Tinton Falls Seniors Help Sandy Victims By Collecting Comfort Bags

Hurricane Sandy has caused countless numbers of people and organizations to band together and do their part to help those in need.

A group of seniors from Seabrook retirement community in Tinton Falls have added themselves to that list by gather 170 bags of toiletries for the hurricane victims.

The residents organized a grassroots collection drive at the campus where for 10 days residents were encouraged to donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo, deodorant and other items.

Over 300 toothbrushes, 500 tubes of toothpaste, 500 small bars of soap, small bottles of shampoo, deoderant and handkerchief packages have been gathered.

These items were delivered to the organization Bridges at the Shore on Wednesday. Bridges at the Shore is a program that provides direct help to needy people living in Monmouth County.  Once a month a group of volunteers take a caravan of cars to local towns to distribute clothing, blankets, bag suppers, toiletries and conversation to those in need. 

The offshoot of Bridges at the Shore is Seabrook for Bridges, which consists of approximately 12 Seabrook residents who are involved in a variety of activities that aid the organization by tapping into the retirement community’s resources.

The volunteers took the time to put the items up into the Zip Lock bags so they each recipient could have their own care package.

“As neighbors helping neighbors, Seabrook residents reached out to provide personal necessities for Sandy's area victims," Seabrook for Bridges co-chairs Beverly Hausker and Bobbie Ostar said. "Nine volunteers felt as though they were doing their part to assemble the more than 170 bags of toiletries for distribution by Bridges at the Shore."

“This project is a great example of the wonderful volunteer spirit at Seabrook," Seabrook Executive Director Art Sparks said. "The area that we live in has a strong heart for the needy, including those who require emergency assistance, and I think that our residents are passionate about helping wherever and whenever they can. This latest endeavor helps a very worthwhile organization fulfill a need that assists those in the county who are struggling.”

Seabrook for Bridges is only one of many volunteer efforts in which Seabrook residents participate.

Last year, resident volunteers worked thousands of hours spending time doing a tremendous amount of work for a variety of groups including; the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean counties, the Tinton Falls Library, Monmouth Medical Center, Jersey Shore Medical Center, Meals on Wheels, Monmouth Museum, Mahala F. Atchison School in Tinton Falls, ARC of Monmouth, Interfaith Neighbors, The Bradley Food Pantry, Visiting Nurse Association, Red Cross, United Way and the New Jersey Special Olympics.