This blanket represents a time in our lives that followed Hurricane Sandy. We spent days preparing for the hurricane that came in 2012, causing epic flooding throughout our neighborhood in Jersey City. Even as we all prepared, helping each other gather and pile sandbags around our homes, it was not enough to prevent the water that came in a huge, somber wave, causing many neighbors to lose all their possessions. After the storm many of us were without power for days. Thom was helping others day and night however he could; restarting hot water tanks, fixing heating units, and saving whatever belongings were salvageable. A generous man who was of little means and lost everything in his apartment, gave us this blanket at some point along the way. It was used as protection of furniture while being moved to higher ground and to help keep people warm as the weather turned cold. And we kept this blanket among our belongings, part of a collection of memories, a time when we all came together in a community to help one another.
- 66.
Caroline Burton &Thom English - Jersey City, NJ