Neighbors helped neighbors when Sandy struck

Historic storm brought out the best in Five Towns communities

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Three years ago this week, Hurricane Sandy struck the Five towns with so much wind and water that its aftermath continues to raise issues and concerns for residents and business owners.
The damage Sandy caused propelled local organizations to take the lead in helping their neighbors. Groups mobilized virtually overnight to distribute food, clothing and other needed items, and to provide shelter.
The Woodmere-based Five Towns Community Chest was in the middle of the action. Executive Director Bob Block said that the organization collected donations from corporate donors including food, coats, diapers and cleaning supplies, communicated with other local organizations, shared resources, obtained kosher meals and delivered supplies. Afterwards it donated unused items to other organizations.
Community Chest, which raises money to support several other groups, institutions and, occasionally, individuals in need, worked daily with the Lawrence School District and the Five Towns Community Center, in Lawrence, to establish and operate what Block called a “hub station” for supplies and shelter at the community center. “Neighbors helping neighbors” is its motto.
“Sandy created a great deal of community spirit,” Block said. “Neighbors came together to lend a hand. Local service organizations rose to the occasion and became very active and responsive to the needs of the community and cooperated with each other. This alone made me proud to be a Five Towner.”

Inwood resident Pete Sobol was one of those who volunteered for hours on end helping others get assistance. Sobol said that the property of his beverage business, on Sheridan Boulevard in Inwood, was used as a staging area for local firefighters who rescued residents along Bayswater Boulevard, and that as many as 100 people were sheltered for over a month at the community center, on Lawrence Avenue, which was not affected by the flooding that impacted a good portion of the Five Towns.
“The community center was a place where we could deliver services.” Sobol said. “We got supplies from the Red Cross, Five Towns Community Chest, and Dean Skelos and his office helped. The camaraderie this created was great. Hopefully next time we’ll be better prepared.”
In partnership with the Hewlett-Woodmere School District, Community Chest created a storefront volunteer distribution center that operated from the beginning of November to the end of December 2012. “Youth Leadership Forum kids worked the storefront,” said Hewlett High School social studies teacher David Rifkind, who serves as adviser to the YLF. “We were there every day for a while. We sorted, organized and distributed a lot of clothes, baby items and assorted donated materials. The kids worked hard and directly witnessed how much the service was needed, utilized and appreciated by people.”
Not long after the storm left the Five Towns without electric power and with extensive property damage, the Chabad of the Five Towns in Cedarhurst, running its Maple Street facility by generator, opened its doors for nearly three weeks and provided a place for “thousands,” according to Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, to warm up, get a hot meal and blankets, and recharge their mobile devices.
“Hot meals were delivered to many who were either stranded or did not feel secure leaving their homes due to [potential] looting, and hundreds of volunteers cleaned homes,” Wolowik recalled. “The feedback was so special. Many wrote beautiful letters to thank us for caring about total strangers. But to Chabad there are no strangers; everyone belongs. If or when another hurricane happens, with the past experience, we have a whole system in place to reach out to all and help. We encourage all to look after their neighbors and be there for them.”
The rabbi offered some practical advice: “We also encourage all to get flood insurance.”