Superstorm Sandy Staten Island Relief
Donation protected
What:
Imagine spending your life working hard to gather your possessions under one roof, to build a family under this roof, just to have it all washed away in one fell swoop? This is the situation in which far too many members of my home community of Staten Island now find themselves.
I can only describe my hometown as a disaster in the wake of finally being able to fly home following airport closures and reroutes due to a Nor'easter that delivered 1 foot of snow to this freshly demolished community. It had been 4 days that my parents had been without power and they are lucky to live in a well-protected, comfortable neighborhood. There are so many members of this community who were far less fortunate.
Last night the temperature here dropped to 33â°F and will continue to decline in the coming weeks, threatening the health and happiness of hundreds and perhaps thousands of Staten Island families who have been made homeless by Hurricane Sandy.
WHY:
It is not my concern as to why Staten Island continues has been undeserved but it is wonderful to see the camaraderie amongst the community members that has grown from this tragic event. Please feel free to read these articles if you would like additional information on this topic:
I am asking for DONATIONS that will directly fund a relief mission involving 30 medical students from The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Each volunteer is bringing the following high demand items to this community that is currently depleted of resources vital to their recovery with a willingness to lend their free time and support in any way possible:
--first aid kits
--sterile saline/eyewash
--heavy duty garbage bags
--shovels, brooms, buckets, bleach
--respirators
--work boots of many sizes
--hard hats
--goggles
--cut-resistant work gloves
--winter coats
--basic medical supplies and pharmaceuticals
--tetanus boosters
--headlamps/flashlights
--batteries
--place heaters
(battery powered)
Please keep in mind that every dollar goes toward a worthy cause such as putting a pair of work gloves on a volunteer or community member's hands to keep them from getting cuts and infections that will only add to our current list of problems and increase the need for more Tetanus Boosters.
How:
Upon finally returning to NYC from an interview that trapped me a country-length away from my loved ones, I hit the ground running and set myself to the task of determining the community's immediate and long term needs utilizing my unique skill set with 2 years of EMT experience in NYC working closely with the NYPD and FDNY in addition to acting as a Disaster Response Strike Team Leader for FEMA in 2008 when Hurricane Ike and Gustav threatened the southern United States and the government was deathly afraid of another Katrina. Beyond these experiences I have spent the last 4 years honing my medical skills and compassion as an MD student of the Charter Class of The Commonwealth Medical College.
I hold multiple certifications from FEMA that have allowed me a unique perspective 2 weeks after Superstorm Sandy hit the shores of the Northeast United States. I simply connected with my former colleagues at the NYPD and FDNY who granted me access to the disaster area so I could assess the needs of the area and bring my unique perspective to the relief effort.
I now know exactly what I need and have the helping hands to mobilize supplies that my community needs to help get back on their feet and get power back to their homes. All we need is funding so I can purchase these supplies in Pennsylvania and put them in the hands of my team of medical students willing to distribute them to the Staten Island community in need.
When:
The relief effort mobilizes from Scranton, Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 17th, 2012 at 0700. This first mission will be a 48 hour effort in conjunction with FEMA, American Red Cross, New York State Nurses Association, NYPD, FDNY, and the NYC Department of Sanitation.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and support. Your donations will be truly appreciated not only by me and the medical professionals who you are arming with supplies, but by the families of the Staten Island communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy who need our support in their time of greatest.
Please keep in mind that Thanksgiving is around the corner and it would be a true display of hope to bring the resources and helping hands that the Staten Island community has been clamoring for before our national holiday to give them relief that they can truly be thankful for.
-Robert G Gessman
Tufts University Class of 2007
The Commonwealth Medical College Class of 2013
EMT-B
Organizer
Robert Gene Gessman
Organizer
Staten Island, NY
