Spreading Christmas Cheer to Superstorm Sandy Victims

For thousands of families struck by superstorm Sandy, this Christmas won't be the same. But volunteers of all faiths and stripes are helping to kindle holiday spirit in the wake of disaster.

Published

5 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States

Places

United States of America, Maryland, New Jersey

Transcript

SCRIPT: This Christmas tree is the surest sign that Union Beach hasn’t given up hope after Hurricane Sandy. It was found in the wreckage of the storm, and adopted by locals since. This house has become another poignant symbol -- of the wrath the wrought. Sixty-two homes are simply gone, ripped up and carried off by Sandy. Some 200 others are uninhabitable, and many more were badly flooded. Volunteers from New Jersey and around the country are working to save the homes that remain. And during the holidays, they're spending long hours trying to give residents reason for cheer. This group is from a church in Maryland. SOUNDBITE 1 Matt Silver (man), local outreach pastor, Mountain Christian Church in Bel Air, Maryland (English, 17 sec): "Right now everyone's timeline is to try to get something ready for Christmas. So the one home, we just finished putting flooring down and she said I just want to have a tree for my kids. And one of the teams is working on the drywall and the other team is actually putting together their Christmas tree right now. That's part of their project." The volunteer corps includes college students who have committed part of their holiday break to helping with cleanup. SOUNDBITE 2 Tori Lackey (woman), freshman at Palm Beach Atlantic University, and member of the Mountain Christian Church group (English, 11 sec): "We love to work hard, we were lifting heavy stuff earlier today, and anything that we can do. If this is what we can do to show love, then this is what we're gonna do to show love." At a firehouse, a makeshift Christmas shop is full of donated items being given out for free: presents for residents who might not be able to afford Christmas otherwise. And there's a special visitor for the children, too. Elizabeth Carbo's husband is a volunteer firefighter who spent the night of the storm making rescues. Now as she waits for insurance payments to repair her home, others are returning the favor. SOUNDBITE 3 Elizabeth Carbo (woman), Union Beach resident (English, 8 sec): "..You know people just coming, knocking on the door and saying hey, what can I do to help, you know? So it's been pretty awesome." Volunteers know they can't replace what some families here have lost. But their efforts are making the season a little bit brighter. SHOTLIST: UNION BEACH, NEW JERSEY, DECEMBER 18-19, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV [Union Beach Tree of Hope; Front Street in Union Beach, NJ; two Union Beach properties; firehouse] - MS of Union Beach "Tree of Hope" - CU ornaments on Union Beach Christmas tree - Sign next to tree - WS Yellow house on Front Street - Pan on debris and damage on Front Street - Volunteers work to tear down and clean up a damaged shed - SOUNDBITE 1 Matt Silver (man), local outreach pastor, Mountain Christian Church in Bel Air, MD - Volunteers clean up branches at another house - SOUNDBITE 2 Tori Lackey (woman), volunteer and freshman at Palm Beach Atlantic University - Line outside firehouse - VAR hots at Christmas shop set up at the firehouse - UPSOUND Santa hugs children, saying, "I'm the luckiest guy in the world. Ah, thank you so much!" - VAR Elizabeth Carbo at the shop - SOUNDBITE 3 Elizabeth Carbo (woman), Union Beach resident - MS people searching for presents - Santa gives another hug