Sandwiches for Sandy victims

Although Hurricane Sandy struck over six months ago, the devastation is still indisputable in many parts of the city. Millions of dollars have gone into rebuilding, and thousands of workers and volunteers have been working day and night to ensure communities can get back on their feet.

Erin Dinan might not contribute in the conventional ways, but is certainly making her mark in the process, as the founder of One Sandwich at a Time.

As a southerner who was affected by Hurricane Katrina, Dinan knows firsthand that with these types of disasters, it is not out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

“Even though Sandy isn’t in the mainstream media anymore, the devastation still lingers in reality,” Dinan said.

On May 29, Dinan joined together with over 20 local volunteers at Leigh Holliday Brannan’s Art Room in Bay Ridge, with a mission to make 2,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for hungry Sandy victims.

The sandwiches were delivered to the Coney Island Gospel Assembly, which distributed them the following day.

When Brannan was approached about Dinan’s cause by mutual friend J.D. Urban, she felt that helping out was a no-brainer.

“We like to think ‘at least people have food,’ but that’s not true,” Brannan said. “These kinds of things show us how strong a person can be—it’s the least we can do.”

“Who doesn’t know what it’s like to feel desperate?” added Urban.

Joining the mass sandwich-making movement was Daisy Martinez, star of Food Network’s “Viva Daisy!” Martinez was first drawn to the program because, “It gives people a chance to get involved in a really grass-roots way. People donate $10 and they don’t know where it goes—this gives you a chance to really make a difference.” Martinez said.

With music playing, and Skippy jars lining a long row of folding tables, volunteers had their sandwich making down to a science, filling boxes at record speed with assembly-line techniques.

“Food brings people together, whether it’s in celebration or mourning,” Martinez remarked. “All they’ll need now is a glass of milk.”