The Situation
On Saturday, August 11, 2018, a heavy rainstorm slammed New Jersey. In less than an hour, five inches of rain came down quickly. One town in particular in the Garden State—Little Falls—experienced flooding not seen since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. As a result, water overflowed in one isolated area of town. The banks along the Peckman River were unable to contain it. Streets were deluged and even the first floors of homes were swallowed up. Residents had little to no time to prepare and were caught off guard. Suddenly, three to four feet of water flooded streets and homes very quickly. Cars were swept away and people were trapped in their homes without electricity.
It was a catastrophe because the flooded area is not considered a flood zone. Consequently, many homeowners were never obliged to get flood insurance because of it. The aftermath is a disheartening scene and will be forever remembered by those who were affected. The recovery process may be challenging and at times draining. The residents will certainly need support and that’s when WeLoveU decided to get involved.
Volunteers in Blue
On two consecutive Sunday’s, August 19 and 26, 250 WeLoveU volunteers collectively assembled in Little Falls, New Jersey. At a time when residents were seeking much-needed aid, WeLoveU stepped in to help as much as possible. Homeowners needed assistance with many things. For instance, from demolition and debris removal to cleaning-off household goods and lifting damaged furniture.
The Office of Emergency Management Coordinator—Sgt. Dan Gianduso—provided WeLoveU with a list of houses requesting help. The volunteers divided into smaller teams, walking to assigned homes with supplies. While walking, volunteers witnessed first-hand the damage caused by the rainstorm.
The extent of the damage was surreal. Just a few blocks away, it appeared as if nothing happened, yet another few blocks away there was complete devastation. They worked from the morning until the last set of volunteers returned to the meeting tent around 5 p.m. So, in eight and a half hours, the group managed to help 24 out of 30 affected homes. All households were incredibly thankful for the work provided by the WeLoveU volunteers.
“It’s because of all your help and all of these blue shirts around me, that these many hands make light work. I want to thank every single one of them for everything that they’ve done today because the residents were really touched by all of the help.”
Little Falls Mayor James Damiano
In addition to providing disaster relief, WeLoveU volunteers donated 45 boxes of blankets and socks for children and adults. The donated items were later distributed to residents in the Little Falls Civic Center.
“We appreciate all the help that your organization has done for us, because without you all this would not have gotten done today, thank you all so much,” said Diana, a Little Falls resident.
The Outcome and WeLoveU’s Mission
WeLoveU’s support is only the first step for families rebuilding and recovering. Despite the long road ahead, WeLoveU hopes they relieved even some burden from the homeowner’s shoulders. The victims of this disastrous event needed not only working hands but also comfort, sympathy and love. Short after this relief effort, the city of Little Falls invited WeLoveU to their Town Hall Meeting on Monday, August 27, 2018. The Mayor and Council along with the community expressed their deep appreciation for the efforts of the WeLoveU volunteers.
“I know that the residents of Little Falls are deeply touched and forever are affected in a positive way by what you’ve done for them. The amount of work that your organization put in, in just two short days over the past two weekends, would’ve taken these individuals (the leaders in Little Falls) hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours to do. Because the combined man-hour time that you had here, and the number of hands that you had working, it would have been impossible for these people to have done what they’ve done to this point, but for your help.”
Mayor James Damiano
The International WeLoveU Foundation strives to deliver the unconditional love of a mother to the entire world. In hope of uniting the global village and nourishing the well-being of mankind, this initiative is just one of several leading actions that help accomplish this.
9 thoughts on “WeLoveU Volunteers Provide Aid and Relief to Little Falls Flood Victims”
Wow, you really are genuine folks. I really appreciate all that WeLoveU does to help every community you come into contact with.
When my house was flooded by a hurricane storm surge, we were dumbfounded. Where do you start? Everything you own is either destroyed or contaminated and it happens to everything all at once. Seeing these WeLoveU volunteers help the community brings tears to my eyes and restores my faith that there is good in the world.
I was able to partake in the community service for this event and I was brought to tears of joy at the passion and love carried by WELOVEU members. I shared it with my co-workers and they were moved by the works of the chairwoman!
We really did have such a beautiful time supporting the families in Little Falls. I love being a part of the We Love U Foundation for this very reason- experiencing the joy, happiness, and a sense of love among people by sharing, even just a little bit, such as a helping hand. I do hope that was delivered to the families we worked with and also pray for their swift recovery!
The International WeLoveU Foundation has to be the best foundation on planet earth. It truly serves the world with the love of a Mother. Many of us, those that are members and have volunteered, can speak firsthand about the organization being that we have seen, felt, and breathed its experience. It was truly beautiful and worthy having been a part of the Little Falls Flood Victims clean up. I am greatly looking forward to participating in the initiatives to come.
After losing the entire first floor of our house and two cars, WeLoveU came in and helped us demo and remove furniture and appliances for trash. This amazing group saved us on weeks, if not months, of labor. We greatly appreciate the selfless people associated with this wonderful Foundation. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. xxoo
The WeLoveU volunteers worked with so much effort. As a volunteer myself, I’m glad we’re able to spread the love of a mother to the whole world.
Wow this is so amazing that there is a group that shows this amount of consideration and love of a Mother to the community and the world when this world is getting more and more cold when it comes to helping those in need. The WeLoveU Foundation is an amazing organization.
I was able to participate in these services and let me tell you. You cannot understand what the Little Falls community is going through unless you see it firsthand. That being said, WeLoveU definitely relieved some of the stress homeowners were feeling, and I’m thankful I could participate. We need to be there for each other in hard times. WeLoveU does a fantastic job doing that.