one of the very best organizations to donate to from my experience is the Red Cross.

Our house was hit by an F4 tornado when I was a kid and I remember the Red Cross being the first on the scene to help out. It was remarkable how prepared, organized, and knowledgeable they were; knowing what to provide and how to help following a natural disaster. The Red Cross and the Mennonites were a great help to our community the days and weeks following with assistance, cleanup, and rebuilding. That's something I'll never forget.

Speed++ to Likwid24 for offering to help, that's great man!

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I know some of yall might be a little weary but CBN's operation blessing is absolutely awesome. I saw their trucks during Ike. They were among the first on scene and the last to leave. I was very impressed.

Operation Blessing Helping Areas Hit Hardest by Sandy - US - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com

http://www.ob.org/

I do also like to give money as directly as possible and trust likwid to have some good families in mind for the funds.

Done! I couldn't give nearly as much as I'd like, but I'm hoping that collectively, all donations will add up to a whole lot more. I was watching some coverage on the news this morning. So devastating. Those poor people...

kwerner said:

With all due respect to Likwid24 and his good intentions, one of the very best organizations to donate to from my experience is the Red Cross.

Our house was hit by an F4 tornado when I was a kid and I remember the Red Cross being the first on the scene to help out. It was remarkable how prepared, organized, and knowledgeable they were; knowing what to provide and how to help following a natural disaster. The Red Cross and the Mennonites were a great help to our community the days and weeks following with assistance, cleanup, and rebuilding. That's something I'll never forget.

Speed++ to Likwid24 for offering to help, that's great man!

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As an emergency first responder for the Red Cross, I second your sentiments.

Donated a small amount.

Hopefully it will help.

Can't give much right now as my credit card is maxed out, but I squeezed the last bit out of it. Hope it helps and thanks for doing the effort to help the affected people!

theag said:

Can't give much right now as my credit card is maxed out, but I squeezed the last bit out of it. Hope it helps and thanks for doing the effort to help the affected people!

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Look at us capitalist pigs. We help privately, not agree to get boned by a bunch of bureaucratic governmental BS.

Kak said:

I do also like to give money as directly as possible and trust likwid to have some good families in mind for the funds.

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Thank You! This is exactly what I plan on doing with the donations. The response in NY has been absolutely amazing. It feels like the days after 9/11 all over again. The residents of Staten Island have shown unbelievable support for one another. The donation centers are so overwhelmed right now that I have a truck, loaded to the gills with jackets, blankets and other supplies, sitting in front of my house right now because the drop spots cannot handle it. Spot after spot turned me away. I have to try again in the morning.

What they need more than anything is food. I went this morning and bought as much coffee and donuts as I could handle. I went to some spots and dropped them off. It seemed like that's what they wanted more than anything. Some of these people haven't had a hot meal or fresh coffee in days. I plan on using that money for what people really want right now, which is food.

I was even thinking, since tomorrow is Sunday, to make a fresh sauce and go to the sites to serve Sunday Pasta. I'm sure that would put a smile on some faces.

Today was a crazy day. I just got home an hour ago. I helped friends rip apart their basements today, made supply runs back and forth (I am a first responder so they allowed us to wait on much shorter lines to get gas), and went thru neighborhoods asking people if they need help or supplies.

I pretty much went through every storm struck neighborhood today. It was heartbreaking seeing all the damage. Main roadways, full of stores, absolutely destroyed. Blocks upon blocks, some areas about 20 blocks from the water, in shambles. People cleaning out their flooded homes. Garbage piled 10'-15' high in front of the homes. Clothing stops on every other corner. Homes lifted off foundations. Boats about 10 blocks inland. I'm talking about huge boats, yachts, into peoples houses, on top of cars, blocking streets. Completely devastated waterfronts. People on the streets starting fires in garbage cans to keep warm or even to cook some food. Families crying. Lines at gas stations about a mile long (And I mean every gas station. Staten Island has a huge population. There's a gas station every few blocks. Every single one has a HUGE line. Miles long. Even lines of people with 5 gallon cans.) It looks like the end of the world over here.

On the bright side. It was amazing to see how many people are helping out. Spending days and nights helping people who they have never seen in their life. Donations coming in from everywhere and in unbelievable amounts. People coming from all over the country. Every State from as far as California. Neighbors helping neighbors. Friends helping friends. Strangers helping strangers. It was something that I've only seen once in my lifetime, and that was the days after 9/11.

The sad thing is that once everything is rebuilt, I can see it going back to the way it was. Everyone will forget real fast how we all stood strong and helped on anther. I hope I'm wrong, but that the way things usually work.


Thank You everyone for your support! Especially those who have donated, either to me, or to another charity. Every dollar really does count. I, and every other Staten Islander, truly appreciate it. I will make sure that the right thing is done. I know many families, personally, in need. A few from my firehouse, and a few other close friends that were directly impacted. Thank You for being there in our time of need. You guys are Great!

I will keep everyone updated on how things are going over the coming weeks. Thanks again.

Bump this thread!