Superstorm Sandy had a huge, destructive impact on the coastal city of Long Beach, New York. As well as the massive physical damage, thousands of lives were turned upside down as people lost everything in just one night.
Some citizens, even while experiencing severe hardships of their own, didn't concentrate on their own problems. Instead, they rushed out to help the community in the best way they could.
These people offered manual labor, physical help, food, toys, somewhere to sleep and all kinds of other support. Sometimes just even just a smile and a shoulder to cry on.
These are the everyday heroes of Long Beach, New York.
This portrait collection was shot by acclaimed photographer Ian Spanier. The text describing each selfless volunteer was written by Carrie Vining Spanier.
Douglas O'Grady, carpenter by trade, turned local hero
Douglas O'Grady, carpenter by trade, turned local hero. While dealing with 7 feet of water in his own basement, 'Dougie' as his friends call him, turned to Facebook to organize groups of volunteers.
His goal was to help as many people as possible with the daunting task of emptying the wet contents of the flooded homes, before mold destroyed what was left of the structures.
'People just kept contacting me to help, I just wrangled them together.' Dougie so humbly put it. In reality, he spent countless late nights organizing and as many days doing the manual labor.
His life has literally been put on hold in order to help his hometown deal with this disaster. To date, he has helped over 100 residents who will be forever grateful.
He is now focusing on helping people through the rebuilding process, his goal of making Long Beach stronger than ever before.
Ed Oliva, a former staffer for the New York Knicks is now a security officer by profession, but being an Auxiliary Police Officer is his passion
Ed Oliva, a former staffer for the New York Knicks is now a security officer by profession, but being an Auxiliary Police Officer is his passion.
That passion led him to leave his own flooded house, and head to Police Headquarters to assist in the aftermath.
Oliva spent the first few days after the storm giving people much needed information, helping free people trapped in their homes by sand drifts and debris, and literally carrying elderly people who were unable to leave their apartments out of their homes.
'We rescued a man in his 80s who hadn't eaten in a day and a half. I had a candy bar in my truck and gave it to him.
'I will never forget how that man was so appreciative for something as simple and small as a candy bar.' Oliva recalled.
As an avid surfer, much like the many Long Beach residents, he is concerned that this storm not only has changed the landscape of Long Beach, but it may have changed the waves.
'The storm washed away the sandbar,' Oliva explains, 'we don't know what the future holds or how long it will take to build again.'
Bryan Murphy, local realtor, turned community organizer
Bryan Murphy, local realtor, turned community organizer. Murphy evacuated during the storm but returned the next day and sprung into action.
He recognized that people needed to quickly get soaked items out of their homes. He helped people do just that, as well as the demolition of almost 100 homes.
Murphy lives and works in Long Beach and froze his life to assist in the recovery. His own real estate office was set to open in November, however it flooded during the storm.
He cleaned it up, tore out the brand new carpet he had just laid down. Taking advantage of his office space, Murphy set up a tool and supply library, allowing residents to borrow tools to help with their own demolition and rebuilding efforts.
Murphy and his volunteers handed out items that were generously donated. 'We went door to door, assessing the needs of victims, and delivered the goods to them,' he explained.
His open door helped so many residents who couldn't get to a hardware store. With the sheer number of affected homes, owners and renters who had no means to hire workers found a much needed helping hand, often wielding a sledgehammer.
Sean 'Sully' Sullivan, owner of Swingbelly's BBQ Restaurant in Long Beach
Sean 'Sully' Sullivan, owner of Swingbelly's BBQ Restaurant in Long Beach. Sully was affected personally and professionally by the storm.
Having sustained damage to his popular restaurant and his home, it would have been easy for him to become completely immersed in his own responsibilities. Instead, Sully did what he does best.
'After the storm, I didn't know what to do with myself. So I went down to the restaurant, [setting up his BBQ outside], and fed people bbq and beer,' he recalled.
He didn't stop there. The next day he served his succulent smoked pork and sides for the police and firemen at city hall. A few days later participated in a 'Sunday Dinner' for over 1,000 people.
Having run out of money, he and his wife Kelly spearheaded a fundraising effort to raise money for a Thanksgiving Feast like no other. Over 1,500 people were fed that day.
Debora Staiano, a hairdresser by trade, and philanthropist by heart
Debora Staiano, a hairdresser by trade, and philanthropist by heart. Staiano was deeply affected by her own sister's losses, specifically her own niece's and nephew's toys, which were all lost to the three feet of water that flooded their home.
Feeling sad wasn't her only emotion, Staiano found inspiration in the sorrow, and she founded the Jack in the Box toy drive.
'Seeing kids toys ruined and thrown out of people's homes, and my own sister's playroom just wrecked broke my heart.' Staiano explained.
She turned to social media and other outlets collecting a tremendous amount of brand new toys inspiring people to donate from as far as California and Colorado.
With the help of the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), countless volunteers and the generosity of many, Staiano was able to hand out the new toys to over 1,000 families.
She even inspired the US Military, just before Christmas, a camouflage Hummer led a truck full of toys to the VFW. It was a sight to be seen.
Because of her, many children had a wonderful holiday season and able to forget about their lost toys.
James Hodge, Chairman of The Board for the Martin Luther King Center of Long Beach
James Hodge, Chairman of The Board for the Martin Luther King Center of Long Beach. Hodge tirelessly worked to provide help to Long Beach residents after the storm devastated his city.
Ignoring the fact that his own home was flooded and needed work, Hodge spent day and night at the Center turning it into a distribution site for aid to residents-in-need after Sandy.
Hot meals, clothes, shoes, personal hygiene items, and cleaning supplies were all provided along with a smile and a sense of hope and joy.
'We have been feeding everyone and anyone. We have provided hot showers, laundry, legal advice, and basically any kind of assistance we can give.' he said.
'We are feeding the elderly stuck in their apartments, driving supplies to neighboring towns, and providing a place for people to gather.'
Hodge denies he is a hero. He is just doing what he knows best. Helping others.
Gary Johnson, owner of catering company, Cool Kitchen
Gary Johnson, owner of catering company, Cool Kitchen. Johnson, is one of those Long Beach residents that everyone seems to know.
He didn't hesitate to join forces with Sully from Swingbelly's BBQ to put on the now famous Thanksgiving Feast.
Using his company's mobile kitchen to help cook and heat up food for the Thanksgiving Dinner that fed over 1500 Long Beach residents, Gary described this as no big deal.
'I'm always there to help people, so this was no big deal. It was a natural thing to do this.' The Thanksgiving Feast lifted the hearts and spirits of this city that has been through so much.
Gary's presence alone was a huge part of that much-needed boost.
George Gentilesco Sr., bar manager of the Knights of Columbus. Gentilesco had flooding to his home, his children's homes, and his beloved Knights of Columbus Hall
George Gentilesco Sr., bar manager of the Knights of Columbus. Gentilesco had flooding to his home, his children's homes, and his beloved Knights of Columbus Hall.
Located in a tight-knit area called the West End of Long Beach, the Knights of Columbus, a non-profit Catholic organization, became a hub for aid to local residents.
With no power, Gentilesco and other K of C members knew that people needed a safe haven. The crew found a string of lights, likely debris from one of the outdoor cafes, and strung them up inside illuminating the interior by a generator.
They quickly got to work, cleaning the results of the three to four feet of water that washed through the Hall. Their preparation was not for them, but their 'guests.'
Friends and strangers would find a warm place to rest, a shoulder to cry on, a hot meal, and most importantly, great company in the aftermath.
For the next 33 days straight, the members of the Knights of Columbus fed over 300 people per day. 'People began to come from the Rockaways, Long Beach, and Point Lookout.' he recalled.
'A lot of places started requiring Long Beach ID's, but we couldn't do that. We couldn't just turn people away.'
In a devastating twist of fate, on December 10, 2012, fire ripped through the Knights of Columbus Hall destroying it.
The entire building will be ripped down, and at present time while they are planning on rebuilding, the future of this West End staple is unknown.
Johanna Sofield, started the Long Beach Christmas Angel charity ten years ago improving the lives of families within the Long Beach, NY school district that are experiencing financial difficulties
Johanna Sofield, started the Long Beach Christmas Angel charity ten years ago improving the lives of families within the Long Beach, NY school district that are experiencing financial difficulties.
Because Long Beach was so hard hit by Super Storm Sandy, the charity decided to focus its efforts on storm victims.
Sofield spearheaded the effort to provide families in need everything from rental or mortgage assistance, furnishings, new clothing, and new shoes, gift cards to purchase building materials and beds to replace those lost in the storm.
'I believe if a child gets a good nights sleep, they can be a better student.' Sofield explains, 'So if we learn there's a kid sleeping on the floor, we get them a bed.'
No person or challenging situation seems to deter Johanna. Making use of every person and dry structure available to her, Johanna worked with school social workers to help access the needs of this hard-hit community, all the while dealing with her own home which was flooded.
Sofield even enlisted the local schools to provide storage for donated beds for safekeeping while recipients were being identified.
Accustomed to dealing with people in need, not even Sofield was prepared for the emotional toll when it's your own home, and your community.
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