Help is still needed after Hurricane Sandy hit.

I remember the day I crawled up in a ball in bed with an awful head cold. We braced for Hurricane Sandy here in Toronto but at best only received heavy rain and wind. Granted some people were left without power for a day, but nothing could match what had happened in both New York and New Jersey. So as I laid there watching the news intermittently, I realized I should actually be grateful for having at best, a head cold.

So as a week passes many people have lost steam and the urge to help. We figure maybe things have cleaned up, maybe people are okay…but they’re not. With inside word from friends and business colleagues of mine, New York and New Jersey still face a massive challenge ahead of them.

Help is still needed after Hurricane Sandy hit.

One of the most challenging aspects of disaster is figuring out whom to help first. In fact it’s overwhelming. The relief effort I’ve chosen is to reach out to are the people of Far Rockaway, an area located on the Rockaway Peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens. And while many people in New York and Jersey suffer, tens of thousands of residents of Rockaway are still homeless without power, electricity and food and rumour has it that many of these people might not even be receiving power for up to a month.

So how do we help?

With the help of friends and business colleagues of mine, I have found a relief effort called Rockaway Recovery. The items that are needed desperately are the following:

• Flashlights
• Coats (especially XL sizes for men)
• Batteries
• Blankets
• Workman gloves
• Diapers
• Formula
• Canned Food

So I’ve organized here in Toronto to send out a package, which I will gladly cover all shipping costs. I’ve pooled together friends and colleagues to donate collectively and I will be packaging it up by this weekend. So if you don’t live in the Toronto area, you can certainly organize people to help and create your own package or you can donate cash directly to them (the address is located on the Rockaway Recovery site)

Otherwise check out the Red Cross or simply text REDCROSS to 90999 which donates $10 to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.

This is a chance for everyone to help collectively to people in need. If you’re a mother, then imagine needing diapers or formula for your child. If you have grandparents imagine needing heat because temperatures are falling and they’re freezing to death. Not to mention those who are handicapped or who require special needs.

Warmth, love, money and food is required and if I can pool my people from Sexy Food Therapy, then I’ve done everything I can do to help. If you’re in the Toronto area, please email me and you can pitch into the packages I’m putting together.

Send prayers and love to the people of New York and New Jersey and remember this could have happened to you. And in the meantime, open your eyes to everything you have and be grateful. Hug and tell those you care for that you love them because in the wake of times like this, we’re faced with the reality that life is short.

Thank you in advance and my love to all those afflicted…

xo

Melissa