Counseling Center Assisting Seaford Sandy Victims

The YES Community Counseling Center in Massapequa is using funds from a recent grant to assist Seaford Hurricane Sandy victims.

The not-for-profit agency is checking up on Seaford and Massapequa residents to see if they are in need of any help after the Oct. 29 superstorm caused major flooding and debri damage throughout much of the area. The outreach is through a grant YES received from the Robin Hood Relief Fund for an initiative called Project Hope.

"We're sending disaster response counselors to visit every home in Massapequa and Seaford," said YES Director Jamie Bogenshutz.

Starting with the hard hit areas of the region south of Merrick Road, the counselors will check on the well being of residents ad offer support and crisis counseling. YES also has established a food pantry and has a truck stocked with clothing and supplies on hand at their headquarters at 75 Grand Avenue in Massapequa.

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Although it's been several months since the hurricane, there are still people in need according to Bogenshutz.

She urges anyone in the area who needs help to contact YES if they need help or need somebody to talk to.

YES also has a fundraising concert planned for April 13 at the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale. The benefit titled “With a Little Help From Our Friends” will feature Long Island-based bands, Chunky, Echo Hill, Lil' Cliff and the Cliffhangers and No Request Band from 3:30 to 8 p.m.  Tickets are available at the YES website. 

Money raised at the fundraiser will go towards programs such as YES' drug and alcohol counseling, domestic violence prevention as well as family counseling. The fundraiser comes at a time when the community is very much in need in the aftermath of Sandy and YES is dealing with the loss of some county funding.

"We're crazy," Bogenshutz said," when asked how busy things have been. "We're still dealing funding issues, we've had about 65 percent restored, and the fundraiser helps us bring in more revenue."