Six Months After Sandy, Photo-Sharing Event to Show People Are Still Standing

Six months after Hurricane Sandy, the residents of Union Beach are still standing. Even if their homes are still damaged, even if navigating FEMA seems impossible at times, they are still standing.

James Butler, a former resident of Union Beach and the man behind the famous Hope Tree, is hoping to use the power of social media to show the strength of hope and community. On Monday, April 29 - exactly six months after Sandy - he wants everyone to snap a picture of them holding a sign with a message that shows they are still standing strong and upload it to his Facebook event.

"We were knocked down by the biggest punch Mother Nature had ever thrown in our area. We were knocked down by a storm that flattened many homes and was supposed to destroy our spirit and keep us down. BUT, we got up," Butler shared on the Facebook event. 

He hopes, however, that survivors of all the tragedies in the last few months also join in. 

"Since Sandy we've seen the human spirit tested in Connecticut, Boston, and in Texas. Tragedy has taken different forms but we cry and mourn yet somehow manage to get back up. Somehow, we're still standing," he wrote.

The signs can be simple or artistic, Butler says, and should start with "Still Standing..." They can be completed with phrases that show what you have been through or what has kept you strong, such as "with my beautiful kids," or "in my rebuilt living room," according to the event. 

To participate, simply snap a photo of you or a loved one with the sign and upload it here.