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 2 0 15 continued on page 16 courtesy of Steve Brigham As a way to make their goal a real- ity, the Just Believe Boutique thrift store, located on Route 37 West in Toms River, opened in August with all proceeds earmarked for the Code Blue warming center and communi- ty outreaches. "People will support something if they know it's connect- ed to something bigger, and our new boutique does just that," Hulse said. Visitors to the boutique will notice a wall of pictures and an electronic photo slideshow filled with images of those helped by Just Believe and of their mission in the community. Many of Just Believe's volunteers were, at one time, aided by the orga- nization. Hulse said, "The volunteers, they give back, and these pictures are the heart of what we're all about." With a steady stream of traffic since its doors opened, the store sells cloth- ing and accessories as well as practi- cal household items. Just Believe is very transparent about the allocation of their funds. "We are a true and genuine 501(c)(3). We have accountability and a great rapport of making sure the public knows where their donations are being spent," Hulse said. "It's not about how much money is in our bank account; it's about how we can bless someone else." Volunteer Amanda Mehrman, who handles much of the marketing and promotional work for the organiza- tion, has been with Just Believe since its inception. "I am grateful to be a part of this amazing organization and watch all of the lives that are being changed and affected by our impact in our community. We are living in a time where division is catching fire, but we are bringing water to that fight," she said. "We are reach- ing out, filling voids, connecting resources, and restoring hope. Most of all, we are bringing a voice to the voiceless, sight to the overlooked, and changing how people see the impov- erished as we bring the focus back to our community." Just Believe strives to eliminate the stigma and misconception about homelessness. "People are people. They have a name behind their bro- kenness, and our current pandemic is only going to make things worse," Hulse said. "They might have been a lawyer, a wife, a husband before trag- edy struck and they had nowhere to go and nobody to turn to. Our pur- pose is to provide support and bring hope to those in helpless situations." Destiny's Bridge – Ocean County Destiny's Bridge is another 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that evolved out of the former "Tent City" home- less encampments in Lakewood, and more recently, in Howell. Led and founded by former Tent City coordinator and longtime advocate Minister Steve Brigham, Destiny's Bridge assists the homeless by providing shelter, food, clothing, and necessities, all of which are in more demand today because of the current pandemic. "Churches that hosted dinners for the homeless stopped having them. I'm getting daily messages of the dire need for food and water," Brigham said. In order to fulfill the growing need, Brigham makes the rounds each week to pick up donations at a number of drop-off locations, which are then distributed through weekly "Town Square" giveaway events in downtown Lakewood. "Destiny's Bridge is endeav- oring to stand in the gap and fulfill a real and vital need in our community by supplying the basic needs of those who are homeless," he said. Brigham sets up aisles of tables at the weekly Town Square distributions with whatever food, water, cloth- ing, and supplies have been donated throughout the week, and those in need are welcome to take whatever they need. Just because the original Tent City was shut down by local officials in 2014, and the municipal land for its second and governmentally approved location in Howell was sold thus shuttering the camp in 2018, doesn't mean the homeless magically disap- peared. Rather, the homeless Brigham assists are now more spread out. "Two or three individuals might be set up near each other in one area, where a family of five might live a mile away in a different section of woods," Brigham explained. "Yes, there's still a number of homeless living in tents in the woods. Most people drive by every day without realizing that someone's home is a tent right out of eyeshot, and our Town Square giveaways have a steady stream of needy people coming all day long." Like Hulse, Brigham urges the public to abandon their assumption of the typical "homeless" stereotype. "These are people who want to work but either cannot land a job or do not have a way to get back and forth to a job," he said. "There was not one incident at our former Howell encampment that warranted a police call, and drugs and alcohol were strictly off-limits." There's no doubt that the cost of living at the Jersey Shore is high, and In Lakewood and Howell, tents in the woods have been serving as the primary home of many homeless people in the region. People in need attending a Town Square give- away event in downtown Lakewood. Organized by Minister Steve Brigham of Destiny's Bridge, volunteers pick up donations at a number of drop-off locations for the weekly events. courtesy of Steve Brigham

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