Borough Resident Honored by Governor Christie

Hurricane Irene was no match for Donna Colucci and her team of volunteers, who orchestrated "," a town-wide barbecue that took place on Hughes Rd. just days after the flood. 

Colucci's efforts were recently recognized by Governor Chris Christie at a luncheon honoring people throughout the state who lent their time and talent to help those hit hardest by Hurricane Irene. 

"The morning after the storm, Dominic and I were walking around town and New Milford was still dry," Colucci said.

But not for long.

Colucci, along with her husband, Councilman Dominic Colucci, and many other concerned residents watched as the morning progressed and an "ever-rising current of water" came "fast and furious" down River Edge Rd. carrying in its path garbage and debris. 

As emergency workers used boats to evacuate people from their homes, Colucci, her husband and many other volunteers stood waiting to help these people once they reached dry land.

"The only thing I could compare it to at the time was Floyd, but this was much worse because I'm much more connected to the community now."

As a young mother during Hurricane Floyd, Colucci saw the damage that water could do as she watched her friend's house fill with water; more water than any sump pump could pump out. Wanting to help them, but not quite sure what to do, Colucci decided to use her talent for cooking and prepared warm meals for her friend and his family so that she could contribute some measure of comfort in the middle of a devastating situation.

During Hurricane Irene, as she watched people came off the boats, Colucci realized there was nothing anyone could do to keep the water from coming into their homes. 

"I couldn't believe how sad it was to see all these people removed from their homes — elderly people, women crying, children, babies," Colucci paused, her voice tinged with emotion. "I just wanted to do something to help them; to make it better."

In the midst of all this, Colucci was preparing for her family's annual Labor Day barbecue that they have with about 30 friends at Van Saun Park.

"We just couldn't do it this year; not with what people in our town were going through," she said. That's when the idea for having a town-wide barbecue came to her. For Colucci, it was a way to bring some measure of comfort and normalcy to neighbors who were still suffering from the aftermath of the flood. She had less than one week to organize a barbecue for 200 people, but it took her less than two days to secure the food, grills, tents, drinks and paper goods. 

"My idea was to have everyone who had suffered so much of the same thing to get together to meet each other; to eat and get their minds off what they were going through for one afternoon, at least."

Armed with a letter from Police Chief Frank Papapietro vouching for Colucci's Labor Day of Love barbecue, Colucci's first stop was Shop Rite.

Colucci said that when she handed the manager Papapietro's letter he said, "What do you want?" and then promised her enough food to feed 100 people.  

Town & Country donated grills, tables and chairs. Roman's donated pizza, pasta, salads, bread, burgers. New Milford Deli provided drinks, rolls, and cold salads, and Scott Graphics sent over hamburgers and hot dogs. 

"These are people who in times of trouble don't stop to think," Colucci remarked. "They just do."

"We made flyers advertising the barbecue and walked all around the neighborhoods where people suffered the worst from the flooding and invited everyone," she said.

When news of the Labor Day of Love barbecue began to circulate around town people began to donate money, food, and time. People came forward to volunteer to set up the tables, tents and grills. Others volunteered to cook, while others agreed to clean up. New Milford Police blockaded streets turning the barbecue into one big block party. 

Colucci said that the volunteers just kept on coming. "Friends came out of the woodwork that day with more food, ice, drinks. Everything."

Important to Colucci was making sure that the kids had a great time. She went to the dollar store and bought bubbles, stickers, balloons and anything else she could find to make the kids' day fun and memorable.

"It was all worth it," she said. At the end of the day a child came up to Colucci to thank her for the best party ever. "That meant everything to me," she shared. "To give a child who had been through so much just one normal day was overwhelming." 

And although Colucci refuses to take full credit for the success of the barbecue saying, "It was a community effort," she was honored to be recognized by Governor Christie and accepted it on behalf of everyone who contributed to the Labor Day of Love barbecue and made it a success. 

"All I wanted to do was to make one thing bearable at an unbearable time for so many people in our community," Colucci said.