A Familiar Symbol of Relief

Last week we visited a Sandy distribution hub in Coney Island where hundreds of Brooklyn residents lined up to pick up hot meals and grocery boxes provided by the Red Cross. Among them was Amadou, who came to New York more than 17 years ago from Senegal, West Africa. 

Back in his home country, Amadou was very familiar with the work of “La Croix Rouge,” as the Red Cross is known in Senegal. Post-Sandy, he was heartened to see the Red Cross at work, providing assistance to disaster victims in America too. “This is very nice what they do over here”, he says as he scans the line of volunteers serving hot meals on a chilly March day. 

As a result of Sandy, he lost his job and is now focusing his energy on finding a new one.  The continuing presence of the Red Cross in Coney Island has meant that Amadou has been able to get a hot meal, or a grocery box every day.  “We’re very happy for what the Red Cross does here on Coney Island”, he says.