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Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together Help Homeowner Rebuild after Sandy

American Red Cross lends a hand.


Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together worked together to repair a hurricane-damaged home on October 29, the first anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, with additional support from the American Red Cross.

Homeowner Maurice had recently lost his wife when Sandy severely damaged his home in Little Ferry, NJ on October 29, 2012. Over two feet of water filled the first floor of his house, destroying his and his late wife's belongings. Lacking flood insurance and unable to rebuild on his own, he had been living with his daughter ever since.

Exactly one year after this devastating storm displaced him, volunteers from Grip-Rite and Rebuilding Together's Bergen County affiliate teamed up to transform Maurice's uninhabitable house back into a home. Grip-Rite's contribution of resources, tools and materials helped complete repairs such as gutting and rebuilding the entire first floor, and all new electrical, plumbing and floors.

"Collaboration is crucial to rebuilding communities damaged by storms like Sandy," said Charley Shimanski, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "We are glad to be working with both the Red Cross and Grip-Rite to help restore this storm-ravaged house to a safe and healthy home. We're thankful for the opportunity to give Maurice back some of what he has lost."

"PrimeSource and its Grip-Rite products have a long history of being there to get the job done, to help build and rebuild America's homes and communities," said Ken Fishbein, Co-CEO of PrimeSource Building Products, Inc., exclusive distributor of Grip-Rite products. "As part of that commitment, we are proud to contribute the tools, resources and products needed so that Mr. Mallet can finally begin this new chapter in his life and return to a safe home."

"Recovery from a storm of this size takes time and help from many different organizations, not just the Red Cross, and we are pleased to support the programs of Rebuilding Together and other partners, and to continue to work with them to help people with their recovery," said Jerry DeFrancisco, president of Humanitarian Services at the Red Cross.

"We can help people and communities in a more comprehensive way when we pool our resources and services together in a coordinated approach. This not only speeds recovery, but helps us engage the entire community in building the resilience we need as we face disasters of this type in the future."

Rebuilding Together's local affiliates and volunteers in Bergen County, Jersey City, New York City and Long Island have been providing free critical home repairs in many of the areas affected by Sandy. Those eligible for services include low-income families, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and veterans. As of October 2013, hard-working Rebuilding Together affiliates in New Jersey and New York had already completed more than 250 projects, assisting more than 435 individuals, thanks to the help of over 3,100 volunteers.

Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home. It provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Its 187 local affiliates complete more than 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of 100,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us — visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

With 42 distribution centers throughout the US and Canada and more than 1,200 employees, PrimeSource is an international distributor of building materials serving residential, commercial, and industrial new-construction and remodeling markets as a value-added link in the distribution chain. Core products distributed under the Grip-Rite and Pro-Twist brands include: Nails, screws, and collated fasteners; tools, compressors and accessories; residential and commercial roofing products; diamond blades and accessories, gypsum accessories, weather protection and covers, adhesives and caulks, contractor bags and poly sheeting, building accessories; rebar and concrete accessories; and fencing and wire. For more information please visit www.primesourcebp.com or call (800) 676-7777.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.

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