'IrmAid' Benefit Planned To Help Hurricane Victims Rebuild Lives

EAST HAMPTON, NY — In times of crisis, the East End opens its hearts to help.

In East Hampton, Adam Hirshfield has created a GoFundMe, "IrmAid", to help those whose lives were ripped apart by Hurricane Irma.

"My wife, Marlene, our 3-year old son, Julian, and I live in East Hampton, a coastal community on Long Island that is vulnerable to hurricanes," he wrote.

In 2012, Hirshfield said he and others watched as Hurricane Sandy destroyed communities and devastated local families who lost their homes and possessions.

"So, our hearts sank when Hurricane Irma hit South Florida, a low-lying coastal community just like ours," he wrote. "On September 9 and 10, we watched, horrified, as Hurricane Irma ravaged Puerto Rico, Cuba, parts of the Caribbean, and South Florida. We ourselves were supposed to have been in South Florida at that very time and had canceled our trip at the last minute. We felt incredibly lucky that we had, but we know families who were visiting South Florida when Hurricane Irma hit and we have many friends and colleagues who live and work in South Florida. Many of these families experienced damage, destruction, and property loss," Hirshfield said.

Among the communities worst ravaged by Hurricane Irma are the Florida Keys, he added.

According to the news, Hirshfield noted, 90% of all homes in the Florida Keys were damaged by Hurricane Irma and 1 in 4 homes in the Florida Keys were totally destroyed.

"Why do we care about the Florida Keys?" he asked. "Because it could just as well have been us. If it had been us, we would hope those who had the power to help would. So, here we are. We want to help."

The goal, Hirshfield said, is to raise at least $25,000 to help families in the Florida Keys begin to rebuild their lives. In addition to the GoFundMe campaign, he and others are organizing a benefit concert to help these families.

The benefit concert, IrmAid, will take place on October 13 at The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.

Artists to appear at the benefit include Caroline Doctorow, Jim Turner, and Fred Raimondo.

To donate, click here. A donation of $30 will secure a place on the guest list for the benefit.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe.