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| File photo: Muslim women preparing food for distribution |
Source/Credit: CBS - 6 | WRGB - Albany
By Kassata Edwards | October 01, 2011
Post-Irene rebuilding efforts are underway in hard-hit areas across the Capital Region. As displaced residents return to their jobs for some, the weekends are the only time they can head home to cleanup damage.
"Most of the houses they've ripped out most of the flooring. They've ripped out the walls and they’re waiting for things to dry out. They're waiting to see what insurance is going to cover. They're waiting to see if they're going to be able to do anything with their homes" says Volunteer Kelly de la Rocha.
While residents wait and clean what they can in Rotterdam Junction, neighbors are doing what they can to help. For the second weekend in a row a group of ladies who call themselves the ‘Sandwich Brigade’ got up early Saturday morning and put together 200 meals.
"These people who are here who lost so much are working on their homes. These volunteers they need nourishment, they need a break" says Joann Canary of the Sandwich Brigade.
After Irene the local Fire Department provided three meals a day for a couple of weeks but didn't have the manpower to continue, so these ladies stepped in. the group meets at St. Margaret of Cortona Church then delivers lunch door to door.
"It's a big help. You know we're plugging in here to try to get work done and don't want to run out and get food" says Volunteer Fred Harris.
"With the mosquitoes and everything you're outside, you're hungry and it's so nice that somebody is doing that other worth while volunteering effort" adds de la Rocha.
The tough times in Rotterdam Junction has led to the joining of two communities.
"This is a small thing that we can do to just let them forget their troubles for just one meal" says Tahira Khan of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.
Saturday the Women’s Group of the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Rotterdam Junction helped out providing sandwiches and Indian food. They hope to volunteer again and will likely get the chance.
"As long as people are out there and they don't have power, they don't have a place to store their food we will keep doing it" says Canary.
"I hope that people won't forget that this is still going on and it’s going to be going on for months to come" adds de la Rocha.
As each month passes Irene's aftermath is uniting communities on the path to recovery.
Read original post here: Breaking bread and barriers in Rotterdam Junction
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