MIDLAND BEACH — A group of Staten Island residents affected by Hurricane Sandy will march along the damaged streets of Midland Beach to highlight the neighborhood's ongoing recovery needs.
The Midland Avenue Community Hub will host the “Walk a Mile in Our Shoes” event on Saturday to spread that word that people in the neighborhood still need help, said Aiman Youssef, who started the hub and helped organize the rally.
“We hit poverty in this area,” he said. “I want them to know we need help right now.”
Youssef lost his home in the storm and has been living in a hotel ever since, and he said many residents are in the same position.
The event will also provide information for residents who are trying to rebuild, including details on how to raise the level of a home and how to handle the mold, Youssef said.
“The mold issue we’re going to bring attention to,” he said. “When the spring is going to come, a lot of people are going to get sick.”
The event will feature speeches from local residents, and hot food will be served.
Youssef, who founded the community hub the day after the storm, said he hopes the rally will unite Hurricane Sandy victims from across Staten Island.
“This is to show them we survived this,” he said.
The rally will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will start at the Midland Avenue Community Hub at 481 Midland Ave.
