Since that day when Hurricane Sandy tore up homes and toppled trees and water from the tide-flooded homes, we have been in awe of the volunteers who came to help in the Rockaways and other devastated areas of Queens.
The volunteers collected needed supplies, fed the hungry, helped to clear away rubbish that had washed onto front yards and tore up water-damaged walls and flooring.
They came as part of organizations and churches and as individuals who saw the suffering on their TVs and had to do something to help.
We have learned of a unique group that is doing a tremendous job. Team Rubicon, made up of military veterans, descended on the Rockaways to help with the cleanup.
They slept on a gym floor and ate MREs — meals ready to eat. They came from across the country to help the Sandy victims.
The supplies they are using were donated by Home Depot and the MREs were donated by a company that manufactures them for the military.
One woman who lives in Breezy Point, where more than a hundred homes burned down, said, “Lots of people helped, but everyone here is so grateful to Team Rubicon. They’ve been amazing.”
Team Rubicon was created in January 2010. According to its website, it is made up of U.S. military veterans, some returning home after fighting 10 years of war.
It will take a while before people in hard-hit places get their lives back together, but we hope the victims of Sandy will take comfort in the outpouring of love and concern that came from every corner of America.
Gridiron Heroes
Among the Sandy heroes are the Beach Channel High School football players and their head coach, Victor Nazario Jr. The community where the players live was ravaged by the hurricane and their football field was turned into a landing area for emergency helicopters.
Nonetheless, on Nov. 10, 25 Beach Channel football players and their coaches boarded a bus to Staten Island, where they played Port Richmond HS in the first round of the PSAL playoffs. The team practiced only twice in the two weeks before the game.
When the final whistle blew, Beach Channel had lost 38-6, but just by showing up they proved they were winners.
