I know that those of you not in the NY/NJ area of the world are pretty much over Hurricane Sandy. As this cold morning dawns, many in NY and NJ are still without food, heat, power. Some of these are folks who simply do not know how to get help, and wait to be rescued. Some will have no homes to return to.

The Far Rockaways, Staten Island and parts of the NJ shore will take years to recover and rebuild.

This is my home. I’ve lived in NJ my whole life and I love it passionately. This summer I saw fireworks from the boardwalks of Seaside, Point Pleasant and Asbury Park. They are all now destroyed or damaged.

If you are somewhere in the US where you have heat and light and a few extra dollars, please consider donating $10 to the Community Foodbank of NJ by texting FEEDNJ to 80888 or consider donating to a reputable relief org like the Red Cross.

More importantly, please teach your family how to get help! Kids learn the emergency response number in school. Drill them what to call when they have no power or food. Learn where to go to get warm in your town, where to get a meal. You are never alone, so just keep a list of people/orgs/places to reach out to.

Thank you.