Alumni from the University of Notre Dame teamed up with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to renovate St. Rose of Lima Church, Rockaway Beach, which had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Over a dozen volunteers aided in the clean-up of the parish’s basement and painted the walls and ceilings with a fresh coat of paint. Debris and trash in the yard were discarded, and dead trees were cut down to eliminate chances of injury, as the parish’s yard is shared with an elementary school. Volunteers also gained a better understanding of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy and the current recovery efforts during a tour of Breezy Point. Since November, 2012, over 1,250 volunteers have provided more than 35,000 hours of service to assist in the Catholic Charities Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort. Supplies were donated by The Home Depot. Above, the volunteers are shown with Father Wladyslaw Kubrak, parochial vicar at St. Rose.

Photo courtesy Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens