MOONACHIE, N.J. (PIX11) — Little Donovan Meyer was thrilled to walk into a room full of volunteers on Friday. They were finishing up months of work on his family’s house destroyed by super storm Sandy.
“They’re doing all this for us. I guess wow! I’m amazed,” the 10-year-old shouted out with a big smile.
Kris and Rob Meyer, and their two special needs sons, live in Moonachie, New Jersey–just 2 miles from MetLife Stadium, where the Super Bowl was played.
When super storm Sandy hit, the Hackensack River opened up and sent water gushing into the Meyer’s home. It rose to 6 feet and wiped out their first
floor. Rob Meyer was at work at the time.
“When I got home, I looked at it and was just in shock,” said Meyer, who works for New Jersey’s Department of Transportation.
For 15 months the family stayed upstairs in cramped quarters.
The Meyer family and a dozen neighbors owe their rehabilitated homes to the organization Rebuilding Together, which the NFL has partnered with for 19 Super Bowl weekends to work on various projects around the country.
Cynthia Massarsky, president of the organization Making it Home, got Bob’s Discount Furniture to donate sofas, chairs and tables, and even an electric fireplace.
“Kris and Rob’s home is a demonstration project of what we’re able to do moving forward,” said Massarsky.
Governor Christie, famous for his Sandy related photo ops, along with First Lady Mary Pat Christie, helped carry the furniture into the Meyer’s house. They also thanked the volunteers.
Topping off their big weekend, Kris and Rob Meyer, and their two children were able to have a Super Bowl party in their newly refurbished home, thanks to the kindness of strangers.
“I love New Jersey,” said Kris Meyer. “I love seeing everyone coming together.”
