In the days following Hurricane Sandy, our students have been
going out into the community to assist residents as they struggle
to recover from the effects of this devastating storm. Groups from
both the Queens and Staten Island campuses traveled to some of the
hardest hit areas to help with a variety of activities to allow the
victims to begin rebuilding their shattered lives. By reaching out
to those most impacted, our students are putting St. John’s
Vincentian mission of reaching out to others into direct
action.
Breezy Point
Students went to St. Thomas More Parish to help sort donated
clothing and supplies for distribution to individuals and families
whose homes were destroyed by the storm. Many residents lost
everything, and were relying on the generosity of others for their
most basic necessities.
Far Rockaway
Food and supplies were nearly non-existent in this community, and
our students became part of a vital effort to transport and
distribute these items to Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish. They
also distributed sandwiches directly to residents of the area,
helping to ensure that their nutritional needs were met during
these difficult times.
Long Beach
Students traveled to St. Ignatius Parish in Long Beach to assist
with repairs to the main church building. Long Beach suffered
extensive flood damage as a result of two massive storm surges
during the height of the hurricane, and making the church available
for worship offered residents a place to gather for spiritual and
emotional renewal.
Hicksville
High wind damage led to a prolonged lack of electricity on Long
Island. Many businesses were unable to open for many days after the
storm, and residents depended on food and other supplies donated by
individual and corporate benefactors for their daily sustenance.
St. John’s students traveled to Holy Trinity High School to help
unload two tractor-trailers of supplies that were then distributed
to residents of the area.
Staten Island
Students took part in a variety of initiatives at locations across
Staten Island. Some helped with the repairs of a five member family
home as part of the Rebuild S.I. Seaver Clean-up Project. Others
went to the evacuation center at Bailey Seton Hospital to
distribute bagged meals, toiletries and other personal items to
victims whose homes and possessions were severely damaged or
destroyed by the storm. Another group participated in a
collaborative clean-up effort to help remove fallen tree limbs and
other debris from the area.