UPDATE FROM LONG ISLAND

Hello All,

Quick update from Long Island, NY.  Below is a letter that was sent to me this week.  Unreal. 

"Hi, my name is Avery.  I'm 9 years old.  Thank you so much for helping out my grandparences.  I appresheate you helping out other people.  I know people need shelter, clothes, and food.  Thats why I rased $500.  

Love, 

Avery"

No Avery, thank you.  Incredible.

Mark/Chops

THIS IS WHY I'M DOING WHAT I DO.  A LETTER FROM 9YR OLD AVERY AFTER HEARING WE WORKED AT HER "GRANDPARENCES" HOME.

DINNER TABLE AFTER A DAY IN THE FIELD. 

ZACK AND ME AT STATE RADIO'S WEBSTER HALL, NEW YORK CITY SHOW!

THESE GUYS ARE THE DIFFERENCE MAKERS!  THANK YOU.

LIFE IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES.  YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET.  27 CATS IN THIS HOME.

CANADA'S PRIDE AND JOY, JESS, AND OUR BUTT KICKING CARGO VAN!

SEVERAL FEET OF OCEAN SAND CAME UP THROUGH THE FOUNDATION.  YOU CAN SEE THE WATER LINE ON THE WALLS.  ONE OF THE WORST HOMES I HAVE SEEN TO DATE

STEVEN AND MITCH WORKING HARD ON OUR MUCK OUT JOB LAST WEEK!

THE A TEAM!  TEAMING UP WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSERVATION CORP, MITCH FROM WISCONSIN (WHO ALSO SERVES OUR COUNTRY IN THE ARMY.  THANK YOU)

WHO YA GONNA CALL?  GHOST BUSTERS!.. I MEAN NECHAMA!

LOITERING IN FRONT OF THE MET IN NYC WITH SOME OF THE NECHAMA ALL STARS!

LONG STORY... MY FIELD TEAM HAD TIME TO TAKE PICTURES, BUT NO TIME TO HELP.   SOME DAYS YOU ARE THE DOG.  SOME DAYS THE HYDRANT.

ANOTHER STELLAR GUTTING JOB BY NECHAMA!

JESS, ZACK, AND MEGAN WITH MS CHERRY.   THE PRIOR PICTURE WAS HER BASEMENT.  ALL SMILES.  GREAT TO SEE

YEAH, OKEEFE'S WEDDING WAS FUN.

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

MY QUEEN OF QUEENS

Evening,

This morning, I arrived at her home to find her freezing and starving.  I mean that very literally.  She has been living alone in her home in East Rockaway, Queens since the storm.  Pushing a month and a half.  39 DAYS. 39 NIGHTS.  No family to take her in.  No shelter to be found.  Aside from 4 walls and a roof, 68 Waldo Ave hardly resembles a home.  Shoddy electricity compromised by the storm/flooding.  Working just enough to start a house fire given time, and to electrocute me pretty good when I put my hand on one of the light switches by the door, shooting pain up my arm into my shoulder and chest.  Also, NO HEAT.  Mind you, it was hardly above 30* last night and only getting colder.  As I made my way to the door, I could hear her call out to me.  "Mark, Im freezing!".  I will never ever ever forget hearing that.  Ever.  How on earth are we allowing for people to live like this?  It's so unacceptable.  My stomach turns and my heart aches.

Ms. Cedeno is my mother's age, and like my mother, a woman I'll think fondly of and draw inspiration from, until the day I die.  We come from completely different walks of life.  I cannot begin to relate to the hardships she has had to endure in her life.  Even before the storm, every day was a struggle for her to make ends meat and get by.  Me, well lets be honest, I've had it easy.  Despite our endless differences, she has quickly captured my heart.

After getting Ms. Cedeno in my car, wrapped in BC High sweatshirts, and eating plain turkey sandwiches, I was on a mission to find a warm place for her to stay.  It was taking every ounce of me not to break down and cry.  Why is an unknown 30 year old man from Boston the first person to take interest in this beautiful woman's well being in Queens?

7 hours later, after trips to City Hall and 2 FEMA stations spread out around Long Island, we were able to secure Ms. Cedeno warm shelter, a hot shower, and food.  Throughout the day, I had the privilege of getting to know quite a bit about my new friend.  She is an incredible woman, tough as nails, while possessing a beautiful smile.  The smile became apparent each time I tried to speak spanish, Ms. Cedeno's first language.  I think sometimes she was laughing with me, other times, certainly at me.

As I was saying my good byes to Ms. Cedeno at FEMA's HQ tonight, she embraced me in a big hug and called me her angel.  I cried the whole way home.

Ms. Cedeno, you are my queen of Queens.

Mark/Chops

ps..I can't thank my partners in crime at NECHAMA enough.  Your work inspires me to want to do more.   Having you in my corner today, and everyday, means the world to me.

MY QUEEN OF QUEENS, MS. EDITA CEDENO

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hello All,

Amongst many things, I am thankful for Stacey.   Stacey is one of the sweetest women I have ever met.  Her home was destroyed.  Her work was destroyed.  She is the mother of three children, but mind as well be the mother of her entire community. With her world beyond upside down at the moment, she found the time not only to make me a homemade Thanksgiving Dinner, but dropped it off at the Baldwin Firehouse, where I am currently calling home.  My current sleeping arrangements, also made possible by Stacey.  My heart was in my throat tonight when I got back from the field to find the feast waiting for me.  Everyday since the disaster, she has spent each waking moment rebuilding every aspect of the community she lives in.  The strength she has shown through the darkest times of her life, is inspirational beyond anything I could think to write.  Adversity, real adversity, I believe will tell you all you need to know about someone.  Good or bad.  Stacey, you are top notch.  Thanks for everything!

Love,

Mark/Chops

PS.. I know I have been given A LOT.  And, I am thankful for it all.  Thank you.

BALDWIN, LONG ISLAND FIRE HOUSE.  MY NEW HOME.

THE REAL HEROES

ABOUT TO SIT DOWN TO STACEY'S THANKSGIVING DINNER!

EVAN AND ME GIVING HUGS TO JENNY AFTER SPENDING THE DAY WORKING ON HER HOME

YVONNE IS TAKING HER FIRST BREAK ALL WEEK!  SHE MAY BE ASLEEP!  PAUL AND ME ARE TAKING HER OUT TO THE CURB!  WHAT A WONDERFUL WOMAN!

PAUL IS GIVING ME MY INTRO TO CHAIN SAW TUTORIAL. BEFORE MY FIRST DAY OF CUTTING! 

THIS HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED LIVING SPACE WITH OVER 3FT OF STANDING WATER IN IT.  NOW, READY FOR THE REBUILD AFTER EVAN, PAUL, YVONNE AND MYSELF PUT IN 32 HOURS ON THE JOB!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

GREETINGS FROM LONG ISLAND

Hi!

What a week or so since I last updated!  After making some serious progress in and around the Hoboken, NJ community last week, I made my way out to Long Island to team up with my pal Starbuck to lead volunteers on a few job sites out here.  He has legitimate experience of leading disaster relief teams in the field, and I have been doing my best to soak up as much of his knowledge as I can.  I have been using what I feel to be some of my best leadership skills and combining them with what I see him doing that works well.  I think we have a pretty good thing going between us and it has been exciting to see how productive our volunteers have been.  People of all ages are on the ground with us doing the dirty work.  Debris removal, gutting homes, pulling up floors etc.  They really deserve a round of applause.

As of today, I will be living out on Long Island.  Nechama is undertaking projects in Baldwin, Long Beach, and starting on Tuesday, The Rockaways.  These areas received the absolute worst of what Hurricane Sandy left behind.  That said, there is no shortage of work to be done.  Today, we got off to a great start and tackled an absolutely destroyed home directly abutting the ocean in Long Beach.  I cannot even begin to describe the condition of this place.  Terribly sad.  Anyways, there is plenty of work to do out here and we look forward to digging right in.

I hope you all are doing well.  I must be getting to bed.  Sleeping in a library tonight.  Kind of crazy to think about considering libraries/books scared me until I was about 25.

Be good.

Mark/Chops

PS... NewJersey.com ran a nice little piece on Nechama.  I didn't deserve the press, but it was nice that some light was shed on Nechama.  These guys are doing some wonderful work down here.  I consider myself to be very lucky that they have kept me around this long!

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/11/give_comfort_to_my_people.html

also, Nechama's website 

www.nechama.org

STARBUCK AND ISABELLE, FAR RIGHT, AND MYSELF AFTER A DAY OF TRAINING VOLUNTEERS FROM MANHATTAN.

HANK, A VOLUNTEER FROM CANADA SHOWED UP WITH THIS JUMPSUIT
 

STARBUCK HITTING THE SWEETSPOT WITH A PLUMBER'S WRENCH!

THE OWNER OF THE SUIT, HANK FROM CANADA.  IS THIS SUIT WHAT HARRY AND LLOYD  WORE IN DUMB AND DUMBER? OR USA'S OFFICIAL OUTFIT FROM THE '92 WINTER OLYMPICS IN LILIHAMMER?

VIEW FROM THE CAR AFTER A LONG PRODUCTIVE DAY OUT ON LONG ISLAND

NY GIANTS QUARTERBACK ELI MANNING VISITING ONE OF NECHAMA'S WORK SITES IN HOBOKEN, NJ. AS I SHOOK HIS HAND, I SAID "GO PATRIOTS!"  BILL AND DAN REPRESENTING NECHAMA!

A LOCAL PUBLICATION DECIDED TO PUT MY HOMELESS LOOKING MUG ON THE COVER... GRRR.

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

JOHN AND CARA TIE THE KNOT!

Hello All,

Yesterday on a beautifully crisp fall day in New England, in the shadows of Harvard University, I had the privilege of watching my good friends John and Cara tie the knot.  Everything about the day was great!

Throughout the course of the evening, I kept hearing the same thing time and time again from the wedding guests.  The gist of it was just how easy it is to see that these two are perfect for one another.  I couldn't agree more.  The playful give and take in their relationship is really a wonderful thing to witness.  

Cara's smile is so warm and genuine.  When she smiles, those of us around her, have no choice but to smile as well.  You young lady, light up every room you ever enter.   Your wedding day was no exception.  You looked amazing!

John, we have been pals now for 15 years and you have never let me down.  It's an absolute privilege to have a friend like you.  I look forward to the next 15 years and beyond.  Be good man and I look forward to our next grudge match on the tennis court!

Congratulations to you both.

Heading back to New Jersey

Mark/Chops

PS.. I must recognize the All Star effort made by the one and only Adam Catarius.  Adam Skyped his way into the wedding from Sydney, Australia!  Absolutely incredible.  We miss you man.

PSS.. Happy Veterans Day!  Thank you for your courageous efforts and the sacrifices you made/make to defend the freedom of our country.  You men and women are heroes.  

JOHN AND CARA RIGHT AFTER GETTING HITCHED!

FIRST DANCE!

MY TENNIS, GOLF, AND SOCCER BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER.  JOHN O'KEEFE!

ADAM SKYPED FROM AUSTRALIA TO BE AT THE WEDDING! A+ FOR EFFORT!

BROOME AND ME SCHEMING.... 

MADE MY WAY FROM TABLE #9 TO TABLE #1 TO HANG OUT FOR A BIT WITH THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE CARA! NO BIG DEAL.

MY PARTNER IN CRIME ON THE DANCE FLOOR!  MAL!!!

JOHN AND HIS MOM!

WITH THE MMA FIGHTER, CHUCK.  TALKING MUAY THAI.  NO BIG DEAL.  

BC HIGH SOCCER GUYS. THE RECENTLY MARRIED KAC, THE GROOM JOHN, AND BROOME

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

HOBOKEN DAY #4

Evening,

Over the course of the past few days, we have been making huge strides with our rehab projects at the food pantry, Synagogue, Boys & Girls Club etc.  All these community spaces will serve as excellent shelter opportunities for those displaced from their homes.  At the moment, people simply have no place to go.   We have also begun to take on single family home projects for residents displaced in Hoboken and some of the surrounding municipalities.   After assessing some of that damage in person this evening, we will begin work on these first thing tomorrow morning.

Prior to today, living conditions in the area have been incredibly difficult.  That goes without saying.  However, combine all this with the fact that the area is currently getting hit with a snow storm...  It's heartbreaking stuff down here.  Give enormous credit to the endless volunteers working today in the freezing snow/rain.  They are fighting to get food on the table and roofs over the heads of their fellow man. In many cases, for people they don't even know.  Truly inspirational stuff.

With each new day, slowly but surely, I am watching the community I'm in gain strength through kind hearts and teamwork.  The power of numbers, people coming together, is a beautiful thing.

Mark/Chops

VIEW FROM HOBOKEN, NJ.  NEW YORK CITY IS PUTTING UP A FIGHT!

PULLING UP THE BASKETBALL COURT AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. HOPEFULLY WHEN FINISHED, THIS AREA CAN BE USED FOR LONG TERM SHELTER

DAN MONITORING THE PROGRESS IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB GYM.

ROOM LOOKS OK, HOWEVER EVERYTHING HAS WATER DAMAGE, WHICH MEANS MOLD. HAD TO GUT THE ROOM A FEW FEET ABOVE THE WATER LINE

PROGRESS AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB!  HAD TO PULL UP THE FLOOR AND GUT THE WALLS TO THE STUDS.  

ALMOST READY FOR THE BUILD OUT!

SUPERSTORM SANDY FOLLOWED UP WITH A SNOW STORM.  INCREDIBLY TRYING CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, HEAT, AND/OR DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.  

ROSS AND DAN SURVEYING A MULTIFAMILY HOME PROJECT THAT WE DECIDED TO TAKE ON TONIGHT.  

GAS LINE

THIS IS WHERE I AM LAYING MY HEAD FOR THE TIME BEING.  SAFE AND SOUND IN ROOM 101 OF A COMMUNITY CENTER OUTSIDE HOBOKEN.  TRISTAN'S STAYING TO THE LEFT.  STARBUCK IS ON THE RIGHT.

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days