Hurricane Sandy

This has been a terrible tragedy that's affected our little island. Without phones and power, it has been difficult to reach out to all of our students, but our staff is in the building diligently calling and reaching out to as many students as they can.

If you go to McKee or know someone who does that has been affected by the hurricane, please reach out and let us know. I can be reached on this blog or at JennyMiller.email@gmail.com. Please let me know if there are students and families currently struggling; we are ready and willing to help! I'll be in New Dorp Beach today as part of the cleanup effort.

My heart goes out to all of the families affected by this hurricane. I spent the day in New Dorp yesterday and the devastation is unimaginable. This small beach community has been completely ravaged and peoples lives are turned upside down. People are staying in their soggy, emptied-out homes to stand guard for looters; they're risking their lives by staying in contaminated homes with no heat or power, just to hold on to the last few remnants they have left of their lives. If you are in the area, gather your important things and go to a shelter, even if just for a night. You'll get heat, clothing, food. This is much more than the people in these communities of Staten Island were ever prepared for, and they're trying to pick up the pieces and figure out how to start over.

The outpouring of volunteer services by Staten Islanders has been incredible! This island is ready and willing to help and they truly have been. People are offering up their homes for showering, getting warm, and charging phones. People are donating clothes and food and toiletries and supplies. People are on their corner cooking food and handing it out to neighbors! We are good people here on Staten Island. I'm proud to be a part of this community and to call this place home.

Keep on helping your neighbors and communities. You have no idea how much these people need it. Just go to the hardest hit areas and ask if people need help, it will be appreciated more than you can imagine.

-Ms. Miller