please help?

I’m kind of at a loss as to where to even start this post. For those blog readers who don’t know, we live on Long Island NY. And you’ve seen the devastation from this storm on the news, or some of you first hand. We were lucky enough to sustain no real damage from Sandy and only lost power for about 2hrs during the storm. Being that we were so lucky, we’ve made our home available to any and all friends and family to come here- for a charge of their electronics, a hot meal, a shower, laundry, a place to hang out and even stay over on a couch. We’ve probably had around 30-40 visitors here since Monday (it’s slowed down a bunch since most of our town now has electric back) and while exhausting, it felt great to help out where I could.

One story of devastation is worst than the next. I have many friends who have lost everything- entire homes and everything in them, cars, jobs.  Friends in Breezy Point, Long Beach, Island Park, Baldwin Harbor, East Rockaway, Bay Park, the Jersey shore, Massapequa, the Rockaways, Oceanside, Wantagh. I’m sure there are more that I just haven’t heard from yet. In the past watching the effects of Katrina and other storms or natural disasters I always felt terrible for everyone affected and donated some money thru Red Cross. But it is so different when you see it in places you actually hang out or have been to. It’s nothing less than surreal. And so, so heartbreaking.

In order to do something to try to help (because it’s pretty easy and painless to open up your home and clean out some closets to donate clothing) I’ve decided to donate $25 from every shoot I have left in 2012 toward some kind of Sandy relief. I’ll be putting the money toward gift cards or direct purchases of supplies that are needed. I’ll make sure the supplies or gift cards (to Home Depot, CVS, PC Richards, Ace Hardware- things like that) get directly into the hands of people that need them. I have a few friends who live in the most effected local areas (or have summer homes there) so they are in and out daily cleaning up- they will let me know what is needed most and will bring it with them back into those areas. That $25 is coming out of my pocket, so no added costs to any bsquared client will occur. However, if you are a bsquared client (past, present or future) and would like to donate ANY amount toward the gift card or supply purchases, please feel free to donate anything you can. You can use the paypal link on the side of my blog if you’re so inclined (click the “donate” button for bsquared sandy relief), or send a check.

And if you aren’t sick of me yet, I’d like to ask for your help for one last matter. A friend/bsquared client’s home has been completely flooded and their family of 7 has lost so much. (By the way, this is the family who’s stroller got stolen off of the Pt. Lookout beach during their shoot last year). They are currently staying scattered throughout 2 states, so they aren’t even together. If you know of anyone who has a house or an apartment for them to rent while their house is repaired in the Wantagh area (they need to be able to bring their kids to school and the parents need to get to work), please let me know. Their friend/another bsquared client has been doing all their laundry and been able to salvage a lot of their clothing, but the girls could use new backpacks for school since their’s were beyond fixing with a wash. Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially on the housing situation!

(picture posted with permission) This is the family. They are amazingly nice and good people.  On a beach that probably doesn’t even exist anymore.

If any other bsquared blog stalkers (you know I love my stalkers) have a story you’d like me to share with my readers, please let me know and I’ll get you posted to the blog. I’m hoping all of my fabulous bsquared clients can come together and help each other. It’s like the zombie apocalypse out there (except without the zombies. so far.) with the gas shortage and no power and getting scarier by the day. My heart just breaks for those out there with no place to sleep and get warm as the temperature drops. Wish I could help them all.

Please feel free to share this post on your Facebook wall, or copy to your friends. The more people we reach, the better. Thank you all so much!!