Helping others in Sandy's aftermath

ANSONIA, Conn. (WTNH) -- With many in Connecticut back on their feet in Sandy's aftermath, folks are pitching in to help people here, and in New York and New Jersey.

When the call went out to help victims of Sandy, firefighters in Derby and Ansonia stepped up to the plate and the residents really responded. At the Webster Hose Fire House in Ansonia hundreds of people came by to drop off donations to help the victims of Sandy.

People dropped off everything from clothes, cleaning supplies, towels and blankets, to toys, baby items and food. The donations filled the entire garage where two large fire trucks are usually kept.

"It was just non-stop all day of just, flooded in with people donating things and people coming to help and it's just been non-stop all day," organizer Mandie Martin said. "I can't even give you a number. It's just been amazing."

The event was all put together in just one week. It started with an email that was forwarded to friends and family and then posted on Facebook. The donations will go to Connecticut victims first and then to New York and New Jersey.

Others from Connecticut headed out this weekend to help the people of New Jersey. Max Sabrin with the Old Saybrook Fire Department sent us a picture of a convoy of U-Haul trucks heading south.

There were 54 of them all together heading for the Jersey shore to help with recovery in Sandy's aftermath. The trucks left from both Bridgeport and Danbury. They headed to the American Red Cross Warehouse in Jersey City to be packed up with donations.

"It's bad. Over 100,000 homes are lost," Sabrin said. "200,000 cars are lost. It is, people have nothing. People will have Thanksgiving on the street. We are here to help them. We are Americans taking care of America."

Like Max, all those volunteers include off-duty firefighters, police officers, military veterans and everyday people who want to do what they can to help.