To give you an idea of how or whom we are helping.
We show up to a lovely little cottage in Ortley. Nothing fancy, but on the Bay. Beautiful view. House a bit askew. Upon entering the first thing you notice, is the fine, lovey, white sheer, embroidered curtains that are now a shade of wet black/green. The windows that are popped out, yet sill in a dangling mess. You slip across the floor in a mixture of sand, dirt, water, mold, as I go to meet the Homeowner. A woman well past 70 and her unmarried daughter past 60. Today is December 8th! They have no other family, live a meager lifestyle and enjoy their home, that was passed down from the Mom's parents. They had no help, no way to move furniture, remove walls, floors. Nor the money top pay someone to do it. They were just sitting there, overwhlemed and exhausted. We only had 7 volunteers but we did what we could. We got her furniture out, helped her get into rooms that were blocked from the items inside pushed up against the door by the water they went through the home. Got the rugs out. I go out to help clear out the yard and take a moment to enjoy the view and I am surrounded by the friendliest ducks Ive ever met. They followed me as I collected trash and threw away bottles, moved garbage cans. I realized, that these ducks, had to have been fed often by humans as they were like little pups following me. Sure enough I ask the woman and she tell me before her Dad died, his greatest joy was feeding the ducks. Well, let me tell you, the ducks remembered!! There were a few older ducks and 2 younger. One of the older ducks had huge issues with its left side. There were feathers gone and he looked like he was healing. Brought me to tears to think, these simple folks, with simple pleasures, were all alone. Well, here comes the over 70 yo Mom with a bag of chips to feed the ducks.
While as a volunteer you do provide alot of hard labor, forget that. The REAL support I find, is in the people feeling like someone cared, cared enough to help. The emotional support of human to human! Thats why we do what we do, one home at a time! xo
