Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • December 12, 2012 Wyckoff Township residents lend a hand in Staten Island Wyckoff was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy -- but some Wyckoff women who have journeyed to Staten Island, New York to offer food and hope now realize just how lucky northwest Bergen County was. Carrie Soumas Thompson, who has helped Theresa Gallo Rickert and Kymm Zak gather food for the hard-hit fifth borough of New York, got her most recent look at the devastation of Staten Island on Dec. 2. She was stunned at the difference between northwest Bergen County, where most of the damage was from fallen trees, and Staten Island, where entire houses were washed away or wrecked. “Sandy, you can take our homes, but you cannot take our hearts,” one sign Thompson saw said. “When I arrived in Staten Island on Sunday, those words showed me the kind of people who live there. Amidst the unbelievable destruction, I saw American flags hanging on peoples’ property.... fences, doors, yards.” Wyckoff Moms, a local group, has been Local volunteers get ready to serve a hot meal. taking prepared food to the residents of Staten Island every weekend since the hurricane hit. Some still have no electricity -and some have no habitable homes. “We met with people, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and served them hot meals,” Thompson said. “These people are just like you and me except that they have no heat, no hot water, no food, no home.” The local group has donated food, quilts, hats, scarves, gloves, socks, and underwear to Staten Island residents who lost everything during the devastating flood that followed the superstorm. The group urges anyone who can provide food or other support to contact Theresa Gallo Rickert Gallo at tesorifurniture@yahoo.com and mention “Staten Island Donations” in the subject line. Businesses that are helping include The Brickhouse, Aldo’s, Sugarflake Bakery, Market Basket, Sanducci’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Pizzeria Mandara. J. KOSTER