Sandy cleanup continues in Breezy Point thanks to volunteers
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By DAN BOWENS, @danbowensfox5
MYFOXNY.COM -
Volunteers in Queens are helping Sandy victims not only rebuild their homes, but their wardrobes as well.
One month later - and cleanup from Hurricane Sandy is still overwhelming for many homeowners in Breezy Point, Queens.
"We've been down here many, many days since Sandy and you realize and you think you're going to do a whole room and it doesn't get done," said Regina McKenemon.
Jack and Regina McKenemon weren't sure how they would get all the water logged material out of their home-- until volunteers from Operation Blessing International and others showed up to help.
Operation Blessing has already helped nearly 250 families but there's more work to do and they need more volunteers.
"The residents here are very much overwhelmed because this has never happened. For us who see disasters all the time, we try to comfort and let them know 'Hey we're here to try to help out the best we know how,'" said Clifton Wright of Operation Blessing.
And while they work to rebuild homes here...
"This is a little different; it's lip gloss and girly things," said a participant at Dalton's Grill.
It was a different type of cleanup inside Dalton's Grill in the Rockaways, this -- a bit more cosmetic and those impacted by the storm picked up new donated designer clothes and other goods.
The Glam4Good Event founded by Mary Alice Stephenson and friend, Eugene Brennan.
"When you feel like you look good – you can do good and many of these women have come up to me and said thank you for Glam4Good because it made us laugh, it made us feel pretty -- we've cut so many tough things to worry about," said Stephenson.
"It's been hard. We had to leave our home and go stay with family," said Mary-Ellen Gortano.
Gortano and son Jake know about living through those tough things --- it's why she was so relieved to finally start replacing some of the nicer things lost to the storm.
"It feels nice coming in here, it's Christmasy and bright," said Gortano. "And when you go outside it's so dark and gloomy and sad -- So it's nice, it feels special."
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