The Star-Ledger
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MIDDLETOWN – The Middletown Disaster Relief Fund, a non-profit charity organization formed in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, marked the one year anniversary of the historic storm by thanking the donors and volunteers who helped the township’s storm victims.
In the past year, the fund has helped to distributed more than $625,000 in assistance to Sandy victims, including:
- $300,000 in grants to approximately 180 families in partnership with the New Monmouth Baptist Church through a grant provided by the Robin Hood Foundation.
- $160,000 in Home Depot gift cards to 160 families who sustained substantial damage.
- Approximately $90,000 in Target gift cards distributed to over 900 families thanks a singular private donation.
- $20,000 to the New Monmouth Baptist Church to purchase supplies for volunteer labor to use in the cleanup and rebuilding of damaged homes.
- Approximately $18,000 in assistance to the Bayshore Village Senior Citizen Housing Corporation
- $15,000 to the Port Monmouth Fire Company for purchase of air cascade system that was destroyed by the storm.
- $15,000 to help rebuild Belford Engine Company firehouse, which was severely damaged in the storm.
- A $10,000 grant sponsored by CareOne to a Port Monmouth volunteer firefighter whose home was severely damaged by flooding.
“On behalf of myself and the volunteer board of the MDRF, I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and generosity during this very difficult year,” Middletown Committeeman and MDRF President Tony Fiore, who founded the fund while servings as mayor, said in a release. “While we realize that there is still so much more to be done, we are very grateful to the hundreds of donors and volunteers who have made such a tremendous difference during one of the most trying times in our town’s history.”