Photo Courtesy of the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula
“After [Superstorm] Sandy came and left parts of my district in despair, we quickly went to work trying to get things back to normal. However, we didn’t do it alone,” Sen. Addabbonoted.
By Michael V. Cusenza
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) will be holding a supply drive over the next two weeks for victims of Hurricane Florence in North Carolina, the lawmaker announced on Monday.
Addabbo said that he reached out to NC State Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Southport) to see how a fellow legislator could help. Rabon’s 8th Senatorial District—Brunswick, Bladen, New Hanover, and Pender counties—in particular was pummeled. His own home and veterinary office were completely destroyed, Addabbo added.
“After [Superstorm] Sandy came and left parts of my district in despair, we quickly went to work trying to get things back to normal. However, we didn’t do it alone,” the senatornoted. “We were supported by communities and people from outside of New York. I wanted to repay the assistance my district received after Sandy by helping others get through their tough situation in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.”
According to Addabbo, Rabon and his constituents are in need of toiletries, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, soaps and shampoos, and other everyday items, as well as Visa and MasterCard gift cards. The drive will begin on Thursday, Sept. 20, and conclude on Thursday, Oct. 4.
Residents who wish to participate and aid NC disaster victims can drop off items at any of Addabbo’s three district offices, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m to 5 p.m. The offices are located in Howard Beach (159-53 102nd St.), Middle Village (66-85 73rd Pl.), and the Rockaways (88-08 Rockaway Beach Blvd.)
Addabbo said that Rabon and his staff personally responded to his call and was grateful for the offer.
“This simple supply drive will go a long way in helping the victims of Florence begin to get their lives back together,” Addabbo said. “I remember that after Sandy, donated items and gift cards, which allowed families to buy specific items needed, were extremely helpful. You don’t realize how important little things, like soap and toothbrushes, are until you don’t have them. This is a great way to help your fellow human beings in a time of great need.”
In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy tore through New York, punishing Queens and Staten Island, in particular, including a large southern swath of Addabbo’s 15th Senatorial District. In NYC, the catastrophic event killed 43 people and inflicted nearly $19 billion in damage. And left a city scarred for life.
“The visions during the aftermath of Sandy are still etched in our memory, probably forever,” Addabbo observed on the third anniversary of the storm in 2015.
