I think the title says it all.

So happy that we are able to donate to the Sandy relief efforts in the communities all around us, but so sad it had to happen at all.

First, I want to thank this round’s donors- you guys all rock!! Without all of you I wouldn’t have had any supplies to donate at all!

Bridget G, Aunt Ellen & Bill from NC, Carrie (who made a direct donation to my friend Sara’s family), Rob & Jill, Diane & Henry (a bsquared bride and groom from VA), Annie S, Denise B, Jeanne S, Katie C (again!), Kate D, Janice B, Maureen Z from MI, Sandi C, Christine S from FL (again!) and Jen & Jeff from MA.

From the $690 worth of donations from the fantastic group above, plus the left over $314.61 from the first round of Sandy donations (for a total of $1004.61) today’s shopping trip to Target with the boys included: 4 cases of diapers in varying sizes, mini bottles of baby wash and baby lotion, 8 cans of formula, bottles, sippy cups, 18 pkgs of wipes, a ton of  soft baby food, a ton of gerber graduates/puffs/snacks, 3 mops, 8 pine sols, body wash, deodorants, toothbrushes, toothpaste, women’s hygiene products, baby ibuprofen, 4 kids backpacks (2 boys, 2 girls), 4 lunch boxes (2boys, 2girls), and 2 gift cards (one for $100, one for $70 which I’m holding onto to combine with the bsquared $25 per session donations for giving after thanksgiving with the hopes people can go shopping and still try to have a merry christmas).

The boys and I tried to bring everything to a few locations that were closed or were full up on donations- but we spotted the Full Gospel Church in Island Park with a few volunteers outside. We stopped in there and they were thrilled with the donations and we saw people in need scoop up the minute we unloaded them from the car. So happy to see the donations get directly into the hands of those who need it most. I got a huge hug and a giant thank you from a man who took a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a dad who was there getting some baby supplies for his little daughter. Heartbreaking. The ladies who were running the donation area (which is on the sidewalk in the parking lot of the church since the inside of the church sustained damage from flooding) couldn’t have been nicer or more thankful for the donations. I think you’re all getting extra prayers tonight!

If you’re interested in donating on your own, it looked like the church (who is serving residents from Island Park- where they still have no power, Long Beach, Oceanside and even Queens) could use more donations. They’re located on Austin Blvd/Long Beach Rd in Island Park, past Peters Clam Bar (on the same side of the street) but before you reach Pancho’s.

I’m happy to take any additional donations and save those up for gift cards. If you’d like to donate, you can click on the paypal tab on the left side of the blog here and just click on donate. Even if you want to donate $1, every little bit helps. Thanks!!

The boys and I ventured out to Target yesterday with the amazingly generous donations you all sent in to purchase as much as we could with the $2075 (!!!) we collected so far. First, I’d like to thank all who contributed:

Tiffany & family, Stephanie B, Christine from Fla, Liz M from NM, Genie from Fla, Jen H & family, Christine & Jayson, Kim P, (Christine, Jayson & Kim all donated directly to get the family featured earlier this week some backpacks for the girls and the rest went toward a gift card from Target to the family), Kristen & Raul from CA, Karen C from NC, Jeanne K, Maureen M, Karin C, Katie C, Naura, Matt & Laura from TN, Dr. Dean from Fla, and $50 from bsquared from the 2 sessions I had this past weekend. You guys are all so amazingly generous and awesome and I can’t thank you all enough!!

So with those generous donations, this is what we did:

Spending $1760.39 we bought: 8 cases of diapers in various sizes, a ton of baby formula, bottles, wipes, pacifiers, baby food, toddler snacks and heat & eat meals, baby/toddler spoons. A bunch of cleaning supplies including bleach, pine sol, paper towels, mops and brooms. Batteries of varying sizes. Food including: 4 cases of water, ready to eat soups, tuna, crackers, peanut butter (kept that far away from Timmy’s cart!), ready to eat pastas like chef boyardee. Health and beauty items: soaps, shampoo, deodorants, toothpastes, toothbrushes, pain relievers, chapsticks, body wash, hand sanitizers, women’s sanitary products, and benadryl. Storage and home: 9 big tupperware bins, 8 fuzzy blankets, 8 pillows. And some cat and dog food.

Let me tell you we were quite a sight walking caravan style thru Target with each of us pushing a cart (Jack, Patrick, Timmy and I had 2). The boys told me we were getting a ton of odd looks. I was too busy shopping to notice! The ladies who helped us at checkout and not only bringing everything out to the car, but packing it perfectly so that everything fit (believe me, that was no small feat!) were so fantastic! So big props to Michelle, Lea, Elizabeth and Maurisha!

There was so much stuff packed into every bit of the car that Timmy was just a head. And the bottom pic there was one more cart but I couldn’t fit it in the picture.

We delivered everything to the Rockville Centre Rec Center that has been taking all donations and getting them out to the places around us that were hit hardest. They were so excited about the huge donation, especially the baby items. In fact, the diapers went from the car, to the rec, immediately back out to cars and trucks headed to Long Beach and Island Park. Way to make a difference people!!

I’m left with $314.61 to put toward the next shopping trip later this week or early next week, plus any additional donations that come in including $25 from any shoots I do for the rest of the year. Donations are still being accepted gladly! If you’d like to donate please go to the paypal tab on the left side of the blog and click the “donate” button. Every little bit helps!!

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!!