I'm hoping the Patch can help in my search for two great girls who went "ABOVE AND BEYOND" in helping my town in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
I live in Lindenhurst on Long Island which was hit hard especially south of Montauk Highway and left people without power, heat or even a home. I was at my local church the following Monday (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) which was set up as a clothing and food shelter to get a cup of coffee and see if there was anything I could do to help.
At that moment I was asked if I could help two women who drove down from Westchester with a truck filled with supplies and show them around and take them to some of the hardest hit areas so they could drop off some of needed supplies.
The truck was filled with everything....coats, blankets, towels just to name a few items and everything was labeled so if someone asked for something specific they would climb into the truck and pick it out for them. While riding with these two—Kim and Catherine (Who went by Cat)—I asked them what organization they were from and they explained to me that they were two "Stay at Home Moms" who decided to get together with their friends and do something to help our community.
People were so grateful as they received a sweatshirt or a pair of sneakers to wade through the mud in their homes so they didn't have to get their good shoes dirty. I think the best part of the day was when we drove by one of the schools in Lindenhurst and came across a man and his 12-year-old son and his son asked, "Do you have a coat? I'm so cold."
Kim also noticed he had no socks on and she gave him a new pack. That experience she said made the trip down from Westchester all worth it.
I have been telling everybody about my day with Kim and Cat and your names have been mentioned at church and your picture even made it into our church bulletin this week.
Our Pastor, Msgr. Joseph DeGrocco, when I started to tell him the story, he said to me that he heard all about it so please know that your efforts were greatly appreciated. You both are part of a hurricane story in our town and I'll bet that boy you gave the coat to will never forget you!
I was happy to be your human GPS that day and would love to get in touch with you to tell you how many lives you touched that day. You and your friends reallly are the true "Housewives of Westchester County" and they should make a television show about what you did instead of those selfish BRATS people like to watch on those reality shows.
God Bless you both and your families.
Andrew Martorano
Lindenhurst
