By David Kilby | Correspondent

The Diocese of Trenton’s Department of Radio and TV video “Voices from the Storm” –  which tells the story of the communities affected by Superstorm Sandy – recently received an award in the Religion/Spirituality category in the 35th Annual Telly Awards.

The Telly Awards, based in Ashland, Ky., honors groundbreaking online video content and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs. The awards receives more than 13,000 entries annually from ad agencies, production companies, TV stations, cable companies, interactive agencies and other corporations. The Telly Award statuette is produced by the craftsmen at RS Owens, the same firm that makes the Oscar and Emmy award, and each one is custom made.

“Voices from the Storm” gives an account of Superstorm Sandy and recovery efforts from several emergency personnel, survivors, volunteers from parishes and local charities, and Bishop O’Connell, C.M., who visited the schools and parishes in the Diocese hit by the storm in October 2012.    

This is the 51st award received by the diocesan Department of Radio and TV since 1987. Among those awards are multiple Proclaim and Gabriel awards from the two Catholic award agencies. Rosemary Kimball, associate director of the diocesan Department of Radio and TV,  said one of the main purposes of this award-winning video was to thank the Catholic community and show the donors and volunteers where their money and effort was going.

Bishop O’Connell expressed the same gratitude.

“This is what the Church does. It’s there to meet people in times of great need, in times of crisis,” he said in the video, adding that “There was not one minute of hesitation” from area parishes to respond to those affected by the storm. Through the Diocese alone, people donated $1 million toward relief efforts.

Daughter of Charity Sister Joanne Dress, diocesan  executive director of Catholic Social Services, was very involved in coordinating those relief efforts.

“‘Voices from the Storm’ gave a powerful portrayal of the impact Sandy had on so many lives,” she said after hearing that the video is receiving a Telly. “It made ‘real’ for those who did not experience the storm firsthand how devastating the storm was. It highlighted the tremendous response of individuals, communities and the Church helping their neighbors in the midst of this disaster.”

She continued, “Our staff used their considerable skill and expertise to tell the story. And they were successful in inviting people to join us in our relief efforts.”   

While the award is appreciated, the true value of the video – according to its producers – is in how it reminds people of what the survivors are still going through, and how charitable organizations like local parishes are going above and beyond to help out.

Kimball said Superstorm Sandy delivered a devastating blow to the shore comunities, but the Catholic community responded swiftly to all in need.

“Services such as supplies, funding, manual labor, counseling and shelter were coordinated swiftly so that those in need could find help,“ she shared.

“I still get chills when I think of it,” said Kimball as she reflected on helping produce the video and remembering the stories she heard. “The people who suffered the loss were willing to share their stories and provide a glimpse of the long road to recovery.”

The video, produced a year after the storm, recaps the aftermath long after most major news coverage had stopped.

“I interviewed a man that was still sleeping in an old camper with no running water or electricity,” Kimball shared. “The camper was parked in the lot where his house stood … This was one year after the storm, one year and he still had no home.”

While hearing people’s stories, she discovered that many homes and properties have been in the family for generations and have been handed down to family members. Many of the homes destroyed were primary residences or retirement homes, and many of the residents do not have the resources to restore or rebuild these homes.

“We are a long way from recovery,” Kimball informed. “The effort to rebuild still requires the support and generosity of all of us. Please do not forget there is still much work to be done.”

Mary Boncada, president of Holy Family Parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society, Union Beach, and one of the voices from the video, offered a similar reminder: “Time has a way of making people forget.  Don’t forget the people who live here.”