Hurricane Sandy: Five years later | Lending a helping hand after Sandy
By Debra Carbone
When Hurricane Sandy hit Staten Island, staff at the Staten Island YMCA knew they had to step up to help community members. From opening the South Shore branch to all borough residents so they could shower and charge cell phones, to handing out food in the community and collecting gift cards, clothing and food, the staff never stopped their efforts since the October 29th storm.
Over several occasions, the YMCA teamed up with the Raritan Bay Area YMCA and Pennsylvania Firehouse Subs franchise to distribute thousands of boxed lunches to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Several YMCA Staff who were affected by the storm had the chance to give New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson (who is now on the LA Dodgers) a tour of their devastated neighborhood.
Granderson was on Staten Island with his Grand Kids Foundation. After the tour, he headed to PS39 in Arrochar, a Y After School site, and handed out backpacks filled with school supplies to students.
The Staten Island YMCA honored unsung Heroes of Hurricane Sandy during their 3rd Annual Dine ‘N Dance at the Hilton Garden Inn. All proceeds from the event went to helping YMCA families affected by the Hurricane by offering YMCA scholarships for a variety of programs such as summer day camp, as well as YMCA family memberships.
The week before Christmas, several Staten Island YMCA families affected by the storm received presents and gift cards from the Bronx YMCA as part of their Operation Kathy’s Kids initiative.
During that time as well as five years later, the Staten Island YMCA was and still continues to be here for Staten Island families and their community.
YMCA Counseling Service
3911 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10312
718–948–3232
Jacqueline Filis
Executive Director
South Shore Branch
http://www.ymcanyc.org/southshore
3939 Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10312
718–227–3200
Thomas Swanciger
Executive Director
Broadway Branch
http://www.ymcanyc.org/broadway
651 Broadway
Staten Island, NY 10310
718–981–4933
Joseph Verhey
Executive Director
