The Catholic Response to Superstorm Sandy: A Six Month Report

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May 23, 2013

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The Catholic Response to Superstorm Sandy A Six-month Report Oct. 29, 2012 - April 29, 2013 Hurricane Sandy, Diocese of Trenton

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Superstorm Sandy: A Six Month Report

The Monitor

A uniquely Catholic story

By Rayanne Bennett Executive Director of Communications

“There are 8 million stories in the Naked City . . . “

T

he famous line from the 1948 crime drama comes to mind when we consider the human drama that began to unfold Oct. 29, 2012 with the arrival of Superstorm Sandy to the Jersey shore. Every person, every family and every community in the most impacted areas of Monmouth and Ocean Counties have a life-changing story, one more gripping than the next.

Over these past six months, like many media outlets, The Monitor has dedicated many pages of coverage to the storm.

We reported primarily on the ways that our Catholic community was engaged in survival, relief, recovery and rebuilding, mindful, all the while, that these stories were but the tip of the iceberg of all that was happening within the Church in response to the storm.

Running through all of the stories, those published and those yet unreported, is the common thread of the Catholic community coming together in response to the tragedy – from individuals and families who donated funds and goods to the relief effort, to parishes who opened their doors to survivors and collected emergency supplies, to youth groups who went out to help residents clean up, and now to the legions of parish volunteers and Catholic social service staff who are helping folks rebuild their lives.

We have also seen this understanding of being one family in Christ put into action across the country, as Catholic organizations, schools and families reached out to us with immeasurable love and support that continues to this day.

A review of the funds donated to the Diocesan Hurricane Relief Effort underscores the expansive response to the call for help. Of the $1 million that was sent in, about half was collected in parishes of the diocese, many of whom were dealing with their own needs caused by the storm. The other half was given by dioceses across the nation, and many individuals and groups. Together, they formed a massive Catholic network in support of the victims.

To mark the six-month anniversary of the storm’s devastating toll, we have elected to tell one of these countless stories – that of Visitation Parish in Brick, and its witness to storm victims from the very first day. What we see with this parish, and the massive outreach effort it has put together, is that it embodies the same dynamic that has been seen in every story – one of compassion, unity, cooperation with civil entities and coalition-building with other social service agencies and resources.

In Visitation Relief Center, we also see the Church’s commitment to staying the course with the families who continue to struggle under the burden of reclaiming their lives. And just as that is happening in Brick, so too is it happening in the more than 30 locations throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties, where parishes and social service programs continue to operate help sites, and share with those in need the gifts that have been given by others.

On behalf of Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., and our Office of Catholic Social Services, I thank the men, women, teens and children, the dioceses and the groups, all who have reached out to help in the relief and recovery effort simply because their love of Christ compels them. What has been done in Christ’s name, could not have happened without each and every act of generosity and compassion. As you will see in the pages that follow, you have made a real difference in the lives of people who have truly suffered. And you have sent a message, loud and clear, that we are truly one family in Christ.

Taking the Lead – During a staff meeting, volunteers listen intently as Christie Winters, Visitation Relief Center project director, gives an update on the various services the center provides to hurricane victims. Jeff Metzner photo

Jersey Strong

Visitation Parish volunteers reach out with lifelines of faith, hope, consolation the day after the storm, reaching to date, more than 3,000 families whose lives, homes, jobs and ix months out from Superstorm Sandy, only those who go communities were dealt looking for the wreckage or those affected by it have a true bitter blows by Sandy.

Located on just a bit of picture of what the events of Oct. 29, 2012 wrought on the a promontory on the spit area it sliced through. of land that connects the Tracking the hideous storm by going zip-code to zip-code as mainland to the Mantoloking Bridge and the some studies have done, brings the situation into especially sharp bridge to devastated secfocus along the length of the Ocean County coastline where some tions of the barrier island including the catastrophiof the worst damage occurred. cally damaged borough There, countless houses, businesses and tourist attractions still of Mantoloking, the tip precariously off their foundations or stand mired in mold as parish opened its doors and its arms to all those their owners struggle against the tide of paperwork and regulain the area impacted by tions that followed in the wake of Sandy to reclaim their property the storm within hours of Sandy’s departure. and their lives.

With the support and This is the story of how a parish in one of the zip codes most approval of the pastor, badly damaged by the storm rallied immediately, offering unceasing Father Albert Ricciardelli and the parish staff that help, consolation and inspiration to thousands of storm victims. first weekend, a corps of volunteers led by parishioner Christie Winters, Weathering the Storm swooped in to assist the beleaguered community.

What began as a spontaneous relief effort on a The 08723 zip code of Brick is a 12.9 square-mile parish level soon transformed into a comprehensive area criss-crossed by small streams and estuaries and ongoing full-time recovery effort knit together and bounded by Barnegat Bay and the Metedeby way of sheer faith and will power from the conk River. One recent study indicates that when fabric of Catholic social teaching as Winters, a lay these bodies of water swelled under the pressure of Vincentian, aptly put it.

Sandy and overflowed their banks, the area sus“We were able to set the gears in motion because tained 28 percent of the overall damage inflicted by of (parish) experience with St. Vincent de Paul,” the Oct. 29 storm. she said during a recent interview. “Because of that In this badly impacted area, a lifeline known as Visitation Parish has been in motion steadily since See Visitation | P S-3

By Lois Rogers Features Editor

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Visitation Parish beacon of hope for many Continued from P S-2 experience, we knew how to organize.”

The gears would turn quickly, cranking the operation up from an emergency soup kitchen and distribution center in the church basement and direct outreach to the flooded neighborhoods, to become the Visitation Relief Center housed in a rented, one-time garden center next door to the campus.

In rapid succession, partnerships arose with the Trenton Diocese on many levels, including the Office of Catholic Social Services, which oversees the Hurricane Relief Effort in conjunction with Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the diocesan Department of Property and Construction.

The week after the storm, the Catholic Charities U.S.A. disaster relief team led by Gabe Tischler, disaster relief coordinator, was on site offering “on the job” training.

It was gratefully acResponse Unit first cepted said Winters activated after 9/11 and Vicki Cottrell, and reactivated in pastoral and busithe wake of Sandy. ness administrator The painting in Visitation Parish, came just after other who noted that their volunteers finished volunteers had no framing walls to experiences in hurdivide the offices ricane relief. for 10 additional The scores of Catholic Charivolunteers evolved ties caseworkers. into teams of “warDownstairs, volunriors” who helped teers also framed storm victims cope out sleeping quarwith ever emergters for up to 30 ing and shifting “rebuild” volunteer needs. Soon there teams expected to were “warriors” at roll in from across the help desk, food the nation this sum“warriors” continumer to help rehab ing to stock and disdamaged homes. tribute an estimated Over at the front 450,000 pounds of Ever Grateful – Denise and Jim Smith and their three children will never forget the assistance they desk, volunteers, food and clothing, received from their parish community after the hurricane severely damaged their home. The Visita- many of whom had warriors helping tion Relief Center helped the family to obtain temporary housing as well as basic living necessities. their homes damvictims prepare Rosemary Daniels photo aged by Sandy, their taxes, FEMA were assisting families as they applied for parishes and faith communities from the applications and the like. There were “Eco help with meeting their needs. About 15 immediate area, Knights of Columbus Warriors” fanning out into neighborhoods first-time applicants still trickle in a week’ councils and local scout troops as well as to help clean up the muck that had mired said Winters. the business community – locally and from the wetlands, said Winters and Cottrell.

She explained that these latecomers are around the state and nation – and chariAs efforts continued, some 14 other largely families and individuals too proud table organizations, joined in. to seek help right away and those who took Damaged homes were cleaned and guta while to realize they couldn’t handle the ted. Some 42 displaced families got help situation by themselves. with finding housing. Bills were paid, gift The constant action and assistance, begun cards provided, Christmas presents for 286 the day after the storm, never stops, Winters children who lost all their material possesand Cottrell reflected. It only increases. sions to the storm were purchased.

“All of the warriors are fighting for the By the Numbers families,” said Winters one recent WednesIn the first few days following the hurriday as she and Cottrell sat in what they cane, Winters drew upon her years of experirefer to as “the quiet room” carved out of ence as a lay Vincentian to create intake forms the old walk-in florist’s refrigerator in the that could help people get the help they heart of the Visitation Relief Center. needed. “Because of St. Vincent de Paul, we Volunteer teams had been pouring in to knew how to keep the numbers,” she said. assist from all over the state and the nation, “We knew how to build our data bases. they noted. Just outside the door of the St. We had the paperwork and we were able to Vincent de Paul office, the place was bussee the need,” said Winters. tling: volunteers from Americorps, in from “Lots of people have said, ‘where’s the Hawaii to New Orleans to Virginia to New Meeting of the Minds – At the Diocesan ChanCatholic Church in all this,’” said Winters.

York, were stocking food pantry shelves as cery, Lawrenceville, Daughter of Charity Sister “I tell them ‘right where we’ve always a FEMA crew worked on nearby wetlands.

Joanne Dress, diocesan executive director of been.’ We’ve always had a large social A group from United Parcel Service was Catholic Social Services, right, gets an update service network in place and what we do, finishing up painting the newly refurfrom Vicki Cottrell, pastoral and business adminiswe do on a daily basis. You can go from zip bished second floor which would house the trator in Visitation Parish, left, and Christie Winters, See Relief | P S-4 offices of the Catholic Charities Emergency relief center project director. Mary Stadnyk photo

At The Ready – Hurricane relief volunteers Kate Gioglio of Sacred Heart Parish, Bay Head, pictured left, and Chele Ehrola of Visitation Parish, stock shelves and organize supplies in Visitation Relief Center. Jeff Metzner photo

“All of the warriors are fighting for the families.”

To read more stories on the Catholic response to Sandy, go to: TrentonMonitor.com and click on News/ Hurricane Sandy.

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Superstorm Sandy: A Six Month Report

Rebuilding a Home and Lives – Smith family members examine damage to their property from Superstorm Sandy. Photo courtesy of the Smith Family

The Monitor

From Treasure to Trash – Piled in the Smith’s yard are possessions that were destroyed in the hurricane. Photo courtesy of the Smith Family

Relief Center’s prepared to offer ongoing assistance

“FEMA surveys taken after the storm showed that over 20,000 homes in Brick, Toms River and the Barrier Island, all within 10 miles of Visitation Parish, were damaged by Superstorm Sandy”

Faith First – In the midst of challenges resulting from the hurricane, the Smith family has chosen to remain positive and dedicated to their Catholic faith. Rosemary Daniels photo

Continued from P S-3 code to zip code with St. Vincent de Paul and there is coverage.”

FEMA surveys taken after the storm showed that over 20,000 homes in Brick, Toms River and the Barrier Island, all within 10 miles of Visitation Parish, were damaged

by Superstorm Sandy. Of these an estimated 60 percent sustained serious damage that rendered them unlivable said Winters.

Because of the record keeping process, Visitation Relief Center was able to show: that more than $1.5 million in goods had been donated; that the “Warriors” had established policies and procedures ensuring this help reached those who needed it and that there was a firm commitment and process in place to help families not only now but in the future.

And because of the record keeping, oth-

ers were able to see the need as well, said Winters and Cottrell. To date, the Visitation Relief Center has received two major grants – $120,000 from the Robin Hood Foundation and $75,000 from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Those monies are specifically dedicated to building the sleeping quarters that will be used for volunteers coming in from around the country, a delivery truck, tools for the tool lending library, which has become such a vital help to so many homeowners, and salaries for temporary staff to assist at the center.

Winters said that when they realized the need for help would be ongoing, she spent a month combing Brick for available space “that the National Guard wasn’t using or FEMA wasn’t using … and then I opened my eyes and looked and there was the

garden center at the edge (parish property) empty and looking for a tenant. Father Ricciardelli said go for it and the Trenton Diocese responded very quickly with legal help to get the lease going.

“The reaction was immediate. The diocese helped push things along and the lease was ready in a week,” Cottrell said.

The Help Never Stopped Denise and Jim Smith and their three children are just one example among hundreds of those who received help on an ongoing basis by Visitation Parish and its support team.

Long time parishioners, they survived Sandy, which swamped their house in the See Visitation | P S-5

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Visitation Relief Center’s been a steadfast presence in Brick Continued from P S-4 Baywood section of Brick with four feet of water, pushing the floors and foundation up, lifting the house off the foundation and creating what Jim Smith describes as a vacuum that sucked up everything from baseball bats, mitts and pictures of people from as far away as Lavallette inside.

Six months later, he reflects: “It did amazing things to our house.”

They narrowly escaped the incoming flood.

The family had found safe harbor with friends and fellow parishioners Charles and Barbara Dealmeida and their three children.

Other Visitation parishioners in similar situations also sought refuge in the Dealmeida household arriving in different intervals and before long, 13 children, eight adults and two dogs were sharing the two story, Colonial, three-bedroom house.

When they were able to venture outside, they saw a landscape in such disorder, that the families sprinkled a bottle of holy water on the ground around the house and prayed for God’s protection.

As the families huddled together in the house where they would remain for 65 days, 10 days without electricity, they could only imagine how badly the area had faired.

The day after the storm, fearing the worst, the families were surprised to “suddenly see a little vehicle pull up and people get out with coffee, hot chocolate, gloves, clothes and things to make you smile,” Smith said.

“They said, ‘Hi, we’re from Visitation Parish. We saw you guys and we’re here to help. They listened to us, they talked to us. They watched us cry and cried with us. The Church showed up for each of us.

Once they knew we were there, they were consistently checking,” Smith said.

“They took our information, they called us on cell phones asking what we needed.

They showed up with meals and canned goods and helped the families stay afloat.”

Throughout their time in the refuge the support never wavered, the assistance never flagged, Smith said. “The Church took better care of us than the Red Cross and the government. It’s been beautiful what they’ve done.”

Remaining steadfast, the Visitation Relief Center would see to it that the Smiths were among the scores of families assisted with temporary housing.

Just before Christmas, mindful that Riley, 10, the youngest of the three Smith children, had to be hospitalized for a time in Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Hospital, New Brunswick for an ongoing lung condition, Visitation volunteers went searching for a house the family could rent.

They contacted another Visitation Parish family who offered to let the Smith family live in their bungalow in the Cherry Quay section of town until their own house is restored.

Reflecting on all the support the family has received from their parish, Smith says: “From all the people who call to check on us and just say hi, to finding us this house to stay in, from everything that’s happened, we’ve learned one thing: you have to pay it forward.”

Beautifying the Landscape – FEMA volunteers dig a trench to plant trees around the Visitation Relief Center.

Helping Hand – Chele Ehrola, a member of Visitation Parish and volunteer with the Visitation Relief Center, assists Hurrican Sandy victim Jeremy Lopez of Brick with clothes and supplies.

Onward Catholic ‘Warriors’

By all accounts, as summer approaches, the long-range plan for the Visitation Relief Center is progressing well.

Maria Nikolatos, program director for Catholic Charities Disaster Response Program with offices in the second floor, described the impact of the storm on the Brick area as “very overwhelming. This is a unique area. You don’t realize that there are miles and miles of coastal road here. The impact has been severe.”

There have been a lot of new challenges to meet, she said, and it has become clear that “this is not going to go away in a year.”

Catholic Charities counselors have responded to some 800 calls for help and face-to-face meetings have been held, mainly with people trying to find housing, she said.

At the six-month mark after a disaster, the requests for help often come from “individuals who thought they had it under control and put off seeking help because they felt other people needed help more.

Feeding the Hungry – Volunteer and help desk coordinators, Phyllis Nagy and Darren O’Neill, organize food supplies in Visitation Relief Center. Jeff Metzner photos

“These are people who have reached their limit and are completely overwhelmed,” Nikolatos said.

It’s important to be there for them, Nikolatos said. As the media coverage abates, she worries about these folks falling off the radar screen. “We need to keep the doors open. So many people think everything is ok because the boardwalks are ok.

That’s what we’re hearing from a lot of our families.”

At the Visitation Relief Center, the volunteer teams expected from all over the country who will take part in the ongoing effort to salvage homes, were to begin rolling in May 15.

From the sense of expectation in the center, it’s clear to see that everyone is on the same page about keeping the doors open.

The warriors plan to continue taking care of the supplies that continue to flow in, from bedding to home goods to tools.

And Father Ricciardelli finally thinks things are steady enough at this point that he asked that the center close down on Sundays to “keep the Lord’s day,” Winters said.

To read more go to ...

Voices of the Storm on

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Superstorm Sandy: A Six Month Report

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Assisting the Cause – In photo at far left, a volunteer from St. William the Abbot Parish, Howell, organizes donations food and other goods to be distributed to areas hard hit by the hurricane. Craig Pittelli photo

Mighty Task – At Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Highlands, volunteers unload the generous donations of food items, clothing and other necessities to be given to people impacted by the hurricane. Sister Joanne Dress photo

The Catholic response to Hurricane Sandy

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inquiries about donations that were needed and where they could take them started pouring in. Diocesan personnel connected donors and needs using information published on diocesan websites.

Many of our parishes further inland partnered with specific shore parishes/communities and began deliveries of supplies.

Other parishes became drop sites for whole counties and provided transport of supplies to shore communities.

Donations came from all over the country. Groups offering to bring trucks and vans full of supplies were encouraged to contact help sites before arrival and check to be sure that specific donations were still needed.

n Oct. 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy (now more correctly called Superstorm Sandy) hit the New Jersey shore causing tremendous damage to shore communities. In the Diocese of Trenton, all four counties were affected with Ocean and Monmouth Counties most severely impacted.

Compiled by Daughter of Charity Sister Joanne Dress Executive Director, Office of Catholic Social Services

Phase One: Parishes Our parishes responded immediately to the needs of those devastated by the storm.

Outreach services that existed pre-Sandy were opened to residents providing food, clothing, personal hygiene items, blankets, flashlights, batteries, etc. – all items that would help keep them warm, fed and dry.

Family members and neighbors took in those whose homes were destroyed. Temporary shelters were set up in churches, schools, parish halls and community centers. Hot food was prepared and distributed by parishes, local restaurants and community organizations.

Help Sites The diocese immediately set up Hurricane Relief hotlines and published over 20 “help sites”: lists of parishes and Catholic social service agencies who were providing hurricane relief. These help sites listed phone contacts, addresses and lists of needed donations. People calling our diocesan phone or email help lines were connected with the closest resource. The diocese organized assistance through its networks if the help requested could not be addressed by a local parish.

Donations/Volunteers Almost immediately, offers of help and

Consolidation Several weeks after the storm hit, a movement toward consolidation of sites that were providing basic needs occurred. Items being stored in churches and schools were moved to community sites where people from various religious, civic and business groups came together to provide help to thousands.

Eventually, these sites closed and the next phase of disaster response began.

Phase TWO: Diocesan Collection On Nov. 8, 2012, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., sent a letter to all parishes in the diocese asking that pastors of parishes which had not been severely impacted

by Hurricane Sandy conduct a special collection at all Masses on the weekend of Nov.

17-18 for those parishes that were. Bishop O’Connell indicated that the collected funds would be used to provide relief in the form of food, clothing and supplies, as well as financial assistance to affected individuals and families who live in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Donations received from the parishes, individual donations, and donations from other dioceses and groups were placed in the Diocesan Hurricane Relief Fund to be used for this purpose. Parishes that were affected by the storm and received direct donations were able to retain those funds for use locally.

Diocese of Trenton, Long Term Recovery Plan The Diocese developed and published its long-term recovery plan Dec. 1, 2012.

The plan outlined the Catholic social service agencies in the Diocese, the services they would provide and information on hotlines to access these services.

Coordination of Financial Assistance from Diocesan Hurricane Relief Fund Diocesan Catholic Social Services agencies and, in particular, the parish–based St. Vincent de Paul Conferences and various parish social concerns groups accepted the invitation to work with the Diocese to coordinate financial assistance. A process for distribution of Diocesan Hurricane Relief Funds was established with trainings, forms and lines of communication. All financial assistance included protocols for assessment, collection of back-up documentation, and support services from the Diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services. Financial assistance was provided by the local St. See Many | P S-7

How to Help – Many needs still exist across the Diocese, and the majority of the original relief fund has been distributed. If you would like to support the Long-term Recovery Plan for Superstorm Sandy victims, go to www.dioceseoftrenton.org/hurricanerelief or send a check made out to the Diocese of Trenton to 701 Lawrenceville Road, P.O. Box 5147, Trenton, NJ, 08638-0147 (please note Hurricane Relief in the memo). For more information, call Sister Joanne Dress at the Hurricane Relief Line: 609-406-7417.

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Many hearts, hands join to help those in need

Heartbreaking Sight — An extensively damaged home in Ortley Beach. Monitor

Continued from P S-6 Vincent de Paul Conference, the parish social concerns group or the Catholic social service agency.

Transmittal and intake forms were submitted to the diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services and reimbursed within a 3 to 10 day period through the assistance of the diocesan Finance Department.

photo by Mary Morrell

Parish Social Concerns Groups, St. Vincent de Paul Conferences and Project Paul • Four parish social concern groups, 26 St. Vincent de Paul Conferences and Project Paul are working together with the Diocese to distribute financial assistance from the Diocesan Hurricane Relief Fund (for a list of the parishes that are distributing diocesan funding, go to www.dioceseoftrenton.org/ hurricanerelief).

• As of 4/29/2013 these groups have met with and assisted 953 families affected by Hurricane Sandy, distributing $833,846.87 from the Diocesan Relief Fund. The funds were distributed according to requests received. (See chart for specific allocations.)

• The St. Vincent de Paul Society also received money from the Robin Hood Foundation, the Hovnanian Foundation and donations given to individual conferences by parishioners.

• More than $92,035 in non-monetary items have been distributed.

(SVDP) • More than 13,050 volunteer hours have been given for Hurricane Relief (SVDP-approx.)

Project Paul – Keansburg (Report submitted by Sal Cortale, executive director) In the past, Project Paul has used networking and donations to try to help those clients that fall through the cracks of eligibility for available

Providing Outreach – Bolger School, Keansburg, was a designated outreach center where folks from the Bayshore area could access basic necessities. Ken Falls photo

assistance programs. The speed of Hurricane Sandy and the immense impact upon the poor of our community revealed more and more immediate gaps in getting assistance to those most affected. The fund from the Diocese of Trenton allowed us to reach out to help bridge those gaps in a most timely and efficient manner As of today, Project Paul has brought “home” all its services to the 211 Carr Avenue building. We stand as a “Sandy victim” that has returned, rebuilt, and re-created. Standing strong again in the neighborhood, we continue to witness to the result of cooperation, working to assist others because so many have generously assisted us.

Going forward: • We are working to strengthen the infrastructure that supports the Client Services program: specifically, the income from the thrift shop and furniture store • We are waiting as our clients return home and need basics such as housewares and furniture • We are ready to encourage and assist our clients as they strive to regain a fragile balance in recov-

Prayerful Hope – After having been closed for two weeks following the hurricane, the communities of St. Joseph School and Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River, celebrated their return to the classroom Nov. 12 with a Mass in St. Joseph Church. Craig Pittelli photo

ery mode, by providing networking and publishing employment related opportunities.

• We are aware of the shortage of available housing and, because this issue is even more critical now, we will continue to provide assistance for rent and utilities.

Our neighbors include those whose jobs depend on the reopening of local businesses, who used all resources in order to survive in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane before the Red Cross or other assistance could arrive, who lost everything all at once, who are still waiting to bring their families home.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton Catholic Charities is working as part of the Diocesan Long Term Recovery plan. The agency offers important services that supplement and complement services offered through the parishes, and include case management, trauma counseling and financial assistance. Catholic Charities has been an active participant of the Long Term Recovery Groups of both Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

DISTRIBUTION BY NEED:

DISTRIBUTION BY AREA:

(Report submitted by Marlene Lao-Collins, executive director of Catholic Charities, and Robert Hodnett, Disaster Response Program)

Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 30,455.00

Ocean/South. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 134,958.73

Services provided to date:

Clothing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,069.18

Ocean/North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136,842.45

Personal Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,826.93

Monmouth/Bayshore . . . . . . . . . . . 357,926.86

Cleaning Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,275.00

Monmouth/Coastal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,967.78

Household (Furnishings). . . . . . . . . 316,501.18

Monmouth/Central. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,413.47

Rent, Security, Mortgage. . . . . . . . . 304,433.55

Monmouth/West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,193.01

Utilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61,585.88

Burlington. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,544.57

Emergency Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,960.75

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,000.00

Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,739.40

TOTAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 833,846.87

TOTAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 833,846.87

*money forwarded to parishes as seed money.

As of 4/29/13 • 953 families served

• Disaster case management has been or is being provided to 393 families.

• $325,756 has been provided in direct financial assistance to families.

• Approximately $82,000 worth of gift cards have been distributed.

• 227 counseling sessions have been provided to people suffering from storm-related trauma.

We have provided the following services to or with parishes: • We have partnered with Visitation Parish, Brick, to provide case

management and counseling services on site at the parish and now at the parish’s relief center.

• We have connected Visitation with the Children’s Health Fund (CHF), which is providing a mobile health unit onsite at the Visitation Relief Center every Saturday.

• Through CHF, compassion fatigue training was provided to the staff and volunteers of Visitation Parish and St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville.

Catholic Charities has not accessed the diocesan fund. They have received and are utilizing the following funding: • State contract to provide disaster case management statewide until October, 2014 ($8.7 million).

• Robin Hood Foundation to provide mental health counseling ($62,000).

• Robin Hood Foundation to hire a resource specialist to identify existing resources and help develop others ($75,000).

• Wakefern Corporation has given CC $30,000 worth of Shop-Rite gift cards.

• OceanFirst Foundation - $50,000.

• Diocese of Allentown, PA - $72,000.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton is the managing agency for the statewide delivery of Disaster Case Management services, funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A grant of $8.7 million will be used to coordinate disaster case management amongst the five Catholic Charities in New Jersey.

Disaster case management differs from other individual disasters assistance programs at federal and state levels. It is available to anyone who has been impacted by Sandy, regardless of the amount of funds or assistance that may have already been received, and regardless of prior See Church | P S-8

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Church does much to bring calm after storm Continued from P S-7 enrollment with FEMA. The case managers will help survivors to develop a recovery plan, find resources, and provide one-on-one advice to help find solutions to unmet needs.

Direct financial assistance under this grant is not available, but case managers will make referrals to other sources within Catholic Charities or other organizations that provide it. The grant runs from April 1, 2013- Oct. 30, 2014. If you or someone you know can benefit from disaster case management, please call 877-510-6762 for more information.

St. Francis Community Center, Long Beach Island Report submitted by Constance Becraft, executive director • St. Francis Center on Long Beach Island reopened as of Jan. 2, 2013 after relocating to St. Mary of the Pines, Manahawkin.

• The Center Food Pantry which also relocated during Sandy is back in the center while awaiting return to permanency in Beach Haven.

During our recovery we have: ~~ Restored full service to 60 preschool children and their working families; ~~ Completed a shortened Preparatory Basketball program for 125 youths, ages 8-13, and ~~ Located our displaced senior clients and made arrangements for them to be assisted with food, shelter and household items as needed.

Long term disaster relief services have begun and include: • Case management, financial assistance, information and referral.

• A case manager, which comes under the St. Francis Human Concerns office, was provided through funding from the Catholic Cam-

Moral Support – St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, along with other churches in northern Monmouth County, held a special program that was geared toward helping those affected by the hurricane in early December. The program featured presentations by Mel Bennett, a licensed counselor who deals with anxiety disorders, and psychologist Joseph Colford.

Rosemary Daniels photo

paign for Human Development.

• The Disaster Relief office which was set up in February has directed more than 100 families to supportive services available within St. Francis Center.

• St. Francis has provided families with young children and individuals, currently residing with elderly family members, long term disaster relief services available throughout southern Ocean County.

• St. Francis Counseling Center is offering individual, family and group counseling to anyone affected by Sandy. The services are provided at no cost through grants from Ocean First Foundation, Toms River, $10,000 and Holy Name Province, NYC. Approximately 24,000 to purchase EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitized equipment and (Counselor and EMDR supplies) will assist with counseling for victims of super storm Sandy. Individual and group counseling services related to Sandy to date approximately 35.

• Client advocacy continues to be the main objective. We navigate and advocate for individuals and families filing claims regarding their FEMA applications, building regulations and insurance issues.

• Counseling and supportive services continue to be offered throughout Southern Ocean County. Many clients displaced

by Sandy are living north county waiting to return.

• St. Francis Center reinstated regular hours as of Monday 3/11/13.

Hours of operation are Monday 9-6, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9-9, Fri. 9-8 Sat, 9-1 closed Sunday until further notice.

Funding St. Francis Community Center has received the following funding for Hurricane Relief: • OceanFirst: $50,000 • Community Foundation of New Jersey: $10,000 • Robin Hood Foundation: $105,000 • Bishop’s Appeal 2012: $11,000 Total amount received: $176,000

Visitation Relief Center – Brick Report submitted by Christie Winters, director Visitation Relief Center is an outreach program of Visitation Parish, Brick. We have established a “Relief Center” in a building located next to the parish complex. We have invited various organizations to partner with us and offer services at the Relief Center.

Actions taken to date include: • Obtained Long term Relief Center 721 Mantoloking Road, Brick.

• Received a grant for $120,000 from the Robin Hood Foundation for construction of volunteer housing, hire volunteer, help desk and driver coordinators, along with funding to buy a truck.

• Distributed more than $1,5 million in goods donated to Visitation Relief Center.

Warehouse • Brought on a volunteer warehouse coordinator • Established a volunteer Warehouse Team

Vocation of Service – Ten men who are second-year candidates in the diocesan diaconate formation program assisted with hurricane relief efforts in Visitation Relief Center, Brick, April 27. Among the tasks the candidates performed included removing tree branches and debris on about four acres of property; cleaning trees and shrubs from an area where a walk-way is planned to be built, and reinstalling approximately 40 feet of six-foot-high fencing and support posts. Photo courtesy of Deacon-candidate, John Isaac

Community Garden • Working with Rutgers and Monmouth/Ocean County food bank for donation of cucumbers and tomatoes.

• Cleaned up Visitation Relief Center property to prepare for planting seedlings • Gathered many pots for our families to be able to have their own tomato plants because the land around houses affected by Hurricane Sandy is not plantable in most places • Working with Brick Township Parks and Recreation to plant new tree line along Relief Center.

Tool Lending Library • Built out storage for more tools • Grant from Catholic Campaign for Human Development to buy tools for teams and families to use for rebuilding – ($75,000) Help Desk • Hired a Help Desk Coordinator • Built a Help Desk Team Eco Warriors • Built a volunteer team to help out with cleaning up our wetlands • Cleaned up Dingy Park National Reserve • Cleaned up Gale Road • Working with Brick Township for local forest and wetland clean ups • Helping to replant dune grass along the beaches Volunteer Coordination • Working on Visitation Volunteer sign up sheet • Hired volunteer coordinator • Almost fully booked for the year 2013 with Catholic Rebuild teams Food Bank • Built new shelving to store food • Obtained three deep freezers and one fridge to help with the donation of fresh goods.

• Partnered with Monmouth ocean county food bank and ocean county hunger relief

Partners St. Vincent de Paul Society • Providing case management • Helping with direct financial assistance to our families • Helping with donation of goods Catholic Charities • Providing case management for our families • Renting our office space Hope and Healing • Started support groups for children and teens affected by hurricane • Helping our families daily with consoling and support Children’s Health Fund • Providing free health care for families in our area American Red Cross • We are providing office space one day a week for our families to meet with the American Red Cross for intake and granting money.