Friday, November 30, 2012

FW: blog

Hi to my social media friends at Georgia Tech..they asked me about our social media..whats that..twitter, blog, facebook, web…it’s the way of the world…I write in the morning and at nite…

Tough things to see…an elderly man walks in with his grandson…his home is GONE! Fema has denied him..what does he do, he asks me….

Another man with heavy sun glasses says  I don’t need help, well al ittle..his couch is soaked with water still..a month later…his house needed us desperately..

An elderly man needs help in his plumbing..what do I do, we are desperate…

A policeman asks me, can you just help me move three things downstairs in the basement..stressed as I see him, we say yes..

We worked on 42nd street today, no not in Manhattan but in the far Rockaways..

We worked on 200ths street, and Doris Lane and in Bedford..this weekend will be the biggest transformation Sat in the history of NY…are you with us..

Will you support us..donate now, and or volunteer…..get ready we need insulation soon. God bless you!!!!!!!

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

 

FW: blog

A month ago, Hurricane Sandy hit us..like no catastrophe to hit in our present time….habitat of Westchester hit the ground running..

My experience in Mamoroneck with the floods of 2007 was practice for the work we have engaged here now…..homes needed gutting and deconstructing, mold removal, sheetrock and rebuilding while bringing hope.

With that in mind I was called after helping with tree removal here in Westchster by a friend in the Rockaways..killer..(my nickname) you got to get over here..people need you guys…

I rode over with twenty pumps, a generator and the rest is history..

That nite after pumping out a home..the ambulance was stuck at the end of the street in sand..no one was going anywhere…the next day, the dump truck was stuck..i had to stay over in the cold….

Like so many still do a month later..

From there I went to breezy point…and every day brought 100 boxes of contractor bags.. Thanks to Modern Hardware for donating some…

Every morning home depot, every nite..purchasing thousands of dolars of needed supplies…the Breezy Point people asked me to set up our work with a command center….hundreds have come for our help…we have gutted more than 200 homes, in Breezy Point,   Roxbury, and now the  Far and lower rockaways….

It looks like the apocalypse hit..

It is our Katrina!

However, there is hope..ther eis Habitat of Westchter and thousands of volunteers….

Like the Peekskill fire dept, the AOH of Rockland, Plesantville High School, New Rochelle families like the Vernis..and Burkes, the Hartmanns, Murphy brothers construction….

Marist College, Adelphi, Iona Prep, Iona students, so many..our friends from Israel, our volunteers from Yonkers and Ryebrook and more..

It is unbelievable..Saturday will be one of the most amazing game changing days in our history and in the history of NY…more than 350 volunteers with us.. at least and another r200 Monday..wait till sheetrock Monday comes in Rock the  rockaways..

We need your support…Habitat of Westchester and the people of Westchester have responded..keep responding..make this our proudest moment…..

 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

FW: the whole world wants to respond blog

Everyone wants to help..so they say.. an organization quick to raise money but slow to come out, organized with ten workers for three hours,…their truck….

Yesterday..driving around in trucks in areas, where people aren’t during the day it is very surreal. God knows..

We are blessed………we have been there since the beginning,..every day new organizations come that I have never heard of..we want to help..we want to help.

Some are real, some not sure..hard to decipher sometimes..

All I know is that we had another 40 volunteers yesterday, prepping up for a huge weekend..working on six homes..about ten more families came out to see if we could help..we are so blessed in all we do…no question..we hit the ground running early..

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

FW: blog

If you told me a month ago I would be in the rockaways for the last 20 days I would say you are not correct.not even close..then Sandy came..

The winds of change brought us out to help..Tom and Norma, Bill and Tom Mazzola, Bishop Gibbs,  you and me..

What a whirlwind of activity of hope, a whirlwind of trying to help a whirlwind of gutting and deconstructing..

With that in mind, we continue…we work, we have hope..

There are still many in need, distressed, wont you help us adopt a street..

Wont you assist us in getting done what we need to get done…

Lets to NY lets go! Email jim@habitatwc.org God bless

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

FW: blog

Today we work in New Rochelle mt Vernon, White Plains, the lower rockaways and breezy.

We work hard…it is a moral imperative…

For the sake of stopping a health epidemic..for the sake of helping families..

In new Rochelle for instance, we have seen three homes that needed help…three that people had the need for assistance whose homes were In disarray, with air quality issues..

In the rockaways we have seen three hundred..

Under the guise of Brush with Kindness.. the winds of Sandy, and the difficulties for some families causes many trials…for sure.

Along with that,we announce excitingly our new home ownership continues…

We move ahead to help Vets…many vets see that we are building ahead.

That we are commited to welcome home houses for Vets, that we move to help so many..
with that in mind, help us make holidays for so many whole, help us continue to build, help us to continue to bring hope. May God bless you and yours in all y ou do!

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

 

Monday, November 26, 2012

FW: blog

Back from the land of mold..water, and challenges..

What a challenge…no question ..what a  world..apocalyptic..no question.

I still cant believe the damage sandy has given..but there is hope..there is love, there is habitat, volunteers, donations, and more…Sandy you will lose..have faith rockaways, the key..God bless..

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

 

FW: blog

This is a time for Gods work to be multiplied…during this time thousands of people are without their homes..thousands suffer, thousands have no place to live..i cant even understasnd honestly how we could have football and basketball games go on, when so many are suffering…it doesn’t make sense…

This is an opportunity for great opportunity to help in NY ina way the world, can not even imagine,….imagine that the whole stadium of fans, came out to the rockaways for one day…imagine if the churches or synagouges adopted one street..

Today I announce adopt a street! Jon us, email relief@habitatwc.org

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

FW: blog

A meeting with the Breezy coordinating team..then a meeting with OEM of NYC depts. In 108th in Brooklyn..then looking for warehouse space for supplies..

A talk with LYPA, about electric coming on, scammers, and how to make things better in Breezy….a call Americorp is coming, YES..i confirmed having trying to get them here for two weeks..yahoo!

Along with that thanks to Cisco, we will get them with their communications system out as well…whats next..

Multiplication of the volunteer projects..it it hard, like the 6 West point Cadets who came yesterday and took no prisoners..on homes..gut them, deconstruct them clean them, bring hope..keep going..come on , we can do this.

Came b ack at 3am from Boston last nite speaking to Boston College kids to be at 8am meeting

Every day is Thanksgiving, Every day is Christmas…can you donate to us, as an Alternative…we need your support..we deserve it..God bless you.

Monday, November 19, 2012

FW: bl;og

 

Day 15…

15 days straight helping Hurricane Sandy sometimes makes you feel like you went thru it yourself..however always isnpirt when I see someone who smiles..who says thank you..you guys are terrific..you and your team are blessings..Pat Matt Thomas, Norma, Tom..now Teresa.. pastor Gibbs has not stopped.. Genette comes today, Stephanie and more..

Man my lifei s good my team is Gods team….put em up against any photo op team..against anyone..

Operations table covered by Orourke and gang.

High schools come from all over

Forham U. comes out today, Goldman, all of them on our Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Team and broader team for all..

Sso thanks for making my Thanksgiving so special by your love and comitment by your needed donations and help..by your prayers and support..safety glasses contractor bags and simply green, that s what im getting for Christmasstmas..and ihope under the tree is sheetrock and insulation. May the Ruah be with yu my brothers from Israel who prayed iwht me stated yesterday, you have the Ruah they said…lets share the Ruah of love and Action and get this done!!!!!

Go HHFHF team! God bless jimkilloran

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

FW: blog

 

Sandys wrath…a woman cries…she is hurting..she just cant bear to see the burned out homes..the pain of Breezys fires, and the hurricanes forces which have left her whole family homeless.

As I give a group of friends a tour..we them start to cry..too..i started for sure..

A hug to someone who comes to our Habitat disaster table…stops crying

Another woman distressed that she get help as quickly as she or we would like…when when when..

Lights not turned on, no electricity, an elderly man comes to look for towels, a coat, food…I will live by candles he says..

Music by the NYC food trucks..people working together to see so much..

We have hit the ground running, no question..tomorrow Jackie and her friends arrive from NJ, high schools, companies, colleges all want to help..

Trying to get americorp here..to help with their disaster relief..teams..to reach out..lets hope.

So many thoughts ….what amount of debris still is behind the area elderly disabled persons home..

Ch 13 of Pennsylvania does an interview with me…why is mold so dangerous, show me where…

The world wants to donate, but donate what we need, not just what you want to…..too many clothes right now..

We need your financial donation today…God bless you!

FW: blog

 

Breezy is Back Breezy is Back…Breezy is Back..lets go Breezy, lets go Rockaways..

Yonkers is back, Mt Vernon is back..lets go team!

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

FW: blog

We need tools, we need contractors bags! We need support…blankers, we need your financial support, no question.

With that in mind we continue..we move ahead.. we help.

Today we help two homeowners, with their trees down..we also brought food yesterday to a couple in need. Today is election day….the response to our disaster here, has not been as prepared as we thought it could be…people are suffering. We hit the ground running and continue to ..this Thanksgiving we will build..and help. This week we will move ahead.

We have so  much to do. Help us, pray for us, volunteer with us..God bless you….

Monday, November 05, 2012

FW: blog

Saturday after Sandy…oh Sandy Baby,  ….this aint the summer any more..this aint pretty..what did you do..

But THERE IS HOPE..THERE IS YOU T HERE IS RECOVERY, THERE ARE HEARTS, THERE ARE DONORS..THERE ARE BUILDERS AND REBUILDERS..

THINK AND PRAY TODAY ABOUT EVERYONE EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAD NO PLACE LAST NITE TO STAY IN NY AREA..AND EAST COAST..COME ON NOW..THINK ABOUT IT,WHERE ARE THEY..

DID WE PRAY FOR THEM..WLL YOU, WILL YOU HELP NOW!

OK ITS HAMMER TIME, ITS HELP TIME, ITS VOLUNTEER TIME, ITS DONATION TIME…! MT VERNON AVENUE..58 MT VERNON AVENUE IS ONE OF OUR NEW LOCATIONS..LIKE THE DISASTER CENTER WE SET UP IN ..

OK SO HERES SOMETHING CRAZY..WHEN YOU SUFFER.. YOUR FAMILY EXPANDS..DOES THAT MAKES SENSE..PEOPLE CARE MORE..CAN REACH OUT MORE..CAN ADOPT YOU OR YOU THEM..YUJP THAT’S RIGHT..

 

NOW WILL YOU INCREASE YOUR FAMILY..BY ONE, ADOPT A HURRICANE SANDY FAMILY, OR PERSON..STAY TUNED..

MAKE A DONATION TODAY..HTTP://WWW.HABITATWC.ORG

ALSO DON’T FORGET..COME BY          58 MT VERNON AVENUE..MT VERNON..DROP OFF WATER..DROP OFF SUPPLIES ITS TIME..

ARE YOU THANKFUL TODAY..I AM FOR YOU…GOD IS ..NOW DO SOMETHING!

FW: blog

An early morning ride to Breezy Point…how many have taken it over the years with anticipation of fun, the beach, and a trip to Sugarfoots or Kennedys Restaurant..

But today the early ride greeted us with security check points..we are bringing relief..from Habitat.contractors bags and more. While in line..will and Jenna, the couple behind me say ..can we have contractors bags….sure I say…they take it with gratitude like I gave them a million bucks..no question..within ten minutes, I see them again, while speaking to my new hero..chief Jim Dalton..an amzing man who toured the whole Point with us, with tears and strength like no other man..wtih the winds of Sandy in his eyes everytime he thought of what happened and the determination to help bring back Breezy…better than before..with Habitat bringing hope too…

Can you help us..we gave you name..we want you to come to mass..everyone will be there….the Bishop, the Senator, the local leaders. Chief confirms.. you need to be there..

He brings us on a tour, he shows us his house, waterlogged, after showing us, lines of six feet of water, sand dunes cut through the middle like the parting of the Red Sea….(maybe Moses walked thru it for old times sake…)and he chased a looter, that we caught..who ended up taking copper out of a house…we stopped him.

Along with close habitat hero Bruce Keith, we saw devestation. I brought back a charred piece of wood, from one of the 80 plus homes that burned like marshmallows in a row…we toured where we ciould put staging areas..can I drop boxes here, I ask..where can I put up volunteers..heres where my mom lives ..he starts crying….Breezy Point..oh what memories…the Breezes seem distant now..and the Winds fresh in the Minds and the Devestation to be seen..but theres hope ..theres Habitat, theres you!!!!!!! Please help..make a donation…Bring Back Breezy with us!!!! BBB…pray, donate, volunteer..stay tuned. God love you!

Friday, November 02, 2012

FW: blog

Its 330am..was exhausted fell asleep at 8am just woke up..went to the gas lines..last car protected by police just left 330am..

This is the only time I can gather thoughts, try to document what I did, before the calls and the people start rolling in..

Today, we helped families in New rochelle..went to white plains, assisted in mt Vernon and need to help cut trees there on a home tomorrow..and also went

To Breezy Point. There distributed 20 water pumps..trash bags, water, and supplies…drove two people Elaine M and her brother who lived on 207th..out of the harms way  off the island..they hadn’t eaten for two  days…they were getting picked up at erksine.by a friend..they said they had to eat..and went  to Red Lobster for a feast..they coulnt not reach their home..they deserved a feast..

People were walking aimlessly and in shock around breezy point…seven police security, and island security. Volunteer firefighters and NYFD toured and appreciated when I too gave them extra pumps to distribute..

What a world. Habitat of Westchester has been on the ground running since 2007 and before (we helped with families in a burnt out fire in 1998, and in new Rochelle on Main street years ago)

We have opened our headquarters and now are looking to help for the long haul…recovery is not over nite..help is not a one shot deal..

Pray for our work..today I go to a press conference, on the radio and spread the word..we have just begun.. your support is vital..http://www.habitatwc.org

(ps if you want to drop food off at our headquarters feel free to) or a check…