WMass nurse helping sick Sandy volunteers

TINTON FALLS, N.J. (WWLP) - Thousands of people in New York and New Jersey impacted by Superstorm Sandy are trying to put their lives back together. Red Cross volunteers from here in Western Massachusetts have been helping victims in those areas.

One of them is Bill Pruyne, a registered nurse from East Longmeadow. He is providing medical care for the more than 6,000 volunteers who are helping with the recovery efforts along the Jersey Shore. Pruyne is working out of the Red Cross’ headquarters in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, just to the west of Asbury Park and Long Branch.

Pruyne’s work is important, as many volunteers have been trying to help out while fighting-off illness.

"We have close quarters where a lot of staff are all staying in the big same room together, and there have been a lot of cold symptoms, a lot of that going around,” Pruyne said.

22News is continuing to follow Red Cross volunteers from western Mass. as they make efforts to help those still suffering in the aftermath of this storm. Anchor Elysia Rodriguez will have live reports from the Jersey Shore on 22News starting at 5.