For the past 2 years my wife, daughter and I volunteered with the RAINE (Reaching All In Need Everyday) Foundation. Food was donated to be delivered to families in need to help them celebrate Thanksgiving. We all meet at Beers Street School in Hazlet because the food needs to be sorted then packed in care packages for each family. The package includes cans of vegetables, potatoes (mashed and sweet), deserts and other items. It even includes a turkey!
After the care packages are all packed we take some and deliver them to the families. This year one of our deliveries was to a gentlemen (I will leave out his name) in Keansburg. His house was affected by Hurricane Sandy. When we arrived in his area the 2 things I noticed right away were the mounds of items at the curb in front of all the homes and the amount of sand in the streets and on the side walks. On some of the streets you couldn't see any black top, just sand.
When we got to his house to deliver his food we brought it inside for him. I was curious so I asked him how he made out from the storm. He told me he had water in his house. He had to rip up most of the floor and all the insulation under the floor. He has 3 older kids that can't live there until it is cleaned up. Including his son who is asthmatic.
He then told us he lost his job due to no work and wasn't sure how he was going to make his mortgage. He also told us that during his ordeal he has been volunteering to help people who are worse off than him. The whole time we were talking he was upbeat, optimistic and very friendly. While I feel bad for all who were or are still affected, it is different when you meet and talk to someone in person. It reminds you that while you're life may be back to normal, life for some will never be the same.
Here is a guy who is facing some difficulties life threw him yet he takes time out to help others who are in a worse situation. It makes me wish there were more people like him around.
God Bless all the people who are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
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