my_weeping_willow
Module 3C
Two weeks after Sandy, my friend Brittany and I volunteered to help clean up the aftermath in Toms River. We joined Samaritan's Volunteer Group where we met Robert, Joseph, Linda, Daniel, Rosalind, Patrick, Donald and Hamish. We learned that we all were in some way affected by the storm, but found that our situations could not compare to what we witnessed. We drove through the storm ravaged town, and saw that once familiar places were now gone. Not only were belongings scattered, but actual homes crumbled and tossed like a piece of paper by Sandy. What we saw was heart wrenching, and no picture could justify the extent of the damage. Being there in person made everything seem surreal. I lost power for 9 days, they lost their homes. We arrived at the home of a man named Syra. He told us that him, his wife, and children lived in that house for 25 years and never experienced anything remotely like this. We learned that Syra was in an unfortunate situation (like many, many others!)because the insurance on his home would not cover the cost to rebuild it.
Armed with nothing more than a couple hammers, crowbars, and screw drivers, we began to tear down the flood ravished interior. The water was about 4 1/2 feet high. You can see the flood line in the picture of the bathroom. We tried to salvage whatever we could, but a large portion of the house walls needed to be completely ripped down. We didn't have the proper tools to do this job, so we weren't going to do it. I knew that if the walls in Syra's home were not taking down, then he would have to pay even more money to the contractors that were scheduled to come the next day. He lost everything, even his business, and this made us not take no for an answer. We began to tear the walls down with our bare hands, and I began to kick one completely out (I knew something good would come out of these grasshopper legs of mine!). The energy that I felt in that room was overwhelming. We were all complete strangers but shared a common feeling and worked together to achieve something that was greater than what we expected.
Syra came back to the house. He began to sob while he thanked us repeatedly for what we had done. Through tears, he told us that he believed we were sent there to him that day by God to help him and his family recover. Syra then said that he hadn't been able to sleep in 2 weeks, but thanks to us, he would be able to sleep that night.
I didn't go there with the belief that we were miracle workers. And even though I volunteered with a Christian group, I didn't go there to represent God or any type of faith. But I went there with the belief that I could possibly make a difference, even if it was small.
Last picture, from left to right: Robert, Joseph, Linda, Kayla, Daniel, Syra (owner), Rosalind, Patrick, Donald, Brittany, and Hamish.
Module 3C
Two weeks after Sandy, my friend Brittany and I volunteered to help clean up the aftermath in Toms River. We joined Samaritan's Volunteer Group where we met Robert, Joseph, Linda, Daniel, Rosalind, Patrick, Donald and Hamish. We learned that we all were in some way affected by the storm, but found that our situations could not compare to what we witnessed. We drove through the storm ravaged town, and saw that once familiar places were now gone. Not only were belongings scattered, but actual homes crumbled and tossed like a piece of paper by Sandy. What we saw was heart wrenching, and no picture could justify the extent of the damage. Being there in person made everything seem surreal. I lost power for 9 days, they lost their homes. We arrived at the home of a man named Syra. He told us that him, his wife, and children lived in that house for 25 years and never experienced anything remotely like this. We learned that Syra was in an unfortunate situation (like many, many others!)because the insurance on his home would not cover the cost to rebuild it.
Armed with nothing more than a couple hammers, crowbars, and screw drivers, we began to tear down the flood ravished interior. The water was about 4 1/2 feet high. You can see the flood line in the picture of the bathroom. We tried to salvage whatever we could, but a large portion of the house walls needed to be completely ripped down. We didn't have the proper tools to do this job, so we weren't going to do it. I knew that if the walls in Syra's home were not taking down, then he would have to pay even more money to the contractors that were scheduled to come the next day. He lost everything, even his business, and this made us not take no for an answer. We began to tear the walls down with our bare hands, and I began to kick one completely out (I knew something good would come out of these grasshopper legs of mine!). The energy that I felt in that room was overwhelming. We were all complete strangers but shared a common feeling and worked together to achieve something that was greater than what we expected.
Syra came back to the house. He began to sob while he thanked us repeatedly for what we had done. Through tears, he told us that he believed we were sent there to him that day by God to help him and his family recover. Syra then said that he hadn't been able to sleep in 2 weeks, but thanks to us, he would be able to sleep that night.
I didn't go there with the belief that we were miracle workers. And even though I volunteered with a Christian group, I didn't go there to represent God or any type of faith. But I went there with the belief that I could possibly make a difference, even if it was small.
Last picture, from left to right: Robert, Joseph, Linda, Kayla, Daniel, Syra (owner), Rosalind, Patrick, Donald, Brittany, and Hamish.