MYFOXNY.COM -
For those who were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy today was a tough Thanksgiving. In Breezy Point, a group of volunteers spent their holiday helping those who lost everything.
Welcome to Thanksgiving on Midland Beach, Staten Island.
"Oh my god, where do you begin?" said Kristine Materese.
Materese hasn't had much to be thankful for Since Hurricane Sandy flooded her home and garage.
"It's everything of value that's here – pictures, my father's pictures."
On this morning a group of Volunteers from the Rebuild Staten Island Foundation donated their time to clean up and hopefully find those pictures.
"Sprit of holidays," said one volunteer. "That's what it's all about, that's what it's all about."
"I'm just helping out no matter what the day is, no matter what time it is," said volunteer Fred Forgione.
It started as a Facebook page and now has more than 14,000 supporters.
"We've had people coming from as far as Utah. We get into people's homes into the bare walls to prevent mold growth which is harmful to their health," said Forgione.
This home is one of about 700 homes the Rebuild Foundation has cleared out in the last few weeks and endless amount of waterlogged debris. They don't just work holidays, but every day and they say they'll be here as long as they can.
Joey Xu and his friends from Brooklyn showed up to help today.
"If I can step out here and make a small difference – it's worth it," said Xu.
Jennifer Hansen has been here every step of the way.
"I've been out here most of the time and I might as well just wake up and do it."
On this morning among the bins, boxes and oozing water -- Kristine found some those photos, baby pictures of her daughter.
"Aww, my baby... this is when it gets hard."
She's not sure if they can be salvaged but is thankful to have them back.
