LARGO, FL. (November 26, 2012) – When Kathleen Jacobs heard about the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, her first thoughts went to her brothers, family and friends living in the Rockaway and Jersey Shore area
As the morning hours went on, and she was able to reach them, she found, for the most part, they were safe. By that time, adrenalin had kicked in, along with imagination — about what may have happened to them.
What started out as heart-felt worries about loved ones, quickly turned into a full force of support from local businesses and the community.
“We have been able to ship to date the equivalent of over four tractor trailer loads to the affected areas. One of those trucks hit Staten Island, while the others had supplies that went to Queens (Rockaway & Breezy) Brooklyn and Long Island. We have another scheduled to roll the end of this week,” said Chris Jacobs, Kathleen’s husband and owner of Valpak of Rochester.
“Our friends, family and our Valpak office all did an outstanding job to make this happen. It has really been amazing. We couldn’t have done it without them,” said Chris.
In an area that was “barely grazed” by the storm, they had energy and emotion behind them to collect the essentials of living, along with those larger items that would get communities back to normal. Schools came out with collected items, Girl Scout troops took up donations, and even a Karate school came down bearing armfuls of supplies.
As the Jacobs started the relief initiative the day after the storm, they loaded their truck with generators, and 40 gallons of water to bring to their family in New Jersey and New York that were directly impacted.
“I took a breath and realized there are people here who are starving — with no water and no supplies,” said Kathleen.
“The day after returning, Kathleen, along with our Valpak team, joined forces with the Sea Breeze & Henrietta Fire Department, and from there we recruited local businesses of all sizes, as well as individual donors to assist in this initiative,” said Chris. Kathleen took to Facebook — asking friends if they knew of anyone with a truck.
“From the original street in Brooklyn that I grew up on, many of those families moved to the Rockaway Breezy and Shore Point areas. Nine of those families’ homes were affected; eight burned down or totally flooded. My brother’s home was the one -- although flooded -- that made it,” said Kathleen. “It really hit home.”
They also contacted a firefighter in Rochester, who was originally from Brooklyn as well, and they enlisted his help. In addition, they reached out to one of their clients who had access to an email list to send to local businesses.
From fork lifts to chemicals, to supplies of boxes, pallets of bleach and a mattress for a US Marine, local businesses were there. Almost 25 businesses were there immediately.
“We had no idea. It just spread like wildfire. We didn’t have time to think,” said the Jacobs. While trying to maintain a normal, productive work environment, the back loading docks were transformed overnight into a relief supply warehouse.
“When my brothers went back into their Staten Island market(after being in Rockaway and assisting for several days and saw the devastation, we all realized that Staten Island was the place that needed even more help,” said Kathleen.
For nine straight days, the donations piled in, until the very last truck was packed with heavy coats, water, food, blankets and other supplies, and sent off to Staten Island.
“It just kept coming; no questions asked, no matter how big or small,” said Chris. “One man pulled his car up to the loading dock, got out, and took his Miami Dolphins jacket off, and handed it over,” he said.
“From teddy bears to pet toys, people donated anything and everything that would make people on the other end feel better,” said Kathleen.
The Jacobs wish to thank area businesses and the community for all of their donations:
CompanyBison LaboratoriesRochester Midland Thatcher Company United Cleaners Bailey Fire Department Faust's USA Karate Seabreeze Fire Department Ken's Pizza Corner Salvatore's Henrietta Salvatore's Irondequoit Tops Markets Duke Company Bishop Kearney School Charles Finney School Harmony House Speedy's Dry Cleaners Allied Electronics STAR Headlamp Entercom Entercom Rochester Democrat & Chronicle WHAM TV Re/Max Realty Group Acker-Pak Corrigan Moving Systems Diamond Packaging Economy Paper Home Depot Koch Container Ultra Fab Taylor Rental Sleep City National Guard C&M Forwarding Emerson Trucking Sherman Furniture Valenti Sports MyWebYellow.com Norry Management Corp |
CommentsChemicalsChemicals Chemicals Clothes Collection Point Collection Point Collection Point Food for workers Food for workers Food for workers Food for workers Forklift Fundraising Fundraising Fundraising Hangers, Clothing, Transportation Headlamps Headlamps Media Coverage Media Coverage Media Coverage Media Coverage Organizing & Recruiting Packaging Materials Packaging Materials Packaging Materials Packaging Materials Packaging Materials Packaging Materials Packaging Materials & Skids of Water Pallet Jack Queen Mattress & Box Springs Skids Transportation of goods Transportation of goods Transportation of goods Transportation of goods Warehouse Warehouse |
About Valpak®
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About Cox Media Group
Cox Media Group is an integrated broadcasting, publishing, direct marketing and digital media company that includes the national advertising rep firms of Cox Reps. Additionally, CMG owns and operates Cox Target Media, providers of Valpak, a leading North American direct marketing company and Savings.com, a leading online coupon site and community. With $1.7 billion in revenue, the company operations include 15 broadcast television stations and one local cable channel, 86 radio stations, eight daily newspapers and more than a dozen non-daily publications, and more than 100 digital services. CMG operates in more than 30 media markets and reaches approximately 52 million Americans weekly, including 30 million TV viewers, more than 4 million print and online newspaper readers, and 18 million radio listeners. For more information about Cox Media Group, please check us out online at www.coxmediagroup.com.
Contacts
Marsha Strickhouser
Valpak
(727) 399-3175
marsha_strickhouser@valpak.com
