Garden City Hotel Offering Transitional Housing to Sandy Victims

Nancy Belliard and her family of seven evacuated to the Red Cross shelter at Nassau Community College shortly before Sandy flooded their Cedarhurst home.
 
After a few days she grew uncomfortable with the conditions and FEMA was able to place her and her family at the Garden City Hotel until the damage in their home is fully repaired.

"We are ever so grateful that the hotel made the decision to take us in," Belliard said. "They've been very kind to us. I appreciate them with all of my heart."

As Superstorm Sandy left thousands of Long Island residents like Belliard homeless, the Garden City Hotel provided temporary refuge to some.

According to General Manager Grady Colin, the hotel takes pride in the tight-knit community that is Garden City and his staff has worked tirelessly to offer relief to hurricane victims.

"The hotel owner, Morris Moinian, made sure we got back on our feet and were as operational as we could be to help the community," said Colin. "We placed a priority for reservations for those in Nassau County for those most effected. We've been able to create transitional housing and shelter for seven families in Nassau."

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In addition to housing residents, Garden City Hotel has offered their facilities to locals without power and volunteers who have traveled from out of town.

"We have been working with the Red Cross to accommodate a number of volunteers so they can stay and help our area," Colin said. "Within the community, we've reached out to the PTA to help families who don't have power to create some activities for families and kids after school."

As for Belliard, the road to repair is unknown for now.

"Our entire basement is flooded and there is damage to the sewer pipes and our furnace," she added. "We just got power back yesterday but we can't turn the heat on at all. I'm not sure when we'll be able to go home."

This story was written by Nicole Murphy