'Helping Hands' Teens Bring Gifts To Those In Need In Freehold

FREEHOLD, NJ — A teen program based in Jackson brought some holiday joy - and useful gifts - to those in need in Freehold this week, including a bicycle for a man whose other bike was destroyed in a car accident.

Emergency Housing and Advocacy Program Inc. (EHAP) hosted Carlos Ricardo and his "band of adolescent elves" to brighten the holiday season for roughly two dozen people who are either homeless or struggling to stay housed, the agency said.

The Helping Hands of Adolescents, a Jackson-based grassroots organization, empowers youth to help neighbors in need, Ricardo notes. Ricardo started the group with his wife, Christine.

And helping others was what it was all about as the young people from Jackson and Howell brought hundreds of practical gifts to EHAP clients during a party Dec. 12 at Crossroads on the St. Peter’s Church campus.

“We came here with lots of gifts for those in need,” Ricardo said. “It’s a great opportunity to teach the kids the importance of giving back.”

The gifts included warm clothing, such as jackets, sweatpants, hoodies, and wool caps, as well as sneakers, sleeping bags, backpacks, MREs (meals ready to eat), gift cards, and even candy.

Helping Hands also gave out two bicycles. One went to a teen girl who came with her family.

The other went to Enrique, a dishwasher at a local restaurant, who will use the bicycle to travel back and forth to work.

Enrique’s other bicycle was destroyed when he was hit by car a few months ago while cycling to work, the EHAP agency said.

Enrique said, through a Spanish translator, that he took the day off from work to come to this event. “This is my lucky day,” he said in Spanish.

And the young people who distributed the gifts said how meaningful it was to them to help the recipients.

Matthew Hebeler, 15, of Jackson said he was glad to return to Crossroads for this year’s party. He enjoys interacting with EHAP clients and handing out gifts to so many smiling faces.

“It’s nice to help people out,” Hebeler said. “It makes me think of the privilege I have. I’m very grateful.”

Antonia of Freehold came to EHAP earlier this year while recovering from a long illness. She joined her friend Enrique as they waited in line to take their pick from the long tables of gifts.

“It’s so nice seeing people having fun,” she said as she watched fellow clients choose gifts with help from the kids and their parents. “Those people worked hard for us. It’s amazing. It makes me feel special.”

Client Steve surveyed his selection of gifts - sneakers, socks and sweatpants - while he drank coffee and ate pastries at a table with his friend John, who was clearly touched by the generosity, the agency said. Both men are chronically homeless.

“I’m grateful I’m here,” Steve said. “I’m happy.”

Sponsors for the event were: La Dolce Bakery of Freehold; Farros Tees of Toms River; Joyanne Hodges of Freehold; Dorothy Engel of Freehold; the Reinert family of Jackson; the Dragan family of Toms River, and the Mokrzecki family of Jackson.

Ricardo and his family were assisted by the Nix, Poland and Richards families of Howell; and the Cuozzo, Hebeler and Reilly families of Jackson.

Juliana Cuozzo, 16, of Jackson, said it was her first time helping the group. She acknowledged she hadn’t really thought about who would get the gifts. But now that she’s here, handing them out to folks who are street homeless or surviving on minimum wage jobs, she feels good about joining this initiative. “It’s nice that we’re giving back.”

Winter Overnight Program still suspended; needs funding

Ricardo and the other donor families started bringing gifts to the homeless men in EHAP’s Winter Overnight Program four years ago, but that program was suspended this year because of a funding shortage. Read this past Patch article to learn more about the funding needed to restore the program.

Ricardo decided to open the event to all of EHAP’s clients to be sure the same population would receive gifts.

Only the first names of EHAP clients were used to protect their identity, unless permission was given to use full names.

EHAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers free casework services for Monmouth County residents who are experiencing homeless or housing insecurity.

Donations can be made through the website, www.ehapinc.org, or sent to EHAP, 41 Throckmorton St., Freehold, NJ 07728. Call EHAP at 732-431-2600 for more information.