This weekend I went with some friends to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity out at Breezy Point post-Hurricane Sandy. I’ve seen the destruction on the news but to take it all in first-hand is quite a different experience. We were near the 100 homes that burned down and saw other homes with flooded basements, living rooms, and backyards taken over with debris and sand. We helped people clear out their flooded basements and take steps back to getting their homes liveable again. It felt like what we were doing was small, but when all the volunteers came together you could see how quickly a space was transformed. The people we helped were so appreciative of everyone’s help. One woman said that just seeing her backyard return to almost-normal changed her mood around and made her feel so much happier, even though they would eventually need to tear down their house and completely rebuild (did I mention this woman was 5 months pregnant?).

Anything you can do to help really does make a difference, so if you haven’t had a chance to volunteer or donate yet, people still need you!