STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island resident Dominick Camerade was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. Five months after the storm ravaged the area, Camerade and others in the community continued repairing their lives.
After losing almost everything he had built over a lifetime, the recent retiree said his cries to God were answered when Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) collegiate volunteers helped him clean up his properties and spent time with him to lift his spirits.
“These kids did more work in two days than I could have done in two months,” Camerade said. “It’s amazing that they would take their spring break to come and help us.”
Students from Idaho and Washington worked with Camerade for two days cleaning up. The group is one of seven student teams from states across the nation who are taking part in the Southern Baptist Convention Collegiate Spring Break’s recovery response to Staten Island. The project is being coordinated by the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
Bringing hope to residents who often feel forgotten after a disaster is what teams such as these and other collegiate volunteers are doing through the middle of April.
Judy Cape, NAMB events/logistics specialist, said 136 students, staff and local student volunteers were working March 13. The students come from Washington, Idaho, Virginia, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.
To find out more about disaster relief, visit www.sbdr.org.
Share with others: