Strangers' Funding Allows Belmar Families To Go Home 3 Years After Sandy

BELMAR, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Thanks to the help of generous strangers, two Belmar, New Jersey families have returned to their homes three years after being displaced by Superstorm Sandy.

As WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron reported, we have all heard the saying, "It takes a village." The village that is Belmar – technically a borough – rallied around two of its own families with a national fundraising campaign to help get them back into their homes.

"Our goal was to raise $200,000, and we ended up raising over $240,000," said Belmar Mayor Matt Dougherty.

Dougherty said the4 families received the maximum allowed under the state's grant program, and were short-changed by their insurance companies.

Help ranged from a $2 check to thousands of dollars in donations from contractors.

"As cynical as we can be on occasion, we really are a very great and generous country," Dougherty said.

And thanks to the giving strangers, both families have returned home – three days ahead of the three-year anniversary of Sandy on Thursday.