One Person CAN Make a Difference

As many longtime readers know, I moved down from NY to PA  2 1/2 years ago.  Though I now live outside of Philly, I am and always will be a New Yorker.  I grew up in Brooklyn, and spent many summer days down in the Rockaways.  The devastation wrought by Sandy has been unimaginable, and even though I am 100 miles away, I wanted to do something.

Last week my sister Mary, who still lives in Queens, received a call from a friend of hers in the FDNY who was working in the Rockaways.  His heartbreaking description of what was happening there led her to contact others about hetting supplies out there.  Word spread to others and soon my sister was helping to organize donations to the Rockaway Relief effort.  A friend of her’s from college who lives in Philadelphia contacted her about getting donations from people down here and driving them up.  Mary then contacted me and asked if I could contribute.  I thought maybe I could do something more.  I sent out an email Friday afternoon to several people in my neighborhood asking if they had anything they’d like to donate for people in the Rockaways.  I stressed children’s items and cold weather clothing and figured I’d get a few bags, put them in the back of the Highlander and head up Tuesday.  I got some positive response so figured I’d post on Facebook and Twitter.

As of this morning, half of my garage (a 2-car) is full of donations, as it half of my living room.  My email went viral and was forwarded to friends of friends.  Several of my sister’s friends have also dropped bags and boxes off at my house.  I’ve been having people show up at my door from 2-3 towns away.  I have commitments from 10 more people to bring items over today.  I am now looking into renting a truck to drive up tomorrow.

All of this started with a call from a firefighter in the Rockaways that went viral.  My contribution?  An email, a Facebook post and a few tweets.

I’m not saying all this to pat myself on the back – but rather to stress 2 points.
1 – People are generally good, but often lack direction or focus (so many people have said they wanted to help but didn’t know what to do)
2 – It doesn’t really take much to make a difference

I am overwhelmed by the response (and this is just one garage out of many that has been filled with donations), but as much as has been given, more is still needed.

If you would like to help, updated needs and drop-off locations can be found here  http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/rockaways/

Monetary donations to Rockaway Relief can be made at http://www.gofundme.com/1fehx0