Southerners displaced by the natural disaster were evacuated to sites across the country. More than 200 of them came to Long Island. In many cases their homes were destroyed, they have no jobs to go back to, and theyíve lost most of their material possessions. Most important, they have lost their sense of belonging ó their sense of community. They need to rebuild the support networks that are essential to every human being.
South Nassau Communities Hospital has designed a new program for survivors who are here on Long Island. The Safe Harbor Program will be headquartered at the hospitalís World Trade Center Family Center, at 310 Merrick Road in Rockville Centre.
The Safe Harbor Program is still in the early stages of development. The first step has been the initiation of Sunday dinners for evacuees at the center. They will be held every Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. The staff of the center welcomes adults, children and families who are displaced or who lost loved ones in the hurricane.
"We are trying to build a program around their needs," said Dr. Pam Clark, a psychologist at the center. "The atmosphere of the dinners are informal and open." The goal of the Sunday dinner program is to connect with others, join as a community, and share experiences in a warm, supportive place, according to Clark.
The centerís staff has extensive experienced with disaster response and grief and trauma counseling. In the four years since the World Trade Center attacks they have helped more than 1,000 people cope with their losses in the wake of the disaster.
Eleven people came to the dinner on Sunday, Sept. 25, and children engaged in craft activities while their parents met with other evacuees and shared their experiences of migrating from the gulf region to New York. "The meetings are designed to rebuild a support network for victims," said Clark.
Beyond the dinners, the center is looking to expand its offerings for displaced victims. However, it currently has no direct funding for programs. The staff hopes to expand to include a Friday-night program for the affected children. In the meantime, those interested in the Sunday dinner program can contact the center at (516) 678-2700.
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