Massive volunteer Sandy relief effort underway in Brooklyn
Thousands of volunteers joined impromptu relief organizations across Brooklyn this past weekend to supply food, water and other necessities to Red Hook, Coney Island and other areas still suffering from flooding and blackouts a week after Hurricane Sandy.
Power is still off in many Red Hook buildings, and of those that do have power, few have heat or hot water. Businesses are still pumping water from basements and the smell of putrid water hangs over whole blocks.
Inside the landmarked Visitation Church in Red Hook dozens of volunteers working in shifts sorted boxes and bags of donations coming in by car and foot. “We’re collaborating with Red Hook Initiative and Catholic Charities and working together as a community to serve Red Hook,” said Diana Coriat, the church’s coordinator, under acting pastor Father Claudio Antenci.