
It has been three weeks since the hurricane made landfall and devastated the northeast of the United States. Thousands of homes in the New York area still lack running water and electricity; residents are struggling to recover. Tzu Chi volunteers from 17 countries and regions are raising money and moving the hearts of people to help the survivors of Sandy get through this difficult period.
On November 17 and 18, the volunteers held the second large-scale distribution in New York and New Jersey. Many traveled from Vancouver and Toronto in Canada and Boston, Chicago and California in the U.S. to participate. One group drove 12 hours by car from Toronto; as soon as they arrived, they started work. The relief items included eco-blankets, scarves, cans of vegetarian food and emergency funds of US$600 in the form of pre-paid debit cards.

In Staten Island, after received a debit card, one recipient told volunteers: “for someone who had lost everything, the $600 debit card means the whole world.” A pregnant woman who lost everything after the hurricane also told volunteers that she felt that she had seen heaven that day.
A mother of two daughters came to the distribution and told a volunteer that she was there to return the bamboo bank. It was two days ago the lady received relief from the foundation and heard its history and the story of the bamboo bank and how 30 housewives saved a small amount of money each day. She was touched and shared the story with her daughters after she went home.

One recipient asked a volunteer: “Do you have a job?” After learning that all volunteers paid their own traveling and living expenses during the distribution, the recipient immediately offered hospitality: “you can come to stay at my house for free.” It was love and trust between people.

The city government strongly supports the foundation’s relief work. On November 18, local time, John Liu, New York City Comptroller, held a press conference to introduce the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation and its mission to the public. He said that the foundation’s volunteers responded immediately after Hurricane Sandy struck and provided aid and care to the victims. At the press conference, there were representatives of the Catholic and Protestant churches as well as of the Jewish and Hindu communities. They were all touched by Tzu Chi's culture and respect for people; they saw the beauty of human nature in Tzu Chi people.