On October 29th, 2012 Hurricane Sandy paralyzed the Tri-State area. Many cities were left without electricity and flooded by sea water.

Those who didn’t experience it personally were able to follow continuous news coverage on television, the Internet, and on social media sites. State governments and national agencies provided means of relief. In just a few days NYC's MTA was running on limited service and electric companies worked nonstop in order to have power return to both the city and the suburbs.

Life slowly , very slowly, attempted to return to daily routines but many areas will be forever changed because of Hurricane Sandy. One  specific area is that of the Rockaways, located in Queens, New York.

On November 1st Graziano Casale, a 30 year old Hoboken resident, explained that he was overwhelmed by an urge to help. He immediately searched the web but couldn’t find a relief group where he could physically roll up his sleeves and assist those in need.

Graziano then switched over to his Facebook account and updated his status and wrote the following “I'm available to help organize any kind of fund raising hurricane relief! Please contact me in private if you have any idea you want to share! We should all help!”

Soon after he received a message from his friend Alina Gershman, “Would like to help as well. Let me know if you come up with something.” This brief exchange gave life to the following initiative “Rescue Rockaways.”

As of 9:30pm that same Thursday evening “Rescue Rockaways“ was turned into a Facebook event and its donation page went live.

Graziano and Alina’s friends immediately advocated the cause and informed their social circles of this initiative. Graziano states that by 1am donations reached $1,600.00, Friday morning over $2,000.00, that evening $3,000.00, and by Saturday morning donations topped $4,000.00.

He goes on to say that, “even various Italian corporations donated to ‘Rescue Rockaways’ : Lurisia donated 1,600 bottles of (1L) bottles of water,  Smeraldina donated 3,200 (500ml) bottles of water and just recently Ferrarelle contacted us because they want to donate an entire truck load of water. The efforts are simply marvelous!”

Funds donated were used to purchase all types of necessities: food, water, blankets, clothes, under garments, diapers, and work gloves. The Rockaways need all this and more, and so Graziano Casale, Alina Gershmin, Etie Khan, Ivy Mahscio, Amit- Z Ben, Dario Ferraro, Anthony Marotta, Rosa Daza, Katusha Avez, Lisa Capezzuoli and Aurore Quercy  made their way to the Rockaways to personally distribute the necessities to  the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

“Rescue Rockaways” doesn’t end here, because the Rockaways, Queens still need our help. That’s why Graziano and Alina personally ask that you continue to donate, simply go to http://fundly.com/people-in-the-rockaways-need-your-help [2]. In fact, another trip to the Rockaways is scheduled this Sunday November 11th.  Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to email Graziano or Alina [email protected] or [email protected] .  
As of today, a mere want to help lead to the creation of a relief effort that has raised over $9,000.00; imagine what more is possible with your help.
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Agenda for this Sunday, 11.11:
• Visiting seniors who live in tall buildings without electricity, who aren't mobile to come down the stairs to get supplies the Red Cross and others are providing at their stations
• Visiting others who are not receiving the supplies they need from the Red Cross and other organizations
• We will also need a lot of volunteers and will be leaving first thing in the morning to reach as many people as possible

Event page on Facebook >>> [3]