This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Portland chapter.

It began in the Caribbean on October 19th. In just six hours, it was designated a tropical Storm. October 24th, it tore through Jamaica, and gained momentum as it traveled up the East Coast of the US. Atlantic City was among one of the first cities hit – October 29th saw landfall and the beginning of devastation of Sandy. The time of the month worked against the New York greater area – a full moon made tides 20% higher than they typically would have been.

The superstorm nicknamed “Frankenstorm” put a high of 8.4 million people in 15 states without electricity for days. New York’s acclaimed subway system suffered colossal damages, and more than 15,000 flights were canceled. At least 149 lives have been taken by Sandy, and the neighborhood known as Seaside Heights (put on the map by the infamous cast of Jersey Shore) has almost ceased to exist.

With the mistakes made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina still breathing down our necks, America has taken Superstorm Sandy’s devastation and used it to redeem itself – citizens and government alike are coming together to rebuild the East Coast and bring it back to its glory. College students especially have the power to step up, spread awareness, and make a difference.

We can. We will. Rebuild.

The first is the easiest, and the most realistic for us made in the digital world, and those of us who are struggling college students – Instagram or Tweet with the hashtags #restoretheshore or #loveislouder in order to raise awareness about possible ways you and others can donate either your time or money to help those devastated by Superstorm Sandy. Or take a picture with “Love is Louder Than Sandy” written on your hand or on a sign, and Instagram it or Tweet it. Email your photo or a link to your video to sandy@loveislouder.com. Love Is Louder will compile messages of support and put them together in a video, which they’ll share online (just like these kids from New Orleans!).
Want your tweet to mean something more? With every person that tweets with the hashtag #PatchRebuilds, Patch (a community blogging website) will donate $1 to AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Fund, up to $125,000.
The next is just as easy – all you have to do is text SHORE to 85944 to make an immediate $10 donation.
Moved by all the misplaced pets? Just text ANIMALS to 20222 to make a $10 donation to the Humane Society of the United States in order to help those pets either temporarily misplaced from their family or those that lost their owners from Sandy.
Decide how much money (no matter how big or small) that you can donate, and visit the American Red Cross Society’s website to help provide food, shelter, and emotional support to those affected by Sandy.
Donate $25 here and receive a free MTV music download with 30 songs from the past six seasons of Jersey Shore! All funds raised by MTV will go to Architecture for Humanity, an internationally recognized non-profit that led rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, which is now setting out to help rebuild the famed boardwalk, local businesses and homes in Seaside Heights ravaged by the storm.
Feeling generous? When you donate $250 on the Restore the Shore website, you’ll get your name in an MTV “Thank You” video that will air during a “Jersey Shore” marathon, plus the free MTV music download mentioned in 5!
Feeling extremely generous? A $500 donation at the Restore the Shore website will get your name inscribed on the new Seaside Heights boardwalk that the donation will help rebuild, plus the shout out and the bundle!
Give blood to the Red Cross – numerous blood drives were canceled because of the storm and the Red Cross is in need of donations. Visit their website to schedule a blood donation or get more information about it.