Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together worked together to repair a hurricane-damaged home on October 29, the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, with additional support from the American Red Cross.

Homeowner Maurice had recently lost his wife when Sandy severely damaged his home in Little Ferry, N.J., in October 2012. Over two feet of water filled the first floor of his house, destroying his and his late wife’s belongings. Lacking flood insurance and unable to rebuild on his own, he had been living with his daughter ever since.

Exactly one year after this devastating storm displaced him, volunteers from Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together’s Bergen County affiliate teamed up to transform Maurice’s uninhabitable house back into a home. Grip-Rite’s contribution of resources, tools and materials helped complete repairs such as gutting and rebuilding the entire first floor, and all new electrical, plumbing and floors.

“Collaboration is crucial to rebuilding communities damaged by storms like Sandy,” said Charley Shimanski, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “We are glad to be working with both the Red Cross and Grip-Rite to help restore this storm-ravaged house to a safe and healthy home. We’re thankful for the opportunity to give Maurice back some of what he has lost.”

“PrimeSource and its Grip-Rite products have a long history of being there to get the job done, to help build and rebuild America’s homes and communities,” said Ken Fishbein, Co-CEO of PrimeSource Building Products, Inc., exclusive distributor of Grip-Rite products. “As part of that commitment, we are proud to contribute the tools, resources and products needed so that Mr. Mallet can finally begin this new chapter in his life and return to a safe home.”

“Recovery from a storm of this size takes time and help from many different organizations, not just the Red Cross, and we are pleased to support the programs of Rebuilding Together and other partners, and to continue to work with them to help people with their recovery,” said Jerry DeFrancisco, president of Humanitarian Services at the Red Cross. “We can help people and communities in a more comprehensive way when we pool our resources and services together in a coordinated approach. This not only speeds recovery, but helps us engage the entire community in building the resilience we need as we face disasters of this type in the future.”

Rebuilding Together’s local affiliates and volunteers in Bergen County, Jersey City, New York City and Long Island have been providing free critical home repairs in many of the areas affected by Sandy. Those eligible for services include low-income families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and veterans.  As of October 2013, hard-working Rebuilding Together affiliates in New Jersey and New York had already completed more than 250 projects, assisting more than 435 individuals, thanks to the help of over 3,100 volunteers.