NEW YORK CITY – The devastation caused by Sandy continues to reap suffering for American families. Two weeks later, streets are still dark and cold with misery—people having to walk 20 flights of stairs to reach their frigid apartments.

At a distribution in Far Rockaway, our team noticed two young brothers, ages 8 and 10, waiting in line to receive food. They looked weak and even sick—the hard truth was that they hadn’t eaten in two days. Our volunteers brought them food to eat and sent them home with plenty to share with their family.

And in Breezy Point, thousands of families—many police officers and firefighters—have lost everything they own. Homes here either flooded with nearly 5 feet of water or were utterly destroyed by a fire that took dozens of homes.

Breezy Point is a community of resilient people, but their homes are in shambles. Operation Blessing and teams of volunteers are working hard to help these families begin the process of recovery by salvaging belongings and removing debris. View more photos

Our staff and volunteers are working in other areas too—in Mystic Island, NJ, we’re organizing hundreds of volunteers to help families in need begin the cleanup process; and in Far Rockaway, NY, we distributed more than 40,000 pounds of groceries and relief supplies—including blankets, diapers and toiletries.

In Staten Island, we’re helping train local leaders to organize and mobilize hundreds of volunteers to help begin cleanup in the hardest hit communities there. And in Coney Island, our teams are providing free hot meals for residents and organizing a distribution to provide supplies and groceries for families in need.

Through all of the heartache—behind the tears and beneath the burnt wood and seaweed and bathtubs filled with beach sand—we see strength, determination, courage and faith. Will you stand with these hurting families today? Their road to recovery will be long and arduous, but your support can make a difference!

Can you volunteer to help storm victims? Call our volunteer coordinator at (757) 226-3407 or email us at volunteer@ob.org for more information!