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Community Corner

CARE for Sandy Restores Lost Memories

Cars, homes, and neighborhoods were torn apart in October as Hurricane Sandy devastated Long Island.

However, for some Long Islanders losing the more sentimental items like old photographs and keepsakes were the hardest to let go.

On April 7th, 2013 CARE for Sandy or the Cherished Albums Restoration Effort attracted dozens of Sandy victims to Nassau Community College in East Garden City looking to restore lost memories.

Lee Kelly is the founder of CARE for Sandy and her organization aims to help individuals and families restore photographs damaged by the storm.

“We're not only restoring the photographs but hopefully were restoring the memories and making sure that the memories are happy ones,” said Kelly.

“We don’t want people to look at that damaged photograph and remember that terrible day that Sandy arrived,” she added. “We want them to look at the photograph and remember the birthday or the anniversary or the wedding or the first home or whatever was meaningful at that time.”

The not-for-profit organization allows Sandy victims up to 50 photographs to be restored for free.

“It makes us feel really good that at least someone’s out there helping us out,” said Paul Schnieda of Wantagh.

CARE for Sandy operates worldwide with over 450 volunteers from 23 countries digitally restoring tarnished photographs.

Susan Verity of Oceanside lost her home to Hurricane Sandy in October. “I had no idea how we were going to fix these and that it would cost quite a bit, and my mother had passed just before the storm so they are quite important,” said Verity.

CARE for Sandy also offers free portraits for affected families.

To learn more about CARE for Sandy log onto www.careforsandy.org.

By Shannan Ferry and Julia Skrobak

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