5K Raises Money For Homeless Vets

By Chris Lundy TOMS RIVER – A long journey starts with

a few steps.

At the end of the road is Larry’s Home, transitional housing that will be for homeless veterans trying to get back on their feet. Part of that journey took place at Winding River Park, where Just Believe held their first 5K run/walk and 1K run/walk.

Just Believe runs the township’s Code Blue center at Riverwood Park, which opens its doors on nights when temperatures approach freezing. CEO Paul Hulse called the 5K “A beautiful day, a wonderful event to help and support our disenfranchised and homeless. Every step, every breath was focused on raising funds to support our community in need.”

He told this newspaper that the event raised $3,500 for Larry’s Home and that they hope to do another 5K in the future.

“We walk by faith and not by sight,” Hulse said.

Larry’s Home would be named after Hulse’s childhood friend Larry Robertiello. He served two tours in Kuwait and Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served from October of 2001 to July of 2004, reaching the rank of Specialist in the Army and receiving four medals. He worked as a plumber in his civilian life. However, when he got home, he suffered from PTSD and addiction, which claimed his life.

A year-round shelter would be a transitional facility, because the goal is to make them in- dependent. Additionally, having one location gives them the consistency that fosters safety, trust, and a home base for them to get the services they need to get back on their feet.

Several religious and other welfare groups host overnight shelters, filling in the gap in service because Ocean County’s leaders refuse to establish a permanent shelter. Many have explained that it can be paid for by a fund fueled by a $5 fee on every real estate transaction but the County Commissioners said they didn’t want to charge people that.

Hulse thanked the supporters and participants for their help in this endeavor. For more information, visit JustBelieveInc. org.

–Photo courtesy Just Believe The Just Believe inaugural fundraising 5-K was a great success.

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Sunday Worship Services of Holy Communion at 10 a.m. &Wednesday spoken

Holy Communion at 9 a.m.

Christ Lutheran Church

Tel:

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The Rev. Dr. J. Francis Watson, Pastor

40 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, NJ 08759

Phone 732.350.0900 • Fax 732.350.0343

E-mail: christlutheranchurch2@verizon.net

Website: christlutheranwhiting.com

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890 Toms River Road in Jackson - is actually part of the Manchester School district and services students with special needs and intellectual challenges.

Funds were raised for this year’s prom and graduation through the annual Penguin Plunge held at Harry Wright Lake. School

Principal Lisa Michallis noted that “$6,500 was raised through the Penguin Plunge.”

“This year’s prom theme was Alice in Wonderland. Part of the donations have been used for this year’s event which includes a DJ and catered lunch in our school’s multi-purpose room,” she added.

The students’ graduation was scheduled for June 9 and included a post-graduation party and celebration for the graduates and their families.

Michallis told The Manchester Times that a lot of work was involved in transforming the school’s gymnasium into Wonderland.

“We have a prom committee of three but some of our staff also helped us make some of the decorations. Our prom committee comes up with the theme and in the last few nights they put the last special touches on this.”

“We have a catered lunch today. We are doing a tea party theme so we’ll have some finger desserts, a DJ, photo booth and we had prom shirts that were made up,” the principal added.

The Prom Committee consisted of Kelly Sales, Jessica Nolan and Jeanette Mojica. They were sporting the Prom T-shirts. Sales said it took around a “week and a half but we started planning in September. It is a different theme every year. Last year the theme was a circus.”

Michallis said there would be a prom king and queen. “We have 73 students and at least 50 are here today for the prom. It is for those 14 and older. At the end of the day we will invite the rest of the school down for dessert and dancing.”

“Our DJ is One-of-a-Kind Events; they have been our DJ for prom and graduation for about 15 years now. They are great to work with,” Michallis said.

Also in attendance was a member of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office who visited from the nearby Ocean County Vocational School in Jackson, who maintains safety, she said.

The school recently observed its 40th anniversary. “It opened up in the 1982-83 school year,” she said. Prior staff members and students came out for that event and keynote speaker Nicholas Meroney in celebration of the school and students.

“We are a hidden gem here in Ocean County,” Michallis said. The anniversary celebration included an assembly and an open house tour with a theme of “Through the Decades” with classrooms having a theme of different decades that included cake and refreshments.

Michallis said the school has a staff of 72 teachers, principals, para professionals. Regional Day School was actually built by the state of New Jersey. “They built a lot of regional day schools in the early 80s. Now most are run by a service commission or a private board of directors.”

“We are run by the Manchester Board of Education and we are recertified by the state every five years. Manchester (BOE) oversees us, our employees and our programs.”

The anniversary was also held in the gymnasium requiring Alice in Wonderland to be removed following the prom. “It was said to take it down,” Sales remarked.

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