Little Ferry - Hurricane Sandy

Little Ferry

Jeremy Terman

It is hard to believe that we left Columbia four days ago. Today we completed our second day of service.  Some of us were up bright and early in the morning percolating coffee the 80s way and making successful pancakes for the group!  It was to our surprise that we had to be split up to work today. Six of us went to deliver beds and furniture to trailer homes for replaced families, while the others went to a home a couple blocks away with a mold-infested basement.

At the basement site, Bill greeted us with a hard-working mindset. Bill currently works in local disaster relief removing mold services.  After giving us jumpsuits that made us look like we were part of NASA or Ghostbusters, he immediately put us work. We were handed crowbars and started demolition. Not only were our limits tested but we also learned how to tear out walls and strip wood panels. Needless to say the basement was fully demolished when we left. When Bill walked into the room and saw you distracted, the occasional "get to work" would promptly follow. Bill left us with inspiration and a hard-working New Jersey attitude.

We later went to the Project195 warehouse. We took that productive mindset and reorganized all the furniture - ducking under four foot beams through the dimly lit basement.  The Project195 coordinator, Dave, noted that organizing the furniture in the warehouse would make room for building and construction materials. Dave also mentioned that he hoped to begin truly rebuilding in the next couple weeks and the materials, and space, would aid in that effort. After finishing that work we had a wonderful Mexican dinner cooked by Gunnar and I. The meal consisted of salad, empanadas and Spanish rice.  It was the first time I have cooked dinner, just one of the challenges I have, and will face this week.

At reflection we shared our stories and feel that we have already impacted the lives of two families.  The hurricane destroyed homes but it did not destroy the neighborhood's desire to continue living there. There are just so many homes that look completely normal from the outside, but inside they have water and mold damage up to 6 feet high.  We have already accomplished so much in just these two days and I hope we can change the lives of more families in the next to follow! From Little Fairy New Jersey, Goodnight ASB!