They say the best teachers leave lasting impressions. For Trinity School's athletics coach Fred Toborg, the saying rings true. Toborg and his wife, Barbara, were among the many families whose homes were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. In a touching display of support, a community of alumni rose to his aid. One of the former students, Chip Brian, happens to be the co-owner of Design Development NYC, an interiors company that specializes in architectural restoration. When he learned about the Toborgs' predicament, he volunteered to rebuild their home for free.
As residents of Broad Channel, Queens, the Toborgs' home of 28 years was compromised due to its proximity to the area's salt marshes. Fred Toborg told NY1, "I just had to laugh at the mess, because you can't cry, you just have to take things the way they come and do the best you can."
Brian's firm is dedicated to implementing a greener approach to their projects, which is why their construction plans involved renovating the couple's home in a more sustainable fashion. According to Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President of the World Resources Institute, rebuilding wrecked shoreline homes can benefit from green infrastructures since they reduce a home's vulnerability against future storms.
Crises often bring communities together and inspire remarkable support systems. Design Development NYC is just one company that is offering aid in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Aside from relief organizations and donations, we've come across other companies who have offered their services to Sandy victims.
To learn more about the couple's story, head over to NY1's report.
Companies Helping Sandy Victims
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story referred to the designer as Chris Bryan. It has been corrected to Chip Brian.
Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.
**
Do you have a home story idea or tip? Email us at homesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)