A Rhode Island volunteer helping Hurricane Sandy victims in New York says there's still a long road ahead and people there need help.
Anthony Hall recently returned to Rhode Island after four months in Staten Island. He works for the non-profit organization Small Town America Response (STAR) America.
He's been in Staten Island since October, after Sandy wiped out whole neighborhoods.
"I come from Rhode Island so we're neighbors," Hall said.
In October, NBC 10 caught up with him collecting donations of food, clothing and other goods. He drove it nearly 200 miles to Staten Island in his food truck.
With his help, STAR America was making 1,500 meals a day for families in need. Hall says donations from Rhode Island were helpful, but there's more work ahead.
"What we want people to know is things in Staten Island are not OK," Hall said. "Four months later, it's a different story. People have clothes on their back some food but their houses … they have nothing."
Now, STAR America is focusing on helping families rebuild their homes.
"When you drive down the street you see the neighborhood, see the street lights on and you see houses - the outsides of houses - and everybody thinks things are OK," he said. "But if you stop and you peek in some of the windows, what happens is you'll look right through to the dirt on the floor."
Some families don't have insurance. Others do, but didn't get enough help to completely rebuild their homes.
Now, STAR America is stepping in to help out. So far, it's helped with the reconstruction of more than 30 homes.
It's a mission Hall hopes Rhode Island will back by making monetary, furniture and appliance donations.
