Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 5 15 15 tion. This is a ten-year process. Three years ago the story was the water, the homes upside down and washed away. Today, the stories of hardship are still the same," he said. "We need to tell their stories, and keep them in our thoughts and prayers, as our work is far from over." Schwartz estimates that the net- work of Hometown Heroes has helped over ten thousand people in more than two thousand five hun- dred families since its inception in 2008. "We help anyone facing a crisis. These are your friends, your family, your neighbors, and God for- bid, one day, possibly you," he said. One Coat Started It All Manasquan resident and Squan- Strong president Dana Connelly watched the storm shatter her neigh- borhood and community. Within a week, she organized a coat drive, and just like that, SquanStrong was formed. Early assistance efforts by the non-profit organization included feeding several hundred people per day, setting up a distribution center to provide non-perishables, clothes, and cleaning supplies, sending crews to help move, clean or demo, and more. Connelly and her team of SquanStrong volunteers have not stopped supporting those who need assistance as a result of Sandy, even though the perception is that the shore area is recovered. She explained, "There are still individuals who are not back in their homes. These people are not only paying the mortgage on their homes that were severely damaged, they are also pay- ing rent and utilities where they are currently located. In some cases, they are also paying storage fees until their homes are ready." SquanStrong continues to help dis- placed families with housing expens- es, including storage fees and mort- gage bills, and will also aid with the actual physical demands of moving from one dwelling to another. The driving force of SquanStrong is the volunteers who rally quickly and meet the needs of the community. Connelly explained that whether it is a Thanksgiving food drive, a holi- day toy drive, or collecting food and water for the first responders who battled the Seaside boardwalk fire, the people behind the SquanStrong name would do whatever it takes to help those in need. SquanStrong paired up with the Where Angels Play Foundation, which built twenty-six playgrounds to honor the twenty-six victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Connelly stated, "Manasquan's angel was Olivia Engel, and her playground replaced the one that was washed away by Sandy at Sea Watch Beach. SquanStrong raised over ten thousand dollars for that project." What many people do not real- ize is the increase in the amount of families who need assistance during the holiday season, particularly from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Funds are already tight for them, but Sandy's impact further limits the family budget. SquanStrong tries to alleviate some of the financial worries for such families by assisting local churches and schools with col- lection drives and financial support in the southern Monmouth County area every year. All of SquanStrong's officers and board members, including Connelly, are volunteers. With no administra- tive costs, all of the money raised by SquanStrong goes right back to the community. "The SquanStrong motto is that we are paid in hugs and high fives. When we are involved in bring- ing a family home, filling someone's refrigerator, relieving someone of a payment, or donating an appliance, we feel like millionaires," she said. SquanStrong has been honored with several awards, including Mary Pat Christie's Hometown Heroes and one of the Lakewood Blue Claws Sandy's 70 Ovations. "SquanStrong's goal has always been to help those in need in what- ever way we can," Connelly said, "and the reward of volunteering is so much more than what a paycheck provides." Knowing that the next person who might need help is right around the corner, SquanStrong, with Connelly at the helm, will do everything possible to be a source for hope and support for the community. —Jill Ocone For more information or to volunteer, donate, or request assistance: Hometown Heroes, 236 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753 Phone: (732) 473-9400 Website: www.usahometownheroes.com Facebook: USAHometownHero Twitter: @HometownHeroUSA Instagram: @USA_Hometown_Heroes Upcoming fundraising event: 11-1: Annual Zombie Run at Argos Farm in Lacey Township. SquanStrong, P.O. Box 166, Manasquan, NJ 08736 For assistance or information, email: squanstrong@gmail.com; to volunteer, email Donna Phelps: squanstrong2@gmail.com. Facebook: SquanStrong Upcoming fundraising event: 12-5: Holly Jolly Trolley Tour, starting point to be announced, 12:00 noon. SquanStrong paired up with the Where Angels Play Foundation, which built twenty-six play- grounds to honor the twenty-six victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Manasquan's angel was Olivia Engel, and her playground replaced the one that was washed away by Sandy at Sea Watch Beach. Donna Phelps

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