Hunt RE collecting donations for Sandy victims in NJ

By Sarah Hall

As of Thursday, November 8, 2012 -8:36 p.m.

Got donations?

Donations can be dropped off at the following Hunt Real Estate offices:

Camillus, 3208 West Genesee St., Syracuse; 488-2926

Cazenovia, 95 Albany St., Cazenovia; 655-8300

Chittenango, 119 Genesee St., Chittenango; 687-6109

Cicero, 7913 Route 11, Cicero; 699-3200

DeWitt, 6849 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville; 446-4681

Liverpool, 8196 Oswego Road, Liverpool; 622-5757

Manlius, 100 E. Seneca St., Manlius; 682-7197

Oneida, 730 Lenox Ave., Oneida; 363-5533

Cicero — The images of the devastated Jersey Shore are haunting, particularly for those with a lifetime of memories swept away by Hurricane Sandy. Among those are Jim Siciliano and his daughter Gabby, who moved to Manlius from Ocean Township, N.J., 12 years ago, when Gabby was in fifth grade.

“It’s pretty much Ground Zero,” Jim said. “All of our childhood memories are gone. The beach, the boardwalk, a lot of homes, everything’s gone. We’ve got five family members staying with us right now because they’ve got now power or water. It’s horrible.”

Gabby said the damage to her childhood home was heartbreaking.

“My heart sank as I was over at my father's house for dinner watching the Red Cross Benefit and seeing pictures flash on the screen of the beaches that I once called home, those very beaches that my family still live on and near,” she said. “Those very beaches [have] ceased to exist... The pictures don't even due justice to the areas affected. There are still millions of people without electricity, heat or even hot water. Some places don't have drinking water at all.”

So the Sicilianos, including Jim’s wife, Tracey, also a New Jersey native, have decided to do something to help. They’re conducting a food and supply drive for Sandy’s victims in Monmouth County, where Ocean Township and many other hard-hit areas along the shore are located. Both Jim and Tracey work for Hunt Real Estate, and Hunt’s offices have agreed to act as drop-off locations for the donations. For a list of locations, see the sidebar.

Syracuse Parent