The Capital District was largely spared from Hurricane Sandy’s devastating effects. To some, this was cause for a sigh of relief. To others, it was a signal to turn their attentions to the needs of others.
Bill Potter, a Niskayuna resident, decided on Friday, Nov. 2, that he wanted to do something to help out people most affected by Sandy. Potter reached out to friends through email and Facebook and gathered a decent amount of support before driving down to Manhattan the following day.
He said people were “really responsive” and glad to help out.
“This all really came about Friday. I wanted to do something to aid the relief efforts for victims,” Potter said. “Between Friday afternoon and the evening, I pretty much filled my minivan.”
Eight families responded to his call for donations and set off on Saturday, along with some extra fuel in a small gas can, to meet up with his daughter, Samantha, who is attending Barnard College. His daughter, living on the upper west side of Manhattan, never lost power. Some NYU students came up to her college after the electricity went out elsewhere.
Through searching on the Internet, Potter discovered Riverside Church, located near the college, was collecting donations for Sandy victims on Staten Island and the Rockaways.
“It took me about 29 minutes to unload the minivan,” he said. “The collection center filled up four rental vans, big ones.”
The donations he gathered, ranging from toiletries to clothing, weren’t the only things he donated. The small amount of gas he brought in case he was “in a pinch” went to someone in need. A man working at the Riverside Church ran out of gas and his car sat in front of the church, Potter said. He had waited in line for two-and-a-half hours trying to get gasoline before he gave up.
“We were joking it was like liquid gold,” Potter said. “It’s the little things we take for granted.”
Fuel became a prized commodity in the wake of the storm, and Potter witnessed long lines at gas stations firsthand on his drive down.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday, Nov. 3, said 8 million gallons of gasoline were set for delivery and more than 28 million gallons would be arriving over the coming days. AAA on Monday, Nov. 5, estimated 60 to 65 percent of gas stations in New York City were operational, with 50 to 55 percent in Long Island ready for business.
Glenville resident Tina Mirabile also saw the damage firsthand. The business Mirabile co-owns with Bruno Lopez is located in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Their store, Atelier de France, is on the fourth floor in a building housing several businesses and it escaped flood damage due to its position above the street. Mirabile prepared the store as best she could before the storm hit and evacuated, but she said some were still in their homes when 12-foot waves crashed into the area.
“We buttoned up the shop and high tailed it out of there,” she said.
On Halloween, she headed back down to the city to see the damage and how others were faring in the area. Many people were still not traveling in cars yet, so she said getting into the city wasn’t too difficult. Now, the community is trying to return to normal.
“It is really a wonderful and strong community,” she said. “They are really determined to bring everything back.”
Before heading back down again, she wants to fill a 17-foot U-Haul truck with as many supplies as possible from local donations.
The items being requested are non-perishable foods, canned goods, water, baby food, baby wipes, feminine products, blankets and sheets, batteries, candles and even pet food. Clothes are not needed.
From Wednesday, Nov. 7, to Friday, Nov. 9, the truck will be at the parking lot at BJ’s in Rotterdam. A second drop-off location is at Route 50 Storage, located at 736 Saratoga Road in Burnt Hills, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., during the same three days.
“As good as the Red Cross is and all the other organizations are, they are not always able to pinpoint a particular area,” Mirabile said. “We wanted to really do something for our community and our neighbors.”
If you are unable to make it to the drop-off dates and are interested in helping out the Red Hook neighborhood, you can visit restoreredhook.org or redhook.recovers.org to make a donation.
Other collection points have sprung up around the area. Fogg’s Automotive & Suzuki has partnered with St. Jacobi Church and the Church of St. Luke & St. Matthew in Brooklyn and is serving as a donation dropoff point.
People are asked to donate baby supplies, cleaning supplies, clothing, non-perishable food items or any other household goods at its store, located on 642 Saratoga Road in Scotia. Donations will be accepted at the store until Friday, Nov. 16.