'Small Biz Crawl' to help benefit businesses impacted by East Village explosion

EAST VILLAGE (WABC) -- There is help on the way for the mom and pop businesses hit hardest by the explosion and building collapse in the East Village.

Talk about Good Samaritans; a group dedicated to preserving small businesses is now mounting a campaign to help out the stores hurt by the disaster.

They're putting their money where their mouths are...literally.

There's traffic and people but businesses by the blast site are still reeling.

Jesse Ballan had to close Mocha Cafe for eight days. He's hoping to recoup cash for pay his staff and his bills.

There is some help available from a grassroots group Save NYC.

It's planning a crawl to help these businesses.

Matt Leatherman manages bar Visage where business is down 70%.

He's across from the site. But further north at Paul's Da Burger Joint, and things are starting to pick up there.

But even they'll be happy to see even more customers this weekend.

That doesn't take away from the sadness that people feel. This stretch of 2nd Avenue is very much a community.

For more on the crawl visit: http://www.savenyc.nyc/events/event/small-biz-crawl-for-the-second-ave-explosion-mom-pop-survivors/