Sandy Five Years Later: Aiman Youssef
On October 29th, 2012 Staten Island resident Aiman Youssef found himself trapped inside his home. The water was over seven feet high. Youssef and his mother were forced onto the second floor as the water continued to build up. He said the rising water wasn't the only thing he had to worry about.
"My mom starts going under the water, so I dived in the water," Youssef said. "I remember there was extension cords like these orange ones and I pulled it out of the socket. I got my mom and lifted her up."
After his mother got to safety, Youssef realized he could swim to his neighbor's second floor apartment. There was only one problem:
"We opened the door. I was like God please help us, because I don't know how to swim."
He ended up making it across. Youssef put his mom in the apartment. But soon realized he would have to go back.
"I heard people screaming 'Help! Help!' So, I start pulling people up with my neighbor."
Youssef said the day after the rain stopped he didn't know what to do. His house was heavily damaged. And it was clear that it would have to be demolished. Youssef said the storm took everything from him. He said he was even more surprised when he got a call from his niece.
"My niece called me from the city. She said I have some stuff. Would you like it? I was like yes, please. I need socks and I need sweat pants because remember I lost everything."
She brought Youssef several bags of food and clothing. That same week he decided to help his neighbors by sharing the little he had with them. He called himself a Half Table Man because the things he had could literally only fit on half a table.
In the past five years Half Table Man has become a FEMA certified relief organization. They help victims of Sandy who lost their homes. They also donate food to food pantries and churches every week. Yousseff estimates that they feed over 600 families a week. He says even though the program has grown, he's still not changing the name.
"One of the volunteers said, 'Aiman stop telling people you are half table.' I said 'what do you mean?' He said, 'you have 23 tables.' I was like thank you Jesus. I mean 23 tables, that's amazing."
A small church in Staten Island's Midland Beach is giving out food and other necessities to those in need. Youssef has donated a significant portion of what they're handing out.
Luz Reyas runs the food pantry. Reyas said Half-Table Man have always been a big help.
"They have contributed the fruits and vegetables," Reyas said. "They also have contributed some of the clothing, pots and pans and articles of the home."
The food pantry is helping people with all sorts of needs. Some are victims of Sandy who are still struggling to pay the bills- others are homeless from other circumstances.
All share one common trait. They love the services the pantry provides.
Amanda Short has been coming to the pantry for 10 years. Short said she gets food and clothes from the pantry every week.
"It keeps me from going to the store and buying food with money I don't have," Short said.
Half-Table Man has been assisting the food pantry for the last four years. But Youssef's generosity comes at a price. 5 years later, Youssef still doesn't have enough money to rebuild his house. He lives with a neighbor in a small apartment next to where his home used to be.
"I put all my money to help people. I put over $60,000 to help people. That's why I can probably not rebuild my house."
For now a large white tarp hangs over the spot where his house used to be. It also serves another purpose. A significant part of the Half Table Man's resources are kept under it. Youssef says that's better than anything he could've ever house under his makeshift roof.
