When Tropical Storm Irene hit East Haven one year ago, the storm and its aftermath brought town residents together in a way no one could have imagined.

Residents came together to help each other deal with the devastation left by the storm-which pummeled the area on Aug. 28, 2011-and clean up the destruction left behind. The residents of the Cosey Beach neighborhood were unquestionably the hardest hit, with about 25 homes lost to the storm. About 20 more were deemed uninhabitable at the time.

There was an outpouring of support for those residents, first from informal efforts, then a more organized effort in the form of People Helping People. The group was created by resident Shawn Hopkinson and from it, Cosey Beach residents had a solid support system upon which to rely. (The group received the president's Volunteer Service Award earlier this year.)

Now, one year after the storm, one member of People Helping People wants town residents to get together, but this time for a happy event. East Haven resident Kristina Nigro is hosting a Hurricane Irene and People Helping People Reunion on Sunday, Sept. 2 from noon to 6 p.m. at the East Haven Town Beach.

Nigro said attendees will gather at either the gazebo on the beach or the gazebo near the splash pad. Admission is free, but food donations to enjoy at the event will be accepted.

"There is a bunch of us who were the core of the group and we've done Christmas together," said Nigro, who she said she really wanted to reconnect with the larger group of people from the beach. "These are people I would love to see again."

Nigro isn't a Cosey Beach resident, but, after the storm hit, she felt compelled to head to the beach to offer some help.

"I was unemployed and wasn't affected by the storm. I had electricity," she said. "I felt like I should be doing something."

She, along with other People Helping People volunteers, helped affected residents get supplies they needed, such as bottled water.

Nigro, a life-long East Haven resident, has single-handedly coordinated the reunion. She recently hand delivered flyers about the event to residents along the Cosey Beach area.

This reunion won't be the first time that the storm volunteers have reconnected with the beach and its residents since Tropical Storm Irene hit the area, Nigro noted. She said the volunteers collected donations at last year's East Haven Fall Festival. There was also a benefit concert held last October to raise additional funds.

"It went beyond what happened down there" at the beach, said Nigro.

Nigro said she hopes the reunion becomes an annual event. She said interest in a reunion is definitely there.

"I was at the St. Clare Church carnival and ran into a resident [of the beach area]. She said she wondered if anyone would" hold a reunion, added Nigro.

For more information about the reunion or to donate to the event, contact Nigro at 203-506-6704 or nigro444@yahoo.com. The event also has a Facebook page: Hurricane Irene and People Helping People Reunion.