I have an idea, lets see if we can make it work?! Small Sandy relief.

dev6315

dev6315

Member
Jul 11, 2009
371
Myerstown, PA
Boat Info
2005 SeaRay Sundeck 240
Engines
5.7mag Mercruiser with bravo 3
Good morning.
This morning I was watching the news and its showed a family with 3 little children waiting for a Red Cross food truck in the snow for a hot meal. The Red Cross truck only had so many meals and of course children received food first. This broke my heart. I am a BIG food guy, nothing makes you feel better than a hot meal or sandwich when life is cold and ****ty. All our government services are doing EVERYTHING they can no doubt.
Here is my idea. I live about 2 hours from the disaster areas. That hits home on a whole new level. I want to help, but I need help and advice before acting. My thought was to load cases of frozen burgers, hot dogs, water, snack sized chips, rolls and other items and head up to an area that was hit hard from the storm. The areas where people are without power, cold, hungry and working hard to clean up. Set up some grills, tables and just hand out as many hot sandwiches as we can. I have two large generators so people can charge phones and other items. I have the trucks needed to get this stuff where it needs to go and people to get it there.
I am not asking for money as I'm just a regular guy and don't want people to feel weird about sending me cash. Ive never done anything like this before. I am asking for help and advice at this point. Boaters are some of the most generous people I know when it comes to lending a helping hand, lets lend that hand.
  1. Where can we set up to do this?
  2. Can anyone close assist with this? Man a grill, hand out food, provide items for cooking etc.
  3. Does anyone local have any other ideas or suggestions?

If we are going to do this, we need to start working and acting now. I would buy food from a Sams or COSTCO and haven't even priced anything out. If you are interested in helping, please post or PM me for my personal cell. I can leave Harrisburg area crazy early Sunday morning to get there to start setting up for a warm lunch Sunday afternoon. I can bring 5 grills, gennys etc.
Lets do this guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
PM, Our fearless leader, CSR_Admin aka Jim, He might have some advice for ya.

The Central NY people just sent 2 tractor trailers full of goodies down there.
 
I would be in for this. I can help setup and cook and whatever. Not sure where thou. Obviously, the NJ shore is hit hard. Close to my marina in Keansport or Atlantic Highlands would be something but not sure exactly where. I can ask the Bassbarn.com guys to get a sense as they are more local them me. I got a Genny I could bring as well.
 
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That would be great if you contacted them to find a good corner or parking lot to set up. Thanks for the offer to help, your in!! I have already gotten about $600 in donations for buying food.
 
We just did this same thing. We had a staff of local volunteers to help us unload all of the supplies we brought. Part of our plan was to cook burgers and dogs for everybody. Not many of the people in need really showed up. We ended up feeding the volunteers and whatever victims did show up. We were set up right next to FEMA trucks at a spot in Brick Township designated as one where people should go for stuff (ice, water, food, clothes, etc). It was advertised via radio and FB that we would be there.

What I learned is this -

1. its best to give your supplies to a local organization that already has en effort in place. They will best know where the supplies are needed and people will go to them. We are now focusing our efforts on collecting supplies in MD, then sending them up to a town that needs them.

2. There is nowhere you can go where people are going to be wandering around wondering where their next meal is going to come from. Sure, you might find some people like this, but its not like you can set up in a neighborhood and expect 200 people to over for a meal. We were hoping this would happen, and were at a spot where we were ready for mobs, but it never happened.

3. Before you go, get your effort coordinated with a local relief organization. Don't just go and expect to find mayhem everywhere. You will need to get set up at a place where people know to come to get supplies.

If you decide to go let me know, I'll donate $100 to you. So far we have sent 5 trucks full of supplies to NJ, with a 6th getting loaded right now!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Boaters-for-Hurricane-Sandy-Relief-Effort/126962707455975
 
Here are the police depts for the towns hit the hardest.

Atlantic highlands (732) 291-1212
SeaBright (732) 842-0010
Union Beach
(732) 264-0313
Sayervilee 732) 727-4444
Middletown (732)
615-2100
Belmar (732) 681-1700
Point pleasant (732) 892-0060

They can probably get you going in the right direction. Before you go, see if a local church or high school (etc) has maybe done a collection for supplies that you can hand deliver for them.
 
What about Breezy Point Queens or the Rockaways? I hear those areas look like a war zone.


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Good idea......similar story that might help you....last year a small Mississippi town, Smithville, was hit hard by a tornado. My brother-in-law got a 26' truck donated from a local rental outfit and filled it quickly by word of mouth and Facebook contacts. When they drove 4 hours and arrived on-scene, they basically unloaded into a warehouse that had been set up by the Red Cross or Salvation Army; I don't remember. But, doing as Jim says, and coordinating through the local relief people is a good job. Thanks, and good luck.

Don
 
Jim. Thank you so much or that information. I just got off the phone with the Chief of police in Atlantic Highlands and he is going to be calling me back with a good location for this event. I told him even if we can feed the support workers, that's great too. My wife is in contact with a few churches in the area to maybe piggyback supplies and aids to the area.
Keep posting with ideas or if you are willing to meet and help out. I should be hearing back from the Chief in a few hours and will let everyone know once I know more. Thanks again everyone!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If we can't go there maybe we can contact Danielle from OEM.

A note about yesterday's shipment from mesco - Jim, Here's where our truck took all the great stuff from BOE Marine: Office of Emergency Management, 287 Cheesequake Rd., Sayreville, NJ 08859. We spoke with Danielle 732-525-5458 and they were very appreciative as am I. This area was hit real hard (Sayreville, South Amboy, Keyport, Belford, Keansburg). It's mostly modest income people and they haven't received as much of the media attention and really needed the assistance. What awesome people at BOE Marine and all those who contributed to the effort!
 
Any update? If we don't go this Sunday I am going to offer my time to my Marina to help clean up.
 
Hi all, Just a thought, is anybody interested in a supply train. In other words take up collections in areas then transport it to another person and they move it north. That way no one person is having to make full trips plus turn around. For example any here in Ga get donations to someone in Sc they add to it and move it to Nc, ect. till it gets to Jim and his crew.
 
As of right now, I didn't hear back from the Chief of police. I don't want to call and bother him again as im sure he and the entire department has their hands more than full. At this point, all I really need to pull the trigger is a good place to gather.
Spikeitaudi, I am happy to come up and help out however I can at the marina. Would that be a good place to cook some food and work at the same time? That may make efforts a bit more worth while. How better to help the boating community. At that point we can reschedule a return trip? I think it would be great to even gather where there are alot of emergency responders and give them some hot food.
I will also call Danielle tomorrow morning from OEM. Again everyone, im open to ideas and thoughts.
 
Dev I will call the Morgan Marina tomorrow and ask if that would be ok. They mostly have their workers and I know they had some volunteers also. But I will get back to you tomorrow on that.
 
HEY all in the Rockaway Beach area. Myself and some union brothers of mine are having a cookout on sat nov. 10th in the parking lot between beach 94th st. and beach 95th st. across from police station. All are welcome and we have enough food to feed 1000+. We are from syracuse and are driving down fri. afternoon. This is called Operation Sandy Relief and more info. is avaiable on facebook. Just like Operation Sandy Relief on F.B. The people and business's of syracuse have been incredibly generous and the damage to Rockaway Beach area is really bad, still no power and a lot of people have lost everything.
 
I know a lot of you guys are from jersey but just keep in mind Staten island. They really haven't been getting to much help or donations. . If you decide to go let me know were and when
 
How about precooking. Keep food in warmers. You could mount a genny outside and even do some cooking too using hot plates or big roasters. Work out of a box truck or large trailer and drive the needy areas as best you can. Use a bullhorn announcing the free food, etc. Sort of like a the ice cream truck does. Stop on each block for awhile then move to the next. Have Styrofoam boxes like take home so people can get a meal for later. Maybe you could disperse more food than setting up like a cookout and expecting people to come to get a hotdog. A convoy, food at this one, water & drinks in the next and clothes, etc from another. Maybe you could get some caterers involved in the mission.
 
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