Circus's reflections

Here are a few posts that Circus made on our last 2 days on the east coast. He is a beautiful writer. Enjoy.

11/26 The Last Days of the U-Hungry? Cafe... Or are they?
I'm sitting on a real bed in a budget hotel in NYC and I've had a day to reflect. I couldn't write this last night. I was beyond drained, and had no words for what I (we) were feeling. Both Karissa and I broke down into tears during our last day on the truck. We wanted to do just a simple day of feeding our regulars and saying our good-byes, so we ended it much in the same way we started. With the same crew of 3 that we had on our inaugural run, Karissa, Alice, and myself. But for the final evening run we were joined once again by Vermin Supreme and his nephew Jake. I finally got to have the complete U-Hungry? experience when I made Alice drive the truck for part of the route and I got to cook up some Porkroll, egg, and cheese in the back with my baby! It was so fitting to serve up a local favorite that was so kindly donated by a couple of our very regular costumers. We gave out tons of food at every stop reminding everyone that this was our "Last Call for the U-Hungry? Cafe!". The kitchen at the Firehouse was being dismantled and smaller crews that are focused on different aspects of the recovery effort (including a new "U-Hungry?") are being formed but not in one central location, so there was lots of food to distribute to the community. We started the day in Union Beach, stopping longer than usual at most stops to visit one last time with the people that we've come to know as family. We exchanged contact info and hugs with many people who all told us that we don't know how much we've meant to them. I suppose that they're right. We will never know the extent of relief and gratitude they must have felt when out of nowhere a U-Haul truck showed up with people cooking in the back and offered them a hot meal and cup of coffee, while they were standing in a place they used to know so well and now looks like a twisted version of Hell! I can only imagine. And to see us day after day while crews worked to rip out soggy drywall and warped floors, coming up the street honking and shouting "U Hungry?" I'm sure it must seamed like a dream. I'm glad we could play our part. That's all this was to us. Just playing a necessary role. We were just the manifestation of what Spirit wanted to happen. We are just the vessels. We put ourselves out there, trusting in that, and that faith never let us down. Countless people saw and felt our faith, and supported our efforts and we will be ever grateful for all those who contributed in endless ways. Karissa and I are big believers that everything will happen as it's meant to, and this was a big test of that and a big reminder of how true that is. I was reminded on that yet again on our last day of serving. We often get people trying to give us cash donations while we're serving and we've had a policy of refusing to take them. But on the fist part of our last run we had rows of "disaster tourists" passing us on Front St and two cars in a row pulled over to try to offer us money. I told the first person that they should go give it directly to one of the people affected by Sandy, and not the Red Cross. Then right after that a well dressed guy in a high end Mercedes came up to me and stuffed a sizable amount of cash in my hand. And rather than tell him no, I took it and as I was putting in my pocket I told him "I hope you know that I'm just going to give this to someone else, OK?" He was headed back to the car but stopped and turned and said, No, No, you keep it. I explained that we had covered our costs and that I would passing his donation on to someone who I felt needed it. He gave me a hug and said "OK, God Bless you" and left. I wasn't sure what it all meant or how I would pass that on, because so many people need so much here. But it all became clear at our last stop. We went to a Hotel in Keansburg that had a lot of displaced families from the storm. It was late so we gave boxes of food to the Inn keeper to distribute to anyone who needed it in the morning. But as we were about to leave a guy showed up and we gave him a box of food and hot sandwiches for him, his wife, and their four kids. His little girls came running out as precious as could be to say thank you and he talked with me for a bit about how things just kept getting worse instead of better since the storm. It was obvious that he was the one to pass on our donation to so before he could say no, I stuffed it in his pocket while we was holding his daughter and then we drove off. What I take away from that is just another example of how we are just the messengers. That guy in the nice car would have never found the stressed out father in the hotel, so we played our part in connecting them. The same way we connected all the people who donated money, supplies, and their time to the people who needed it the most. I've seen a lot of comments saying how amazing Karissa and I are or that we're "heroes", and neither one of us believe that for a second. We feel that the work we did was amazing and we impacted many lives in a positive way, but we're just two people. Anyone could do what we or other volunteers have done. And maybe just by going and doing it and promoting it as we have, others will be inspired to do something crazy like this in the future. It doesn't have to be cooking food in a truck. If there is a need and you can do something to help without putting your own well being at risk, than you too can step up and lend a hand to others. We are all one. Our fates are all intertwined and connected. Serving others is the highest honor. As I told many people in NJ who were somewhat reluctant to take a free hot meal, "It's not Charity, it's Solidarity!"

Stay strong New Jersey. I know you will. I will see you all in my thoughts and prayers for a long time to come. It may take a while but I know you'll rebuild better than ever. I hope to come back and visit you all one day, and we can look back at this time and remember it for how it brought people together more than it has ripped lives apart.

 

11/27

It's been a long day to say the least. We woke up this morning in NYC and now we're back home in Seattle. Anyone can imagine the time and energy that would take under normal circumstances, but nothing about this journey has been "normal". Some of today's highlights include driving the U-Haul through Downtown Manhattan. All the way down 7th ave from 96th St. to Greenwich Village, then through the H

olland Tunnel to Newark. That route took us smack dab through the center of Times Square and all the crazy traffic that New York is famous for (see video). I gotta say that it was both stressful and hella fun! My friends have always commented on my somewhat aggressive driving style with remarks like "you missed your calling as a Tijuana Taxi driver" so I guess I was in my element as we made good time.
After arriving at U-Haul we were delayed while the local reps talked to corporate for the longest time. When I walked in the lady there said "Hey, I recognize you from the TV", so I guess they knew who we were and what we had been up to. After Joanne at U-H HQ cleared us and promised to reverse the charges, we took a gipsy cab to the airport just in time to board our plane home. So that was the surface level details of the day.
On an emotional level I don't know what I feel. My head is swirling with thoughts and images, faces and stories, and a mixed bag of feelings ranging from relief to be home and guilt at not being able to stay longer and do more. I know we did a lot, but I can't help feeling that way. For the people of NY/NJ this is still going on and it's far from over. When do they get to just "go home"? And will it even feel like home ever again? I've moved around a lot and can feel "home" almost anywhere, but so many of the people we served these past few weeks have grown up and raised families there. Generations have stayed in the same area and that's probably what gives it such a tight knit, small town feeling even so close to a Megalopolis like New York. Hearts and houses have been broken but so many who weathered that storm just consider themselves fortunate to have their lives and loved ones in tact. And I know people with that much strength and perseverance will adapt and continue to thrive for generations to come. But in the meantime, for now, it's going to be a long bleak winter for our family on the bay shore. I wish I could do more for them, and perhaps Karissa and I will find ways to support the recovery efforts from here. But for now, I'm sending you all my Love in hopes that you can wear it as a blanket that will keep you warm and safe.

Farewell, NJ!

We're about to go through the Lincoln Tunnel in the U-Haul (no longer the U-Hungry?) and spend a little of our personal money on a cheap bed in NYC before we fly back to Seattle tomorrow night. "The U-Hungry, Too?" will make its inaugural run tomorrow. We loaded our gear into the new truck this afternoon and pulled out of NJ after many sweet farewells to locals and volunteers.

Our food run yesterday was bittersweet. We served roughly 700 meals and gave away most of our remaining food supply to hungry families on the way. Our last stop was at the Holly Hill hotel near Keansburg to drop off care packages to displaced families who are staying there. The very last U-Hungry? Cafe diner was a father of 4 children staying at the hotel. He brought out his adorable children to say thank you and we passed on a sizable cash donation that we reluctantly took at the beginning of our day.

 

We feel like we closed the circle on what we set out to do here in NJ and have gained as much as we've been blessed to give.

The Home Stretch for The U-Hungry? Cafe...

It was a bleak Saturday morning with heavy winds and rain threatening to take down tents of sleeping and cooking volunteers. Breakfast came out as it always does at 8am thanks to the efforts of the early-risers (who are often also the last to bed doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen) and by the time we started our day's prep of shredded turkey quesadillas (made by me), hot monster turkey sandwiches (made by Lefty), cheese tortellini with tomato-cream sauce (made by Circus), tuna melts (Tranquil and myself), and pork and ham sliders with bacon (another mouth-watering Lefty creation), the wind was beginning to die down and the sun to come out. We ran around for about 2 hours which is the normal prep time refilling everything for the day. Yesterday we were totally cleaned out of all of our beverages, fruit, and snacks so we had our work cut out for us "refueling" for the day's deliveries. Plus the fact that everything keeps being relocated into different supply tents and no one seems to know where most things are (save for the amazing organizer Pat). Fortunately our crew is well versed in the chaotic morning prep so we all took jobs and got things together as quickly as possible. With a darn-tasty menu, I might add. One of our favorite slogans on the bull-horn is "We are NOT the Red Cross...We have bacon!"

In the last 24 hours the camp has reduced in volunteers significantly. Those that are here to house-gut and continue efforts into the winter have moved their tent city to a neighbor's property a street away. The firemen have been working on the firehouse and it's close to reopening early this week. People who are helping to keep the kitchen and satellite kitchens running are still here and our last meal will be served by many who arrived just before or after Circus and I on November 6th. So much gratitude for their tireless efforts. I hope you know who you are!

We started our food run this morning in good ol' Union Beach and served a number of our regular families, plus some sizable work crews. Some had just eaten but gladly took hot chocolate - our #1 seller today - and a snickerdoodle cookie. One group from northern Pennsylvania had never had tuna melts before and we convinced about 25 people to try their first tuna melt, which got great reviews! The exciting story of the day happened at our second stop, some folks at the end of a street that was devastated by Sandy; only foundations and pieces of possessions remain on both sides of the street. There was a police blockade which let us through, both of which we're accustomed to, but it was not for the usual reason. A hand grenade was found in the rubble this morning and its condition was unknown. We served our grateful homeowners and moved a few streets over. A police car stopped us and and asked us if there were still people on the street and then peeled off. A few minutes later we heard a muffled "boom!" and just assumed the police had taken care of it. I guess you never know what you'll find! After about 2 hours serving food in Union Beach and catching up with old and new friends, we made a quick stop back at the Firehouse Grill to refill coffee, hot water, and pick up dinner fixins which included pork loin and ham. A big thankful shout out to Victor who keeps us stocked with what's around. Those ended up turning into pork roll and ham sliders with shredded cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon...while it lasted.

Our dinner run began in Keansburg and lasted a good 6 hours. Some stops we'd serve one hungry person and others we'd serve multiple families of 6-10 people. We try to give away bagged lunches, pies, and milk, knowing these folks will be just as cold and hungry tomorrow morning as they are tonight. We finally went to the mobile home community that we visited late last night and unloaded our last MRE's and fleece blankets that the Red Cross trucks gave us earlier in the day, a bunch of turkey quesadillas (aka "wraps"), ham sliders, and bagged lunched. Plus trays of fresh fruit, milk, and OJ. One late-night visitor was celebrating a birthday so we gave her a hot cocoa with fresh whipped cream, some handmade chocolates and sang a little UHungry happy birthday, which lifted our spirits as well as hers. Happy Birthday, Marissa!

Our last stop of the night was in the Highlands neighborhood to a special man named Saint who met the UHungry on the road last week and followed them on his bike. On Thanksgiving he came down to the Firehouse Grill in one of his giant stilt costumes, which is probably how he got the name Stilted Saint. He asked us to drop by tonight and we obliged after we dropped off our last hot meals and pies at a few regular's houses nearby. Saint was dressed up as Santa Clause, riding his bike which was attached to a trailer "sleigh" with Christmas lights and speakers playing a Christmas remix. Our tired crew was lit up his bright spirit, which was necessary since it was nearing 10pm by this point. Although the days are long and sometimes we drive down multiple streets without anyone taking food, when 1 person or family gets to eat a hot meal, maybe their first one all day, because of the UHungry Cafe, it's all worth it.  We estimated our delivery service numbers today at 550, plus 50 MRE's, pies, bags of fruits and snacks, hot cocoa and cookies.

More hugs and tears flowed freely and a lot of, "We saw you on TV yesterday!" Most people know us or know of us, but for some it's their first time. One family today exclaimed, "the hot chocolate truck is here!" and other said "we've never had hot food come to our house before." Apparently channel 4 news is a popular channel. Check out the short segment on facebook which nicely features Circus, Tranquil, and Lefty. There's a short pan of me wearing the magical Thanksgiving hat, a tiger printed cowboy hat we found on the street in perfect condition just after I arrived in NJ again. The stories we hear from people are touching, inspiring, sometimes surprising, but always welcomed. As Circus said to Channel 4, we are part hospitality, part moral wagon, and part grief counseling. We are probably a whole lot of other things to a whole lot of other people, too. My favorite are the locals that we recognize who write a little something on our facebook page. That way we can keep in contact with them after we leave on Tuesday.

Our last run with the UHungry Cafe will either be tomorrow or Monday for lunch. We received word tonight that all of the charges for the UHaul will be reversed. Kudos to Dave Norris for manifesting that miracle! There's talk of another UHungry which would be inaugurated early next week. They may be able to inherited some of the gear we've acquired and our leftover food, but there are many details to sort out in the next 24 hours. If not, we'll return things to their owners, give the food to those staying to continue volunteer efforts and return the truck somewhere near Newark before our flight Tuesday evening. There are a lot of logistics to consider in the next 3 days including getting contact info for people to help organized Holiday care packages and any help we can offer a continuing food truck or kitchen in the Union Beach area.

As for us, it's bedtime. Only a few more nights in the UHaul which I'll speak for both of us when I say won't be missed! Good night from Union Beach NJ heading into the 20th and final days of the Union Firehouse Grill. Much Love <3 br="br">

Back in NJ...back home

So sorry for the delay in posting but I'm back and safe here in NJ. I arrived yesterday night and Heather Bee, a volunteer in Union Beach picked me up in Newark and drove me to Keansburg where I met Circus and the UHungry? Cafe en route. It was a happy reunion on the beach, and then we took off to finish the Thanksgiving dinner run in this hard-hit area. It's nice to be back "home", on the UHaul with hard working volunteers. But the devastation here has not lessened in the past week. The piles of debris are still being excavated and some houses are beginning to sprout toxic black mold as an after-effect of the flooding. We served a family of 6 in Keansburg this evening and "Lefty", a resident volunteer said that their house was infested with mold.

Today was back into the routine of the UHungry Cafe, morning prep with Circus, Tranquil, Lefty, and Aaron, and then a very long day serving the residents of Union Beach, Keansburg, the closest neighboring town, and the Highlands which is about 15 miles south of Union Beach. We estimate our day's service at 700 meals. Our lunch rush started a few blocks away from the Firehouse with a crew of 40workers, plus the neighborhood. Then it was off to Keansburg which has become more regular than Union Beach for us since their need is greater and they happily take the food we bring. Channel 4 New York did a story on us after they ran into Circus and the gang yesterday on Front St. in Union Beach. You can find it on our facebook pages.

We quickly served all of our burgers but had stocked more than enough turkey for hot and cold sandwiches which were served up in gourmet fashion with gravy, caramelized onions and cranberry sauce. There were so many donations of turkey for Thanksgiving, it will surely be a staple meal this weekend. After Heather Bee met us with our re-stock shuttle and brought us more burgers, bacon, and meatballs for sandwiches, we continued serving the under-served residents of  Keansburg and then moved on the The Highlands. It was the first time I had been to this hard-hit community. We were there after dark so foot traffic was slower but we served some large families. A local plumber found us and asked us to come up to a nearby trailer park which is STILL suffering from lack of electricity and hot water. The residents happily relieved us of a lot of our dinner food but we decided to swing back through Keansburg on our way back to Union Beach. The sidewalks there are still full of debris and the miles of ever changing rubbish piles. The people we serve are beyond grateful for a hot meal, some of whom only eat once a day when we roll through. Fortunately we leave them with food for the next day.

Circus and I have 3 more days with the UHungry? Cafe and then we return to Seattle and to our "real lives" Tuesday night - I use that term very liberally. Upon my arrival, I found out that the kitchen at the Firehouse on Florence will serve its last meal this Sunday and break down the camp Monday. The firehouse who's property we're occupying wants to finish their renovation and move back in on Monday. Circus, myself, and our other volunteers will be cooking and serving autonomously that day, our last day out. In light of the transition from the Union Firehouse Grill to whatever will come next (still being worked out this weekend), Circus and I are considering taking any remaining donations that we have received and hosting several families here in in New Jersey for Christmas. Please note that any further donations you make in our wepay account might go to that cause. Plus, we've heard that UHaul might be covering the truck rental, heard but not confirmed, in which case we'll have a little more extra money than we had planned on which may also go toward this effort. As always though, we would like to check in with our amazing donors before making any conclusive decisions in this matter. Whatever we decide, I'm sure we will continue to serve the people who have survived Sandy and plan on rebuilding their lives in this part of the country that they call "home".  

An eventful day in NJ!

Circus told me about an exciting day at the Firehouse...Channel 7 did an interview this morning both at the camp and in the UHungry Cafe. Check it out here. There were also 2 documentary cameras that went along on a ride, one with the infamous Vermin Supreme. I heard him on the loudspeaker when he was riding shotgun on Front Street in Union Beach this afternoon. On the menu today was bacon cheeseburgers and chicken quesadillas. Circus said he revamped the truck layout a bit and the flow is working well for volunteers. I can't wait to see it! I'm doing my best to take personal time although I've been on the computer way too many hours trying to book my return tickets. As soon as I check in with my beautiful partner, I'm headed to bed.

Day 10 from the Phoenix Airport

Circus and I took the morning “off” and slept in. The nice thing about the U-Haul is that there are no windows in the back so we really have no idea how light it is or what time it is. Thanks to Captain John’s loan of a small space heater which we hook up to a generator at night, it is pretty cozy in the U-Haul Inn. That can be a double edged sword, though, when you are trying to get up at a certain time. This morning we had to sort out some logistical things like keeping the U-Haul 10 more days and Circus changing his flight. With the full support of the Rainbow Rapid Response and our donors, Circus decided to extend his stay for 10 more days. Tomorrow I will check around and try to get a flight back for next weekend, Thanksgiving.

The kitchen was an organized chaos as the cooking and prep tents were moving into the big tent while lunch was being prepared by Victor, Cheshire, Anne, and other dedicated volunteers. As soon as I poked my head out of the U-Haul, people asked how they could offer support of our run for the day and what the plan was with keeping or returning the truck. We wanted to do a short run around Union Beach, our local crowd. The Organic Valley truck left about noon for Keansburg, an area with tremendous need.  Alice said Chick Filet had donated hundreds of hot chicken sandwiches which were available for us to take out – which they ended up not being available but that’s a long story. Coffee and hot water were being prepared and our dishes from last night were clean and ready to go. A volunteer from Wisconsin, Tim aka Tranquil will be my replacement on the U-Hungry café, at least for the next few days. He came with us again today and was oriented on meal ideas, food and cooking supplies, and daily prep. To be honest, the UHungry café is a bit of a mess even though I clean it twice a day but I think he’ll manage just fine. On today’s menu were meatball subs – always a hit – and baked ziti which was donated hot early this afternoon. With the usual juice, Rice Krispy treats, Costco cookies, and bagged lunches, we were stocked for the 100 people we served.

When I called corporate UHaul to ask about extending my contract, a very rude woman hung up on me. They have decided not to compensate us off the regular cost of the rental which is $40 a day and $0.40 a mile. We paid $650 up front when we rented the truck including a $100 deposit which we owe for mileage through today. I talked to a nice man at our local UHaul in Philly and he happily extended the contract at that same rate for another 10 days. The cost will be paid from the donations on our Wepay and the Rainbow Rapid Response Wepay. We’ve also spent about $200 in fuel which will have to be covered again, although probably not as much since Circus plans to stay local and we can drop off the truck anywhere. His flight will be out of Newark the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Our last run through Union Beach was with volunteers Tim (Wisconsin), Travis (California), and Matt (Philadelphia). Our diners always ask where we are from and it’s nice for people to know that we aren’t from one group, church, or organization. We often say that we are a dis-organization, just people here to help. Apparently CNN did a story on the Union Firehouse Grill a week or so ago and they linked our kitchen to the Waveland Café which set up for about 6 months in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. A picture that Circus posted on our first day out in the UHungry also went viral in the last few days. It is of us feeding FEMA members from the back of our truck and got the meem “You know your government sucks when #OccupySandy volunteers are feeding them” or something like that. It’s on both of our fb pages. While I’m not into Red Cross or FEMA bashing, they all work incredibly hard and I’ve met some wonderful volunteers and workers in both organizations, it is a little funny. We passed the same group of young FEMA members today and they did NOT take anything from out truck when we offered. I wonder why? Another funny story from our food run today which I’m sure Circus has posted on his page by now: A Red Cross truck in Union Beach hit an SUV. We fed the woman, her neighbor, a hungry cat, and the Mennonite volunteers who were gutting her house at the time. Talk about adding insult to injury…we’re providing disaster relief from Disaster Relief! Next time you donate to the Red Cross I hope your money doesn’t go to car insurance bills!

It was nice to see our locals and say a few goodbyes this afternoon. Allie, a Jersey volunteer, drove myself and Matt to Philly right in time to catch my flight. I got to the gate just as they were boarding all rows, transferred planes in Phoenix and again walked up to the gate as they announced my zone. Circus and I said goodbye in the Firehouse, hopefully just for a week. It was a hard decision for him to stay as he does have work to return to and his tensions have been running high the last few days. We both believe so much in the work, though, and we both believe it was the best decision fro him to stay. There is so much support for what we are doing, both from Union Beach, the Firehouse, and far and wide and we would like to continue it as long as we can. This won’t be the last time we do disaster relief work, either. I am on my flight to Seattle from Phoenix as I type this and will upload it when I get home in a few hours. My kind little brother who just moved back to Seattle 2 weeks ago is picking me up at the airport at 2am PST.

I’m teaching 8 classes in the next 3 days and have a “regular” schedule through Wednesday of teaching yoga and music. It’s been hard for me to miss 2 weeks of classes and I do miss my students who range in age from 5 to 70. I’ll miss my beautiful partner, Circus, too, without whom I would not have undertaken this adventure. The UHungry Café was his vision, he saw it from Seattle and saw it through with the help of Wray from Reading, PA and the Reading Area Peace Kitchen, our generous donors, and all of the volunteers and supporters of the Union Firehouse Grill, service men and women, and residents of Union Beach. Who would have thought cooking food out of the back of a 17’ UHaul would be such a success?!

Thanks for reading, I’ll try to keep updating you with what I hear from the ground. Stay warm and safe!

Expansion in every way

Story of the day from Union Beach: A woman in the area came by for lunch today and shared this with Sarai. She had 2 sheds which were destroyed by Sandy's wrath and her house took in about 4 feet of water. Her son had died a few years ago and in that shed were all the photos and memories of him which she thought destroyed. While digging through the rubble, the only salvageable thing she found was a plastic tub with photos of her son. 

Things were running as usual this morning when we pulled open the back of the U-Haul to the sunshine and cold air. Breakfast was being served to the masses and the kitchen was preparing lunch, plus food for our mobile unit and the other mobile unit. (Over 40 lbs of bacon were fried from 6-9am, a personal hell for one volunteer). I'll start with the meal count for the day which was 1335, nearly half of which was served on the road. The Union Firehouse Grill has become a household name and it has been more than a pleasure and a blessing to be a part of it. And to our neighbors, so has the UHungry Cafe!

Circus and I spent the morning prepping for our big day out to NY. We had a contact through a good friend of mine for a Community Center in the Far Rockaways, a hard hit area, where they could use hot meals. We did a late night Costco run last night but had to stop for gas and a few extra items this morning. We took Ashi and Cheshire, the amazing volunteers who have been organizing the kitchen since their arrival last Thursday. That is not to say that all of our volunteers aren't amazing or that they're doing anything single-handedly, but they were instrumental in making sure we could feed the big jump in numbers last weekend, from 400 a day to 1500 meals. Ashi was going back to Brooklyn today so he came for the ride and Cheshire stayed in the truck to make and distribute hot sandwiches from the UHungry.

When we finally go down to the "finger" of Brooklyn, we decided to take a detour through Rockaway and Breezy Point. You may have heard of Breezy Point on the news, they were one of the first areas covered by media because during the storm a natural gas leak set the whole town ablaze. They were also hit by an airplane a few years ago, and a lot of firefighters and service people were killed in 9/11 from that town. We drove through the one main street that you can access to see if we could offer food but we saw other food trucks so we just did a once around. It was like a war zone. There were police, EMS, and aid workers everywhere. Insurance cars and tents were set up on every corner and police directing traffic since there is no electricity. We saw national guard, Red Cross, FEMA, etc, etc. Piles of rubbish were heaped, mostly off the streets but some debris still in front of flooded, condemned and evacuated houses. It is one of the devastated areas and you can see why when you're there. They are surrounded by water and at a very low elevation. Another sad scene, but we're glad we were in the area and saw the difference in the devastation here from our base in Union Beach and different amounts of relief aid.

At the Ocean Bay Community Center - turned distribution center - we set up a table outside for meatball subs, bacon sandwiches, drinks and snacks. Cheshire and I made up sandwiches as fast as they could be given out and people took all the snacks and drinks we brought while Circus manned the table. Whereas in Union Beach we often have to beg people to take our food - "Give it to someone who really needs it!" is often yelled back at us - in the Far Rockaways we had to ask folks to leave some for the next people. People took as much food as they could carry, then came back for more to feed large families and communities. We experienced a similar need in Keansburg yesterday. Most of the area is below the poverty line, so people did have much to begin with but now they don't have water or power. We served for about 3 hours, until the center closed and business slowed to a halt. I feel like our services were needed and appreciated and I'm glad we did the work to go support a different community.

One request we got again and again was for jugs of water. We had brought a few and gave them away when requested. People also asked us for flashlights and batteries. We spent an hour or so trolling the streets after we left the community center in our usual method. People were surprised and excited for something warm. It's cold out here and the people we met have no power yet. We did see a number of power crews working hard, just like they have been in NJ. Those men and women have a thankless job and have been working tirelessly, as well as garbage pick up, fork-lift operators, and all civil servants. One NYPD officer climbed about our mobile cafe to check things out and chat us up for a bit. She told us to "not let them scam us!" but we replied that what we are offering is free for all. Food trucks have been very prevalent in NY for the relief efforts but it felt like the area we were in, the Far Rockaways, is a little neglected. As we were finishing our rounds and just headed back towards base in NJ - a 2 hour drive - we did drive past what looked like a relief kitchen, big tents in a fire yard. It was just a guess, though.

I'm glad we went to a different area today but I missed my regulars in Union Beach. Tomorrow I'm hoping to do a quick lunch round in the UHungry Cafe before I have to head to Philly to catch my red eye home. Circus and I are both reaching some physical and emotional limits after 10 days of relief work and we've spent near every penny you've donated on the UHaul, food supplies for the Union Firehouse Grill and the UHungry Cafe, and gas, plus there will be a little more expense for mileage when we return the truck. Circus is still on the fence about coming home with me tomorrow. If we have the support to keep the Cafe running then he will continue the work with a new crew of volunteers. I would love to come back Thanksgiving weekend to join him if I can get a flight. I've already had some generous people offer me help with the plane ticket so I'll continue to work on manifesting that!

When we returned tonight, a new big tent was assembled which will become and kitchen and prep tent tomorrow. Donations are coming in abundance and our 53' refrigerator truck is filling up with fresh produce, diary products and meat to serve hot meals to all. We hope that everyone in the area knows about our kitchen and has the ability to come to us...if not we do our best to come to them.

Tomorrow will be a hard day of saying goodbye - hopefully just 'see you later' - to Union Beach and the volunteers at the firehouse. We are certainly a family and people have openly expressed their love for the work Circus and I are doing as we have for all of them. We're just one part of this whole adventure which is affected by every person who comes through. We had 43 volunteers in total today, some just for the day and some who are camped here. Many are turning over this weekend, coming back or leaving to return to families and work. It will be a bittersweet day but nice to sleep in my own bed for a few hours Friday morning and cuddle with our kitty. Wherever you are, I hope I will see you soon!

A rainy Tuesday at the UHungry Cafe

The days are starting to blur together. I don't know how many times I said today, "What day is it?" We did get a very good night's rest last night and got up "late" this morning, around 8:30am. It takes a good 3 hours to prep our UHungry cafe to go out for the day, which lasts about 7 hours. Circus had to do some repair work on a massage table - long story to be disclosed at a later date - so I set off focalizing our mobile unit for the day. The kitchen staff are so supportive and got me hot chili, hot dogs, and bacon, plus coffee and hot water - more work than you'd think - for the day's lunch and dinner service. We also stocked some eggs and cheese in case we ran out of the former items, which we did.

On the menu for today were BLT's and chili cheese dogs, both a popular item here on the Jersey shore. When BLT's ran out, we switched to egg, tomato and cheese sandwiches. Tim and Travis, two of our mobile volunteers for the day, were instrumental in stocking the truck this morning and organizing our hot food to be ready on time. Three amazing women powered through making sack lunches, one of whom has been a regular diner at the Firehouse throughout the week. Circus, myself, Tim, Travis and Sarai took an abundance of hot meals, snacks and beverages as we headed out about noon.

Being a cold and rainy day, there were far less people in the streets when we circled our usual customers in Union Beach but we did find quite a few takers for hot chocolate and chili cheese dogs. After a swing around the streets of Union Beach, which has begun to feel like home, we headed about 4 miles away to another hard hit town, Keansburg. There were some very appreciative residents and a different kind of need in this town. A lot of people we met didn't have very much before Hurricane Sandy and now really don't have anything. As far as I know they don't have any relief kitchens in Keansburg and there were no other Disaster Relief units or the Red Cross in sight. They were all closed late last week when schools prepared to reopen. People were surprised and excited by our mobile cafe. One diner said that the only option in town is $7 per meal at the local deli. The streets were as devastated as in Union Beach, although over a smaller area, but many still lost their cars or don't have cars. A few knew about the Union Firehouse Grill but don't have the transportation to get there. A lot of help is needed in this community, just like every other town along the shore.

We spent a few hours circling the streets and eventually ran into our other shuttle, the Organic Valley truck piloted by Peace Richard, Mick, and Allie. The OV truck made its debut as a mobile unit today but they don't have the capability to cook hot food so they gave out coffee and cold sandwiches to residents and workers in the Highlands, about 10 miles from Union Beach.

I don't know what the counts for today were but we did 200+ from the UHungry Cafe and a very unofficial rumor says the kitchen at the Firehouse cooked and served about 1000 meals. Nearly everyone we met knew about the hot meal service at the Fire station on Florence or the "Union Hose" which is what it's known as to residents. One family told us they were headed to the Fire Station for dinner in a few minutes and preferred to sit down for their dinner which was fine with us! For dinner tonight was pork, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Circus and I really want to get to another state to see how things are and how we can help. Tomorrow we're going to the Far Rockaways to set up at a facility and cook for people for the day. I'm in touch with someone there, but they're as busy as we are and I have yet to receive an address. There are other places we know of that also need hot food so I'm sure we'll find folks to serve one way or another. Hopefully we'll meet up with some friends of mine who want to help for a few hours. We'll also take 2-3 people from camp if enough volunteers are around for the day.

Tomorrow will be my last full day here. My plane ticket returns me to Seattle very late Thursday night. Circus has decided to stay here, at least for another week and hopefully the airlines will just let us change his ticket without a fuss. UHaul is not giving us any deal on the rental so we'll be continuing to pay for that through your donations while Circus is here. We went to Costco again tonight to stock up the truck and get a few items for the camp so thank you again and again for funding this! If the Universe provides, I'd love to come back for Thanksgiving and spend one more weekend here. Circus will probably stay through that weekend so it would be nice to be here together and jump back in for a few more days of Relief Work. I am looking forward to my own bed, though, and a few less hectic days.
 
Here is our disaster relief fundraising site. We will continue to raise money as long as people want to give it whether our feet are here or not. When I leave, Circus will allocate the money to the cause. Love and light, off to bed!

The Union Firehouse Grill & UHungry Cafe - Week 2 has begun!

We are expanding! This morning started with the arrival of canopy tents which have been set up over our eating area and serving line. Just in time since the rain is supposed to start tonight. Isn't that just how it is? A few times since I've been here I've "asked" for something and it magically appears, like a spatula last night which someone had just donated and stick lighters the night before. Our amazing kitchen crew was up before the crack of dawn cooking a mean breakfast hash and getting it into serving cambros at 8am. A big addition last night was a 53 foot refrigerator truck (!!!!) which we need to store all of the donated food we keep receiving.

The people of Union Beach are trying to return to normal this week. Schools reopened today and many who could went back to work. Of course, many have lost their jobs or can't return to work. The work in the streets was a lot quieter, with not as many people coming in from neighboring towns or states. We did meet volunteer clean-up crews on the streets but it was a lot quieter than the weekend. Understandably, everybody has to return to their "normal lives." Our number of volunteers at the Union Firehouse Cafe were down today, too, but jobs becoming more organized and most people have specific committees. New faces jump in and do what needs to be done, working tirelessly to feed our masses.

Circus and I set to work getting the newly christened UHungry Cafe ready to go for our lunch and dinner deliveries. We thought we would serve less meals today but we still served a lot of meals! Another crew of incredibly energetic and positive volunteers blessed our truck with songs, laughter and hot food for all and we spent the whole day on the road, hitting some of our regular spots and regular customers, plus some new streets and faces. Today on the menu were a few pork roll sandwiches, meatball subs, and turkey quesadillas (which sold much better as "turkey wraps"), plus the usual beverage selection. Some blocks we went door to door and some we just grabbed people working in the streets.

We sold out of nearly everything on the lunch menu and had a "mid-air refueling" as Circus likes to call it. Heather B, a wonderful volunteer here, met us in the streets with a restock of coffee and the dinner menu cooked by the talented chefs at the Union Firehouse Grill. Homemade mac n' cheese, chicken tortellini, and turkey sandwiches were a hit. For dinner service we stop when we see a light on in a house and knock on the door. A lot of people are shy to take the food we offer but eventually most accept a plate. Many still have no cars and no houses. Some are still waiting for insurance appraisers to come and look at the damage before they can start ripping out flooded house parts. And some are just trying to sift through debris and salvage what they can. My favorite story of the day: A woman who's house moved blocks away in the storm actually found her wedding band in the relocated house.


Meal counts for the day: Breakfast 100; Lunch 200; Dinner 400; Mobile Unit 450
Totals for Monday: 1100 meals

Sorry I can't give more of an update from camp itself, we were gone from noon to 7pm. It sounded like things went pretty smoothly and there was live music and karaoke when we pulled back into the fire yard. There was a lot of organization and relocation with the tents this morning and moving into the new refrigeration unit. The volunteers here worked so hard to get our food prepped before we left and restock us this afternoon. We get a lot of compliments on the food and are trying to serve food that is nutritious (kale salad today which the volunteers were so excited about) and delicious (like Thai peanut sauce or meatball subs). Tomorrow we'll cover new ground and go to a few neighboring towns. The plan now is to go to Brooklyn on Wednesday; we have a few contacts and friends there and are trying to go to an area that needs our service.

The camp is intending to continue local deliveries after Circus and I return to Seattle, him probably later than me. Hopefully the tracks we've laid can help transition that into new hands smoothly. It's great being in the kitchen and helping here at the firehouse, but the best for me is meeting people in front of their houses, or what used to be their houses, hearing their stories, meeting their families, and giving them a hot meal and a cup of coffee. The donations keep coming in from far and wide and for that we are grateful. They will go to keeping our Mobile Unit running with food and fuel for as long as we are here and then to the continued efforts on the ground. The need won't be going away any time soon.

A beautiful Sunday on the shore

Sunshine greeted us this morning after a solid night's sleep. We couldn't have ordered better weather for the past week, since the snowstorm - or nor'easter as they call it here - we had Wednesday. Circus and I showered at some very kind neighbor's house last night, then chatted with them for a while about life in NJ and what it would take to recover from this storm. They are among the many considering relocation which would be easier than trying to fix up all the damage in their house. I'm starting to recognize our "regulars" including those who come to eat, as well as volunteer and donate regularly. One kind woman, who I've just been calling Grandma, was responsible for calling Channel 12 news yesterday. Circus's interview has been replayed at least 3 times since last night and many diners this morning recognized him from TV. Even the mayor came down and knew who he was! One older man, who's family we've grown close to over the past week, came up to Circus and I this afternoon with tears in his eyes and overwhelming gratitude. I think a lot of that will sink in when I come home, away from the sheer overpowering energy of being here.

We worked hard to get on the road by noon, excited to serve our hot menu item of pork roll, egg, and cheese. NJ natives are shocked when we don't know what this local delicacy is. I'd say pork roll is a cross between Canadian bacon, bologna, and hot dog meat. You serve it with a fried egg and a slice of American cheese on a bun, then offer salt, pepper, and ketchup. We had a lot of takers for this popular sandwich cooked up by Lauren again, our volunteer from the area. Good thing we had a NJ native to cook this up right! After some trial and error on the propane grill in the Uhaul, we got a system going and were able to give out about 250 hot sandwiches, both the pork roll variety and meatball sandwiches. Lauren's dad came and rode shotgun with Circus, calling out to folks on the street and running orders in every direction. His energy and enthusiasm was inspiring! Saria, another gung-ho volunteer, put together sandwiches and served drinks from our "counter" - aka tailgate - to eagerly awaiting walk-up guests. We served relief workers, servicemen, law enforcers, and residents, and family and friends who came to help demo, gut houses and haul debris. Some wanted to stop and talk and some just wanted a quick cup of coffee, shot of protein and to get back to the hard work at hand.

We headed back to base camp to stock up around 3:30, got some more hot food, and took a different crew for our dinner run. We found out that 700+ people ate lunch at the Union Firehouse Grill, plus about 150 for breakfast. The kitchen cranked out delicious meals, we grilled up more meats, and people donated a ton of hot food. Our mobile dinner run was slower, as most people had stopped working but we went door to door for a few blocks and gave out sausage sandwiches and pasta to some happy customers. One couple told me a pretty unbelievable story. They stayed home during Hurricane Sandy, not fearing for a moment that the flooding would reach their house blocks from the water. Sure enough, the water rose so fast it came up their step towards the second floor. The back deck broke off the house, with lawn chairs and a generator sitting atop, and circled the block three times. It landed in their front yard, gear still aboard, as the water began to recede. You can't make this stuff up.

All told, the Union Firehouse Grill and Mobile kitchen served over 1500 meals today. Thanks to the tirelessly working volunteers from near and far, food was always hot and fresh, smiles were prevalent, and people got fed. More tears flowed in gratitude, hugs exchanged, and new friendships forged. We'll have to earmark a trip back to Union Beach to revisit this Jersey shore town in the years to come. Here is a video of a street near the water and the clean-up efforts thus far courtesy of Circus who talks to people and documents while we serve food. We make a great team.

What is it...day 4?

We've been wondering what day it is all day and I think the consensus was it's Day 5 here at the Union Firehouse Grill. Circus and I arrived Tuesday night, at the end of Day 1 so hence it's Day 4 for us. The morning started with the bouncy castle arriving from Utica, NY. Yes, that's a bouncy castle. That's a thing to manifest! Next was awesome french toast and bacon by Ashi and Cheshire, our kitchen focalizers at 8am and served by Bruce, a local who has been coming to volunteer and serve for the past 2 days. We went on a Costco run for much needed produce with the U-haul and thanks to Hazlet Costco, got a free pass for the day to buy more supplies with the donations from our amazing community and the Rainbow Superstorm Sandy Response donations. We got some to-go containers donated from TGI Fridays and got back to the Firehouse just in time to see all the volunteers, food, and diners arriving in droves for our BBQ and Halloween party around 11:30am.

We served a good ol' fashioned BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad, pasta salad, soda, and many home-baked goodies from locals. Yesterday a man and his daughter donated about 20 gallons of water and this morning they came back, with the wife, for a whole day of volunteering. Hannah, the little girl, went home last night and cleaned out her toy collection. This morning she donated three boxes of dolls and toys that she wanted other kids to have. (Don't think I didn't tear up when that happened!) While I helped to facilitate volunteer projects, take in donations, chat with diners, and play in the bouncy castle, etc, etc, Circus worked tirelessly to set-up our mobile kitchen for Day 2 of outreach.

When we set out on the road, a local volunteer, Lauren, came with me to cook grilled ham & cheese sandwiches and quesadillas from a propane burner (lent by the Reading Area Peace Kitchen) and cast-iron skillet, and we served them to people on the hard hit streets. One guy said that he had been too busy to eat all day and this was his first meal. Many grateful New Jersians (?) happily accepted hot chocolate and a brownie and a much needed break from clearing out the debris, flood damaged sheet rock and flooring. They were surrounded with volunteers and friends who had the day free.

We served about 75 meals off the truck and we're hoping for more tomorrow as we intend (with enough donations) to serve pork roll, the local delicacy. I've been told it's like many things, but I'll let you know what exactly tomorrow. Apparently you serve it with American cheese and a fried egg on a hard roll. We'll try to get enough of those into hands as we can with the help of Lauren, again, and her Dad. We had a guy creating a documentary come with us today.

So much has been done over the past 5 days and so much more is yet to come. Today was our biggest day so far, giving out over 800 meals and tomorrow is expected to be just as big. Check out Circus Maximus's facebook page for a video link and photos from the Union Firehouse Grill and our mobile adventures today. More tomorrow!

Day 3 in NJ

Thanking the powers that be that someone donated some cots that we slept on in the truck last night, Circus convinced me to sleep in and I got the best night sleep I had in a week. When I got up, the amazing new volunteers that came last night were on breakfast and kitchen organizing. Our mission today was to mobile up our U-haul and get on the road. It took us a few hours and a lot of help from everyone in camp but we finally got out with Circus driving and Alice and I in the back serving coffee, hot cocoa, lemonade, hot soup with rice, and meatball sandwiches. We served about 60 people off the truck until it got dark and they were so grateful for a hot sandwich and cup of coffee. Circus had the foresight to grab a case of beer from his own pocket and a few people were beyond excited to get a cold beer. Most takers were relief workers who needed a little refresher while cleaning out houses and getting rid of debris. Since we drove down the hardest hit areas yesterday a lot of garbage had been cleared out by these hard working relief crews. So much needs to be done and hopefully a cup of coffee and a smile helps with their moral.

We felt our mission into the community was a success and will continue it with more clear directions in the days to come. Main camp - officially called Union Firehouse Cafe - is in support of what we're doing and we'll be working together to get hot sandwiches and ready made meals out to those who don't have time to come to us.

Alice perched a ready for customers

One of the many massive piles of debris in Union Beach

Tonight we finally had a whole group meeting and decided on some logistical things. We set a menu for the next 2 days including our Halloween party tomorrow with a traditional American cookout. It's amazing how all of the volunteers work tirelessly to put together delicious food, support folks coming in, do oh-so-many-dishes, most of the time with a smile. Tomorrow morning Circus and I will be running to Costco for much needed produce shopping trip and then going back out into the community. We are running on propane and generators, no power yet to our area. A friendly neighbor has offered hot showers which we're trying to take advantage of when we can find a free hour.

What I haven't talked about yet are how friendly the people here are. New Jersey folks are incredibly warm, inviting, and hard working. We're both picking up a little NJ accent, too. This community has banded together to support one another and we've heard story after story of friends and neighbors helping out. We've met people who are from the surrounding areas that come in on their days off to help friends clear out debris or offer Sandy victims their homes. A group of Amish people from Pennsylvania have been out in the streets helping for the last week and reluctantly took our lemonade and cookies today. A lot of workers deny offers of food because their situation is okay compared to those hardest hit.

As for my reactions to being here, I am grateful to help. There is truly nothing I'd rather be doing than and I wish I could stay longer. It is hard work, though, especially since we are still short-handed. We expect the number of people eating here to grow exponentially tomorrow in addition to those we serve off the truck and meals we send out to work crews. We start one project and four others appear. You are asked questions constantly and also try to have time to listen and be compassionate to the people of Union Beach and surrounding areas. I've had a few long moments of breakdown but it all washes away eventually. Today everything was behind where we wanted to be and took way longer than I wanted it to but we got it all done. It takes me a long time to unwind at the end of the day and the stress can be overwhelming at times but it is beyond a shadow of a doubt worth it. A lot of the volunteers here did this for months after Katrina, which is hard for me to imagine.

Lastly, before I turn into a pumpkin, please know we are no heroes. We are only doing what hundreds have said they wish they had the time to do. Every person helps in their own way, this is just what we can do right now. So thanks for the kudos, but we're doing our best to keep ego out of it. Love to all.

Day 2 in New Jersey

Long but productive day. Our best guess is that we served about 500 meals. A lot of repeat folks who have come by for multiple meals including local police, fire fighters, aid workers from across the country - met a guy who is here for 2 months from Anchorage - and Sandy's victims. Circus got to go on a police ride last night while I was unwinding in the very cold Uhaul (which rained with condensation, but at least not snow, on us all night). It was the first time either of us had been away from the Firehouse. He saw devastation and couldn't begin to relate back to me the details of houses being swept off their foundations, hanging from 2 or 3 posts with ground floors washed away. In addition to the 7 of us living here on the Firehouse grounds (now 11), we have had volunteers from the surrounding areas bringing in supplies and cooked food, preparing bagged lunches and serving. Thanks to Heather, Steven, Joe and Brady today, along with so many others offering what they have to those in need.

Breakfast started late with folks rolling in to eat from about 9:30am onwards and we gave away 80 breakfast burritos until about noon, then gave out sausage & sauerkraut and hash browns when those ran out. We also had a steady stream of bagged lunches walking away and we made those and gave out as many as we had all day. Tuna was the most popular...people are pretty sick of PB&J and grilled cheese, although our grilled cheese got rave reviews yesterday. Circus and many other volunteers made a mean sloppy joe with veggie fried rice and toasted bread for lunch and that was served to probably 200 people. We haven't been keeping very good count but should start tomorrow. Many other food distribution centers are closed or are closing by Monday so we expect those people to start coming to us for hot food. Dinner was a few kinds of hot soup and other food brought in by individuals and organizations that are losing their space. We received a lot of donations tonight of prepared food from other groups that we have to give out tomorrow, hopefully by going out into the community. We're working on the logistics of that as we speak.

  

A boarded up house with a special sign

 Notice of Condemnation...so many of these here

Debris is everywhere. We have been feeding a lot of cleaning crews and aid workers doing this hard work.

 A locally famous restaurant on the water completely destroyed, as well as all the houses and businesses around it. 

The deck of the restaurant, deplanked. 

 "The yellow house," an incredible sight. Water was 15+ feet high, the roof is barely hanging on 1/2 the house was violently ripped off. Can you imagine the force of mother nature that would cause this much carnage?

In the front is the foundation, way in the back is the house. It was washed over a block away by Hurricane Sandy. In the front yard were debris of everything this family owned. What do people really need? Furniture and remodeling supplies. And some just need new houses. They are praying for mercy from their insurance brokers. 

There used to be a house here...now there is a boat. We are a few blocks from the water and still houses were ripped away, completely destroyed as if by a bull dozer. Folks in this town talk about this lot, a boat - not the homeowner's - where a house used to stand. Across the street were similar scenarios. 

More police officers came by for food tonight and Circus - as he does - befriended them immediately and got us a "ride-along" to see the damage in restricted streets. It was the first time I had left the Firehouse since we got here Tuesday night or saw any of the aftermath of Wicked Sandy. Wow. I know this may sound cliche, but there truly aren't the words. Street after street of completely destroyed homes, foundations washed away from 5-15 foot waves, houses in pieces or a block away from their property, clothing, toys, and furniture ripped apart and scattered everywhere, trees loaded with house debris and whatever branches snagged possessions blowing and swimming by. People have been telling me about the state of their houses and what was in their houses so I've heard story after story of families being grateful just to be alive, but truly they have nothing.

Most are out of work or can't work because they have to attend to the black mold growing in what's left of their house if they plan to move back in or patching and drying electrical lines before the power is turned back on sometime this week...fingers crossed. There are still a quarter million people without power in New England, including many counties in this area. Many who had regained power lost it again in the snow storm yesterday. Insult to injury, they say here. But a few neighborhoods got more power tonight and I haven't heard of any backlash, yet, like last week when lines blew and fires started because they hadn't been sufficiently repaired or dried yet. One of our local volunteers today said he had 36 hours to repack his insulation and cover his electrical lines before their power is supposed to come on tomorrow night.

The "group" that we are coordinating with - and I use that word loosely - is a collaboration of selfless people from coast to coast that are trickling in from planes, trains, cars, and buses. Most are packing tents and sleeping outside in the now muddy grass with warm blankets or in their cars. The majority of the growing pairs of boots on the ground have heard about us through the Rainbow Family of Living Light or Occupy groups. We have no leaders and everything is run by consensus. A few people are networking primarily and spend hours a day on the phone and computer reaching out to ask for supplies like refrigerator trucks, large propane burners, food supplies, huge tents for cooking and storing, tables, and more serving items. Things and people are coming in daily.

Circus and I feel blessed to be here helping to establish what will be a relief kitchen for a few months. Tomorrow should be our first day of community outreach and mobile meals. We'll also be making another food run to Costco and supply run to Home Depot in the afternoon to gather what is needed for the camp here and prepare for the weekend which should get busy with people to serve. I'm guessing we'll be doing over 1000 meals a day starting Saturday. This weekend we're also hosting Halloween for kids with costumes and candy and maybe a bouncy house if that donation comes through in time. Kids here missed Halloween and will probably miss Thanksgiving, too. Raymond, the amazingly hardworking networker/fundraiser of the group is gearing up for that already. It's incredible what you can manifest if you ask the Universe and the need is there. We've seen that continuously over the past week.

Here is a video Circus made of our tour today. Also, we're both posting updates on facebook pretty regularly. Lots of Love from Union Beach.

Day 1 in New Jersey

Update: Day 1. We were warmly welcomed by the handful of volunteers already here at the Fire Station on Florence in Union Beach, NJ when we arrived about 9pm last night. Police from around the north east stopped by to welcome us and ask how they could support out relief efforts. We've heard first hand stories of people being turned away from helping in other towns so it's great to have local support. From what we know, we're the only people offering food in this town. There was a shelter & hot food in Keanesburg nearby but they've been evacuated due to tonight's storm. We're in the midst of a snow storm that is supposed to continue until tomorrow morning.

Our friends here had some food and a supply/kitchen tent set-up and had made a few meals when they arrived yesterday. Breakfast of coffee & pancakes this morning was a slow trickle of people but they spread the word. For lunch - grilled cheese & veggie soup - I would guess we served about 60 people who were very appreciative of a hot meal. Some are locals who lost everything, some relief workers, police, home inspectors, elderly, kids and everything in between. I'm not sure how many will brave the storm tonight but we expect people to come by for dinner, now that they know we're here.

There are about 8 of us volunteers here at the "Firehouse Grill" and more are expected to come. Our friends are intending to stay as long as necessary. Circus and I will stay as long as they need our help, then head to other communities with our mobile kitchen & truck.

It was a cold night in the Uhaul but it'll be much colder tonight. Good thing Circus has 2 zip-together -20 mummy bags.

So far your donations have gone to food@costco, fuel on the way, and the rental truck to get and store it here. We'll keep you updated, probably about once a day. Verizon came out and hooked up the wifi at the fire station this morning and the generators were re-fueled this morning so we have connection. Of course there's no power here but we've got propane burners and generator-powered lights in the kitchen tent.

Love to you all! Know we're safe, warm enough, and happy to help. The houses on this block are condemned, all their possessions on the street or in dumpsters, and we've heard sad story after devastation tale. We're hoping to feed people and give them your support from across the country. Locals are surprised and touched by all of your concern and donations. Check out the pics Circus has posted and on my wall. More tomorrow!

Come Play with Me!

Yoga is an integral living practice. Note...*practice*. That means we are allowed to make mistakes and hopefully to learn from our mistakes. In my offerings, I like to emphasize that yoga can and does effect every area of our life: our family, our relationships, our priorities, our work, and our play! So join me for a workshop on November 17th, any age or experience level are welcome (seriously, I mean that). Choose from kids yoga (ages 3-9), Diving Deep:Yoga for Opening the Heart, or Partners Yoga. They will all be at the lovely Three Trees Yoga in Federal Way, a family I am honored to be part of.

 Kids Yoga (Ages 3-9)

Saturday, November 17th, 1-2pm

Yoga for Kids focuses on creative movement, body awareness, and an introduction to the mind-body connection. Using games, stories, music, and imagination this class will be a fun and exploratory process accessible to any age or physical ability. The main focus of yoga for kids is to bring movement and awareness into our children's bodies...no ability to touch your toes or sit perfectly still required. Students should come with an open mind and a willingness to move, explore, and express themselves. And have fun!

Parents are invited to listen to class from the waiting room or to take time for themselves. In this way, students usually feel more free to explore and have an internal experience.

 -$13 in advance, $9 for additional sibling

register here for November 17

register here for December 15
register here for January 26

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Diving Deep: Yoga for Opening the Heart
Saturday, November 17th, 2:30-4:30pm


This class could change the way you see and practice yoga! In this workshop you will learn several poses that work directly with opening the heart, inviting compassion and surrender into your life. We'll learn specific alignment, healing benefits, and mental focus for each posture, giving you a deeper understanding of how the poses work in your body. All experience levels are welcome, whether you are brand new or have practiced yoga for years. This 2-hour workshop will give you the tools and knowledge to start or continue a home practice with confidence.

- $25 in advance, $30 at the door as space permits
register here

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Partners Yoga
Saturday, November 17th, 5-7pm


This is a fun class that is designed to bring two people, either life partners or fitness buddies, together through yoga and touch. We explore new and creative ways to do traditional yoga postures, modifying them to fit the unique needs of each couple. Increase your level of fitness, release tension, and deepen your relationship while having a good time.

- $35 in advance, $40 at the door
Pre registration strongly recommended, space is limited
register here