In partnering with Waves 4 Water to restore the Coney Island fire house, we at Fashion Girls for Humanity have kick started our first Sandy Relief initiative by providing equipment, furniture and tools lost due to Sandy to fire stations in Brooklyn and Queens.

One of the first fire stations we have helped is in Coney Island. Only a block from the water, they have lost everything on the first floor.

Here is the email from Jon (Waves4Water):

“Just wanted to give you the great news that we completed the Coney Island Firehouse drop-off! It was an absolute success… They were blown away to get all that stuff and actually invited us to eat lunch with them after in their mess hall. Was a wonderful feeling to help get these guys back on their feet and I can’t thank you both enough for partnering up with us and supporting this initiative they way you did. The Battalion Chief (same one I’ve been fostering the relationship with since the beginning) came in that day specifically for this… He was so grateful to W4W & FGFH for everything and said that it was the most help they’ve gotten from ANY source since the disaster. The unit who was on duty that day were literally excited like children at Christmas.”

We have then visited several other fire departments (shown below map) in January to confirm that they are in desperate need for supplies and tools as reconstruction is in slow progress. Many of these coastal volunteer fire departments have been affected by Sandy due to their proximity to water, including West Hamilton Beach Volunteer FD, Gerrittsen Beach FD, FD of Roxbuty, Point Breeze FD, Rockaway Point FD, and Broad Channel FD. Because they are 100% community funded, all fire houses are struggling to recover in many ways. Many lost vehicles and apparatus to the storm surge, while some of those have been replaced by donation from other fire departments, they still need to restore / rebuild fire houses as well as buy many new equipments and furniture. That is in addition to restoring their own homes and responding to daily calls in the community.

One of the fire houses that sustained significant damage to its building is Point Breeze fire department in Breezy Point where over 100 homes were lost due to fire. Some firefighters also lost their homes so they are currently living in the fire station. Another fire station that needed help is Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department, under the female fire chief Doreen, who still operates a relief operation in her community by providing meals every day. Here are some photographs:

Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department

Working at temporary desk and radio station. Like many others, the recovery is slow. They just finished putting up a new wall.

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POINT BREEZE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Department and its neighborhood. Still far from recovery

Inside the firehouse. Our co-founder Julie talking to firefighters about Sandy. Water came up to where the wall ends. All kitchen is gone.

Along with the money we raised, we were fortunate to meet Ilene and Ian from SweetBliss, an artisanal chocolate company whose clients include Barneys and Bergorf, because they have donated everything from office furniture to peanut butter and jelly as they relocate to a new office. We have bought their amazing commercial grade kitchen equipment at a fraction of price to restore both Coney Island and Point Breeze.

Here are some images to show from packing to delivery:

Goods leaving SweetBliss in January, 2013

Color coded by fire station (red > Gerrittsen Beach)

Yellow >> Breezy Point, Blue >> Coney Island

Also some office supply donation from VPL

Delivery to Point Breeze Fire Department

Psyched to see everything that arrived!

Waves4Water and Fashion Girls for Humanity will continue on helping other fire houses, including buying lost radios and apparatus needed to service the community, and we will keep you informed of our progress as well as other initiative that is planned with Architecture for Humanity.

Warm regards,

Kikka Hanazawa

Co-Founder