11/10/2012 - Whitman MA Call-Firefighter Robert Figgins Jr., and his wife, New York native, Mary Figgins, began a drive to collect donations in the form of relief supplies for the numerous victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York. After sufficient donations were collected, Robert & Mary Figgins planned to make the lengthy trip to deliver these much needed supplies to the residents of the Belle Harbor area of Rockaway, located in the borough of Queens, New York. The two Whitman residents networked with local fire departments to set up drop off locations at the Bridgewater, Hanson, Rockland, West Bridgewater & Whitman Fire Departments. A list of items needed by the victims of this super storm was developed. The donations began pouring in due to constant networking through Facebook, local newspapers and word of mouth. The response was overwhelming. Each day, the lobby at Whitman Fire Department became so bombarded with items that they needed to be transferred to the armory next door, where room was more readily available. The piles of donated items grew and grew each day, with more donations being brought in by residents, friends and family. On the evening of Friday, November 9th, 2012, several volunteers made the joint effort to pack all of the donated items into boxes, then load them into Whitman Fire Department's trailer for the long haul down to New York. It was approximately an hour and a half before all of the donated items were loaded up and secured in the large trailer. In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 10th, 2012, Robert and Mary Figgins, and Firefighter Pat Travers of the Whitman Fire Department, began their journey down to New York hauling the trailer full of relief supplies. As the trio headed further south down Interstate 95, the damage was visibly growing worse. In Connecticut, downed trees could be seen on the both sides of the highway. Damage to roofs could also be seen, as tarps covered large leaks that were caused by high winds of the super storm known as Sandy. As the Figgins' & Travers made their way into the city limits of Mary Figgins' native New York, the damage became more apparent and all too real. There were numerous trees down, broken fences & windows, and other physical damage noted all around the highway as far as the eye could see. Apparent evidence of the fuel crisis could also be seen from the highway, as long rows of cars, and pedestrians holding gas cans, were lined up at the limited gas stations that were open. The three Whitman residents, with their trailer of relief supplies in tow, arrived at the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Rockaway, Queens, at approximately 1 p.m. This area of New York had been engulfed by over 7-feet of water at the height of Hurricane Sandy. Residents spoke of heavy rains, and ocean water rushing down city streets, while balls of fire coming from burning houses on neighboring blocks crashed around their homes. One Belle Harbor resident whom the Figgins' and Travers had talked with about the disastrous storm, told them of a heartbreaking question his young child had asked him: "Daddy, are we at war?” The damage throughout the Belle Harbor neighborhood was incomprehensible. What seemed like miles of sand from Rockaway beach, traveled several blocks up, invading people’s front yards, driveways, and homes. Ten-foot-tall mounds of this sand loomed in the middle of the side streets that ran perpendicular to the beach. These mountains that once belonged on Rockaway beach, were cluttered with debris from the boardwalk, which was completely ripped from its concrete supports and destroyed. One home in particular had a section of the boardwalk smash through the front of the dwelling. The entire scene was reminiscent of a bad snow storm, with residents digging themselves out; but instead of snow that could eventually melt, they were shoveling sand. There were hundreds of abandoned cars that were ultimately destroyed when the water pounded the neighborhoods of Rockaway. The cars were scattered throughout the various neighborhoods, most with waterlines visible over the dashboards. Many cars also had notes written on their windshields from insurance adjusters simply stating, "Total loss." The relief supplies were due to be dropped off at Saint Francis de Sales Parish on the corner of Rockaway Boulevard and B 129 Street, where a large relief effort was underway. The trailer hauled by the Figgins' and Travers, was parked on B 129 Street, where it was bombarded by approximately 20+ volunteers, ready to unload the numerous amounts of donated supplies. The trailer which took approximately an hour and a half to load, took less than 10 minutes to unload due to the amount of relief workers. The supplies were brought into the parish, sorted through and organized. The items were then distributed from a large parking lot that held food, water, warming tents, and supplies for residents. Donation supplies are still needed, and another trip is planned from Whitman to New York during Thanksgiving weekend. Supplies that would be much appreciated are: safety glasses, C & D batteries, flashlights, heavy duty work gloves, shovels, brooms, rope, heavy duty trash bags, bleach, Clorox wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, rakes, rubber gloves, blankets, bottled water, gift cards to Lowe's or Home Depot, baby wipes, diapers, and formula. Non-perishable food items are also needed. Donations can be dropped off at the Whitman Fire Department 56 Temple Street, Whitman MA; the Hanson Fire Department at 505 Liberty Street, Hanson, MA; or the West Bridgewater Fire Department at 99 West Center Street, West Bridgewater MA. To make a monetary donation, please send a check or money order to: The New York City Brotherhood Foundation, PO Box 343, Putnam Valley, NY 10579.

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