Club Members and Synchro Teams Answer the Call to Help "Sandy" Survivors

A few days before Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of the East Coast, Nan Horner, a member of the Team Reflections Open Adult Synchronized Skating Team informed her team members she was unable to attend practice in preparation and the aftermath of Sandy. Horner, who lives in Long Island, N.Y. drives four hours a week to practice with her friends at the Central Pennsylvania Figure Skating Club and is a dedicated team member.

Unbeknownst to Horner, fellow team mates were already on board to help and organized a disaster relief drive. Team management organized via email and social networking and contacted all members of the Team Reflections family (which consists of three teams as well as members of the Central Pennsylvania Figure Skating Club) and family and friends, to solicit donations.

"Our club is not large but our volunteers are among the best," club President Becky Hilgers said. "We can always count on them to be there when the community or another club member is in need of help. It was not hard to do. All we had to do was ask our fellow Synchro Team members and the job was done."

Team members provided new purchased items while others scoured their closets for gently used coats, blankets, clothing and other items identified as most needed.

The items were taken in two trips from the rink in Harrisburg to a disaster relief Center in Atlantic County, N.J. that was organized and supported by the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Feed the Children and the Office Depot Foundation. Horner's mother and brother are residents of Atlantic City, N.J., and the devastation definitely hit close to home.

After the donations were collected and loaded into the coaches' cars, the adult team transferred everything to Horner's SUV in the dark of the parking lot of the skating rink prior to a 5:45 a.m. practice.

"My SUV was so full there was barely room for me and my skates," Horner said. " When I arrived at the distribution center, set up in a parking lot with box trucks serving as offices and distribution areas, a team of volunteers from as far away as Detroit, Mich. assisted in unloading my SUV and then sorting and distributing the items immediately."

Prior to the storm the weather was warm, so people standing in the distribution line were shivering from the cold while wearing summer clothing and pajamas, which was all they were able to salvage.

"The blankets, coats, socks and mittens were used immediately while they waited in line for food, diapers and cleaning supplies," Horner said. "The scene was like nothing that I ever expected to see."

Amy Henderson, head coach of Team Reflections could not be more proud of her skaters and families.

"We have always come to our skaters in time of need, but the speed with which they answered the call this time was very impressive. Within a few days of the e mail going out saying a member was in need we had filled three SUV's with emergency supplies for Hurricane Sandy," Henderson said.

Henderson's garage became a storeroom until that Saturday morning when Horner drove to Harrisburg for adult synchro practice.

"In the darkness of the parking lot of the Twin Ponds Skating Rink we loaded Nan's car with anything from dog food to diapers," Henderson said. "I work with a great club and a wonderful group of girls that I am very proud to call Team Reflections," Henderson said.

Horner too is amazed but not surprised by her team's generosity. "The thoughtfulness and generosity of the teams was amazing," Horner said. "That outpouring of love and kindness from the skaters was greatly appreciated, but not surprising from this club and its incredible members whose team spirit is strong and obvious on and off the ice."

Photo 1: Nan Horner (rear in her team jacket) watches as donations are distributed in Atlantic City N.J.

Photo 2: Team Reflections skaters pose while they load donated items into vehicles

Photos Courtesy Renee Greenawalt