Ocean City Celebrates 'Power of Community' on Sandy Anniversary

A year to the day after Superstorm Sandy buried Ocean City under record floodwaters, neighbors of all faiths gathered at St. Peter's United Methodist Church to give thanks.

Pastor Brian Roberts told the hundreds in attendance that they were not there to remember the devastation of the storm but "to celebrate the power of community."

"Tonight, we're pausing. We're thanking God and we're thanking each other," Roberts said.

Sandy destroyed homes and businesses, and many owners are still struggling to rebuild amid the cost and confusion of insurance, construction and relief program issues.

But a massive island-wide mobilization of volunteers in the immediate aftermath of the storm helped residents return quickly to the island and to find food and shelter. The city, churches, businesses and everyday citizens joined together in a volunteer effort coordinated by OCNJ CARE, a relief group that formed within days of the storm's passing.

"Ocean City's story is not about tragedy," OCNJ CARE Co-Chairman Drew Fasy said. "It doesn't end there, but it began there."

He said Ocean City's story is about community, generosity and neighbors helping neighbors.

"I'm proud to have been a part of it," Fasy said.

He said he couldn't possibly thank all volunteers for their "heroic acts of kindness, small and large," but he took time to individually thank the following:

OCNJ CARE Board of Directors: Co-Chair Rev. Brian Roberts, Treasurer Tom Aromando, Mike Allegretto, Brian Broadley, Mike Dattilo, Mike DeVlieger, Mayor Jay Gillian, Michele Gillian, Karin Gleason, Scott Halliday, Sarah Lee, Jim Mallon, Maria Marinelli, Antwan McClellan, Joe Ney, Sue Sheppard, Mark Soifer, Kathy Sykes, Dr. Kathleen Taylor

CARE Captains: Mike DeVlieger, Pete Madden, Antwan McClellan, Sue Sheppard, Tony and Melissa Wilson, Aimee Bettis Schultz, Joe Ney, Pete Guinosso

CARE Project Partners: City of Ocean City, Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Ocean City Ecumenical Council, Ocean City School District, Ocean City Tabernacle, Ocean City FMBA Local 27, Ocean City PBA Local 61, Ocean City PTA


RELIEF CENTERS:

Ocean City Senior Center: Kevin DeCosta, Karin Gleason, the Ney Family

Civic Center — Ocean City Ecumenical Council Food Cupboard: Elaine Wilson, Dottie Cianci, Barbara Deaney, Bob Roth, Gene Lindacher

Ocean City Tabernacle: Todd Chamberlain, Paster Sal Ippolito (Coastal Christian), John Mirenda, Dr. Richard Stanislaw

St. Peter's United Methodist Church: Karin and Rob Gleason, Kathy Thompson, Gayle Robbins, Pastor Terry Lothian, Bill Bateson

OCNJ CARE Weekly Meetings: St. John Lutheran Church, Rev. Mark Bruesehoff


RELIEF AND RECOVERY TEAMS:

Command Center: Michele Gillian, Rose Savastano, Shawnda McGinnis, Caitlin Greene, Barbara Brown and the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce

Treasurer: Tom Aromando and Rose Savastano

City of Ocean City: Mayor Jay Gillian, Business Administrator Mike Dattilo, Public Relations Director Mark Soifer, Communications Manager Laurie Howey, Police Chief Chad Callahan, Ocean City Police Department, Fire Chief Chris Breunig, Ocean City Fire Department, Finance Director and Emergency Management Coordinator Frank Donato, Scott Morgan and the Office and Emergency Management, Mike Rossbach and the Department of Public Works, Jim Mallon, Wendy Moyle and the Community Services Department

Ocean City Public Schools: Dr. Kathleen Taylor, Dr. Matt Jamison, Geoff Haines, Kathy Sykes, Dr. Vicki Scheetz, Pat Horvath, Cecelia Gallelli, Sarah McDowell and the Ocean City PTA

Housing: Kathy Sykes, Maria Marinelli, Kevin Redmond, Karin Gleason, Pete Madden

Furniture/Clothing: Anne Gallagher, Kathy Tuso

Volunteer Coordination: Sarah Lee, Caitlin Greene, Steve Morro, John Miranda, Jane Halliday

Construction/Supplies/Heating/Plumbing: Scott Halliday, Brian Broadley

Communications: Shawnda McGinnis, Jesse Ruch, Laurie Howey, Mark Soifer, Vicki Ballezzi, Kathy Caraballo, Caitlin Greene

Hispanic Neighbors Outreach Team: Halle Martinez, Peaches Lukens, Karin Gleason, Kathy Sykes, Rev. Brian Roberts, Laurie Howey

Community Partners: Ocean City Education Foundation, Ocean City Exchange Club, Fairness in Taxes, Ocean City Community Association, Flanders Hotel, Hope for Healing, Ocean City Board of Realtors

Housing/Moving Assistance: Nancy Aiken, owner of Ocean City Mansion, Mark and Robyn Betterly, Anthony Cartella, Steve Churchill, Rubina Dumbrosky, Theodore and Debbie Flint, Dan and Elaine Ganz, John and Lorraine Hansen, Kathy and R.J. Hoffman, Cindy Huff, Tom and Lisa Hulse, Rich and Liz Lisowski, Russell and Lynne Lucca, David and Diane Selkregg, Jamie Shay, Diane and Lynne Sonneborn

Special Thanks: The Vanderslice Family, the McMahon Family, the Gillian Family, Cricket and Tony Frank, Frank and Lisa Brady, the Knauss Family, Paul Matusz, Jennifer Bowman, the Robin Hood Foundation, Ocean City Sentinel, Ocean City Gazette, Ocean City Patch, Dunkin' Donuts, Sea Isle Ice, Circle Liquors, Ocean City Storage, Island Auto, the McMahon Agency, Ocean City Home Bank, Wonderland Pier, Manco & Manco Pizza, Bic Pens, Texas Instruments, Dietz and Watson, Campbell Soups, New Jersey Jeep Association, Art of Surfing Festival, Songs for Our City, the Gill Family, Port O Call, American-Italians of South Jersey, Norman Raab Foundation, Sturdy Savings and Comcast Foundation