More Help for Hurricane Sandy Victims
WHITFIELD: A lot of runners who traveled to New York City to run in that New York City marathon this morning, instead headed to Staten Island and other areas hit hard by that superstorm Sandy. They delivered relief supplies and helped victims clean out their flooded homes and though the storm's destruction prompted Mayor Michael Bloomberg to cancel the 26 mile race, other runners gathered before dawn at Central Park anyway, intent on running the race they had trained for months to finish. They participated in an unofficial alternative marathon that was organized on Facebook. Celebrity chef and cookbook author Rocco Dispirito was born in Queens and his culinary career has included stops across New York City. So when superstorm Sandy left millions without a decent meal, Dispirito did what he does best. He whipped up some soup and headed to some of the worst hit neighborhoods and started dishing it out. Rocco Dispirito joining me now on the phone, from Staten Island. So Rocco, you have made your rounds, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and now Staten Island. And you have made, home made, chicken noodle soup, what's it been like to hand out so many meals to so many in need? ROCCO DISPIRITO, CELEBRITY CHEF</s>WHITFIELD: How do you even go about making so much soup?</s>DISPIRITO: You know, it's not easy because there's a shortage of fuel, needless to say, and you need fuel to get chicken, supplies, containers, coolers, you know, just a fuel up the car to get to Staten Island, and</s>WHITFIELD: And so now, you made your way to Staten Island, give me kind of some comparison -</s>WHITFIELD: Yes, tell me what you're seeing.</s>DISPIRITO: I see houses with broken doors, windows, piles of debris in front of them. Five, six, eight feet high, containers full of garbage, a lifetime of personal belongings, piled up in front of their homes, clearly damaged by the water.</s>WHITFIELD: And what's within the reaction from people when they see you bringing them these containers of soup. Describe to me what they have been saying to you, what they have been feeling?</s>DISPIRITO: I'm very proud to say there's a lot of our community in action, people are on the ground helping out. I think what they're struggling with is how to get themselves and the food and supplies to the people who need it. And their reactions are, "hot, hot is that hot? I'll take it." You know, it's cold out and it's getting colder, and I think people are looking for something that feels warm in their hands and their bodies. That's why I made sure it's nice and hot when I got out here.</s>WHITFIELD: So where did this idea come from, at what point did you say "Wait a minute. You know, I'm going to try and help out folks?" Did it start kind of small thinking just in your neighborhood and then it just blossomed into more or what?</s>DISPIRITO: Well, the idea of feeding hungry people is not anything new to chefs we all participate in the hunger challenges that many Americans face in some way or another and my food truck is established to feed hungry people and educate children about healthy eating. It was designed for that and now it's really needed more than ever. Although the truck is out of commission thanks to Sandy. My Prius which has only used five gallons of gas the entire week has really been helpful to me in getting this food out to people.</s>WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness and you've been all over Twitter, you know, sharing your information about the latest deliveries you've been making and collecting donations as well. How can people help if they want to?</s>DISPIRITO: You know, I met someone yesterday who raised several thousand dollars and was able to buy a lot of coats and scarves and jackets for very cold people in</s>WHITFIELD: Oh man, you must have an incredible team, looking at some of your tweets right there. My heart goes out to all those affected by #hurricaneSandy.</s>DISPIRITO: There is a family walking by me right now it looks like they've got all of their belongings in a supermarket wagon. It's heartbreaking. It's hard to hold back tears but I do have to say the people are generally upbeat and hopeful which is surprising.</s>WHITFIELD: That is so nice. Well, you're doing an awfully great thing. Rocco Dispirito, thanks for taking the time out as you continue to make your deliveries of that hot, warm your heart soup and taking the time out to talk to us as well.</s>DISPIRITO: My pleasure.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. The weekend just about over, we head back to work tomorrow, the president says there are 171,000 reasons to be excited about the economy. But Mitt Romney, well, he disagrees. We'll get both sides next.