MIDLAND BEACH — It's two years today since surging waters from Hurricane Sandy pushed Aiman Youssef's Midland Beach home 8 inches, causing the inside walls to collapse.
Six days later, the Syrian native set up a table next door to his shattered home, handing out clothes and food to his similarly devastated neighbors.
Today, the 44-year-old's home is still in ruins. And he's still doling out aid.
"This is my community. I will continue to provide for them," Youssef said. "Whatever they need, this is nothing."
While some think Staten Island has recovered, the Midland Avenue Neighborhood Relief tent is a reminder of the many residents who still feel the storm's effect.
"Just look where we're standing — it's a tent for God's sake," Youssef said. "I want to build. I want to go home. I want to live [in] a normal home."
Earlier this week, tables inside the structure were lined with bread, chicken and bananas, with nearly a dozen people picking up supplies. Youssef estimates between 180 to 200 people still count on him for help.
He said he's contributed countless dollars of his own money to help, and even recently tore up the concrete foundation of his former home for others to use in their rebuilding efforts.
"A lot of people need just a little to keep going," he said.
He said he chose to start the relief center so quickly after the storm because he was grateful to be alive.
"It was a miracle I was saved that night," Youssef said. "God put it in my heart to help the people and that was the first Saturday, and Sunday we continued and we kept going."
Youssef was inside his Midland Avenue home with his family, including his dog Samson, on Oct. 29, 2012 when, at 8:14 p.m., water started to flood it.
He had to help his mother, nephew and other relatives reach safety on the second floor of his neighbor's home.
During the night Youssef saved strangers by throwing an orange extension cord for them to grab onto to pull them to safety. He said he even jumped into the waters — even though he can't swim — to save his dog.
"It was a complete disaster," Youssef said about the night. "The whole house was shaking, people were crying in the room."
The Saturday after Sandy, Youssef set up the table outside the now-closed LaRocca's Pizzeria and has been there almost daily since.
He's been threatened with closure by the city, moved to a sprawling tent next door and dealt with looters who took everything from cash in a donation box to a stereo that survived the floodwaters. But it hasn't stopped him from opening up every day.
"It's my community," Youssef said. "I'll find a way to help them."
On the anniversary, Youssef plans to throw an afternoon barbecue for residents then head to the second annual "Light up the Shore" memorial event, where he said he hopes to share his rebuilding concerns with city officials.
"We need homes. We need to come out of this," said Youssef, who is temporarily living in a rented apartment. "We need the help, we need the city to start building homes."
