In Four Days, Four Trucks Loaded with Sandy Donations

In the span of four days, three U-Haul trucks and a tractor trailer were filled with donations from local people for victims of Hurricane Sandy's destruction in New York.

Tracy Barausky, of Devon, is a Queens native who felt propelled to help those in New York left devastated by the storm. Her idea to collect goods started on Facebook on Friday, Nov. 2, and by Tuesday, Nov. 6 trucks full of donated items were on their way to a distribution point on Staten Island.

Every time one U-Haul was filled, the Barauskys rented another one. Adam and Tracy are St. Katharine of Siena School parents, new to the school after transferring from St. Monica's in Berwyn when it closed.

Tracy said the 7th and 8th graders were excited to help load the trucks. It was a way for them to help in addition to donating their own clothes and toys. "Choosing between your stuff is a very important lesson for them. The kids responded fantasically," she said.

Barausky said her family is New York are fine, but that not all friends and family were so lucky. "It broke my heart," she said of the devastation. But, "The outpouring has been tremendous."

"Especially as a Catholic community, you gotta live your faith."