Volunteers Help Sandy Victims In Union Beach Rebuild

UNION BEACH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Volunteers are pouring in across the Tri-State area to help the hardest hit victims of Sandy.

In Union Beach, N.J. the scars are evident but the healing has begun, CBS 2's Kathryn Brown reported.

Resident Carol Doherty lost everything inside her home when Sandy hit but from the rubble came a blessing.

Mennonites from Pennsylvania have been in Union Beach for a week helping homeowners recover one family at a time.

Doherty doesn't have the money to make the extensive repairs needed to keep her home standing, but with the help of volunteers Doherty is confident she will be able to rebuild.

"I'm grateful," Doherty said. "I have friends who don't even have a home."

Forty miles down the storm-tossed coastline, Ortley Beach is still shut down as it has been since the storm hit.

Kim Rosa got a police escort to see her beach house for the first time.

"It was bad," Rosa said. "We saw pictures hoping to prepare ourselves, to have an idea of what to expect, but I don't think it could prepare for when you see it in person."

Out of 2,300 homes in Union Beach, more than half were damaged and 50 were destroyed but homeowners said they will rebuild a stronger and better Jersey Shore.