Stars Shine Light of Hope on Long Beach

Story by Michael Ganci and Joseph Kellard

After Hurricane Sandy hit Long Beach last October, colorful wooden stars sporting abridged messages started to appear throughout the storm-battered community.

“Be as strong as an oak,” “Our prayers are with U,” and “Strong Beach” are some of the messages painted on these plywood stars posted to utility poles and trees throughout the beachtown. Others offered a mere word or initials: “Joy,” “Smile,” and “LB.”

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These artistic creations are the work of the Stars of Hope, a Texas-based national program that aims to provide comfort and inspiration to residents in communities struggling to rebuild aftermath a natural disaster.

The origin of the program in Long Beach appears to have been twofold. Jessie Farrell, a local resident who after Sandy created Project 11561, reached out to Stars of Hope through the organization’s Facebook page to asked if they could bring their program to Long Beach, and the organization quickly responded.

“She was interested in doing a community paint,” Janine Pizzariella, a team leader for New York and New Jersey, said of Farrell. “It was during the time that the Unsound Surf Shop was doing an art show.”

A student at the Long Beach Catholic School, who is the son of the umbrella organization New York Says Thank You Foundation, as well as a counselor at the school who volunteers for NYSTYF, became Stars of Hope contacts in Long Beach, said Patrick Samuels, founder and director of Stars for Hope.  

“We contacted them and they helped get us in contact with the school,” Samuels said. “The [school] jumped at the chance to have the project there.”

Stars of Hope provides the stars, which are made of plywood that is cut, shaped and coated by individuals in their backyards and workshop areas nationwide, before they’re shipped to disaster areas. In Long Beach, students at Long Beach Catholic School painted the stars.

“The final phase is done by the locals,” Pizzariella said. “Sometimes, they’re completely done before being brought into a disaster area.”

Many Stars of Hope volunteers are people that have been through tragedies themselves. Two years ago, in Joplin, Missouri, tornadoes ripped through the area, and Stars of Hope went to lend support. Thereafter, Joplin residents formed a group and was dedicated to paying it forward to others in need.

“The main purpose for us is to bring hope and inspiration to a community,” Pizzariella said. “There are people out there who care and are willing to help with emotional healing.”

She noted that sometimes all that disaster victims need is someone who can listen.

“Sometimes, just an ear from someone who’s been through a disaster and has seen the light at the end of the tunnel can really help,” she said.