Christmas Tree Emerges From Hurricane Sandy Wreckage

Residents of Union Beach, New Jersey are leaving handmade ornaments and gifts under the tree.

1. Union Beach was devastated by Hurricane Sandy, with over 1,000 homes flooded and 200 left uninhabitable.

The Princess Cottage Inn was completely torn apart. Many of the town’s residents are still unsure they’ll be able to rebuild at all.

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

2. But the “Tree of Hope,” an artificial tree which was pulled from storm wreckage by a local resident, has recently risen.

“The rebuilding of Union Beach — we’re going come back bigger and better than we ever were before,” local Mary Mancini told CBS of the tree’s meaning to her and her daughter. It stands directly across the street from the Princess Cottage Inn.

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

3. Town residents have rallied to decorate the tree.

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

4. They leave handmade ornaments and gifts for those who need them.

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

Image by Wayne Parry / AP

Image by Wayne Parry / AP

Image by Wayne Parry / AP

Image by Michael Loccisano / Getty Images