August 26, 2018
LITTLE FALLS, NJ—More than 200 volunteers of the International WeLoveU Foundation (WeLoveU) partnered with Mayor James Damiano and the Office of Emergency Management Coordinator, Dan Gianduso, to provide aid and relief to flood victims from New Jersey’s historic flooding in Little Falls. The volunteers carried out disaster relief efforts on two consecutive Sundays—August 19 and 26. Collectively, they cleaned 24 houses by carrying out demolition work and removing all debris including damaged furniture and household appliances.
Mayor James Damiano said, “I’ll tell you as I pulled up seeing all these blue shirts around I was completely overwhelmed. To mobilize people in numbers like this is overwhelming. It was incredible to see this many blue shirts and this many helping-hands in one spot really come to help this town.”
“We feel very sorry to the families affected by this devastating storm,” said Wilmer Rapozo, Spokesperson of the International WeLoveU Foundation. “We hope our efforts today can become a source of comfort and relief to residents who not only lost their items, but in some cases their entire home. We know this is just the beginning stages for them to fully recover and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help in any way we can.”
Volunteers came from New Jersey and Philadelphia. Around 9:00 a.m., they gathered at Little Fall’s Athletic Field and began distributing cleaning supplies and tools. In addition, volunteers donated 45 boxes of blankets and socks for children and adults. The participants divided into smaller teams to make sure they help as many families as possible.
Through disaster relief, the WeLoveU Foundation hopes to provide a sense of hope, courage and comfort to those facing difficulties. As global warming takes effect and the worldwide phenomena of natural disasters leaves its mark, the International WeLoveU Foundation works to clean, build and prepare our world for the future. WeLoveU aids organizations and neighbors in times of need.
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About the International WeLoveU Foundation
The International WeLoveU Foundation is an NGO associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications. Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah founded WeLoveU as a vehicle to promote unity and friendship among all people of the global village—beyond nationality, race, religion, and socioeconomic status—through impactful volunteerism within the initiatives of blood drives, social welfare, environmental protection, and international aid. WeLoveU has received more than 100 honorary and presidential awards from various countries and governments including the U.S. President’s Call to Service Award for volunteerism and the Green Apple Award for best environmental practice. Today WeLoveU is located in more than 50 countries around the world. For more information, visit weloveuusa.org.