In October of 2012, the East coast was hit with what is considered to be the largest Atlantic system on record. Superstorm Sandy. The destruction it left behind was, and still is devastating.
Many people lost their homes, or worse, their loved ones in this storm. It made landfall in New Jersey, and continued it's path north through New York City, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, and out onto Long Island.
Images poured in from everywhere of the upheaval. Some went days, weeks, without clean water, electricity, gas, or heat. Basic things that we take for granted every day became scarce. It was terrifying. Stories of families who lost their children,or parents in the storm. They were separated and didn't know how to find their loved ones. The city that never sleeps, was at a perpetual stand still.
Since then New Yorkers, and our Jersey friends have began to get back on their feet. Organizations like Staten Strong, and Occupy Sandy helped to get help where it was needed. Several of these organizations delivering food, and other essentials to the elderly that were trapped in their high rises. Those who didn't vacate because they physically couldn't. Clothes were collected, as well as canned goods. Even our own Yankees organization had a food and clothing drive. Slowly, things began to resemble normalcy.
David Robertson, and his lovely wife, Erin Robertson certainly are two people that can sympathize with natural disasters destroying your hometown. In 2011, David's hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama was upturned by a tornado. That season, looking for a way to help out anyway he could, he and Erin founded High Socks for Hope. In 2011, David pledged $100 for every strike-out he earned. That season, we all wore our socks high in honor of David. And with every out he recorded, we cheered a little harder. In 2012, we here at BYB are proud to say we donated over $300 to their cause as well, a portion of our Bleeding Yankee Blue shirt sales went to High Socks to help these terrific individuals with their mission... to help the less fortunate and displaced. On Thursday, YES Network posted the following video to their Facebook page.
The Olton Family from Staten Island lost everything to the storm. The Siller Foundation helped them rebuild the house, and David and Erin helped by furnishing it. David goes on to say that they hope to be able to furnish a number of houses in Staten Island.
Giving back is important to me. Not just here in NYC, but those who need it in general, wherever they may be. Knowing that David and Erin took time out of their schedules to do this for those in Staten Island, as well as all they have done for those in Alabama, Oklahoma, New Jersey and in Texas… well it makes me that much happier to root for David. It's clear that they understand selflessness, and that is a beautiful thing.
There are still many places in New Jersey, and New York that are rebuilding from Sandy's destruction. According to USA Today, "The World Meteorological Organization has retired the name "Sandy" from the official list of Atlantic hurricane names. The criteria to remove a name from the list, which is reused every six years, is that the storm had to be so deadly, or so costly, that the reuse of the name would be confusing or insensitive." I have this fear that we will forget, or stop talking about it, and this city that I love, and our neighbors in Jersey, will become the next New Orleans after Katrina. If you would like to learn more about any of the organizations I mentioned here, please feel free to follow the links provided, or just do a quick Google search. But please, do not forget. Find ways, no matter how small, that you can help. If not with those still recovering from the destruction of Sandy, then in little ways within your own communities.
Thank you to all the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers for continued success. You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in the history of Yankees fandom. Thanks for reading, sharing and enjoying. Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.
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