Brick Awards $40K In Grants To Community Groups

BRICK, NJ — By the time the calendar turns to 2017, more than 31,000 Meals on Wheels will have been served to seniors in Brick Township. Dozens of teens will have received counseling and support services from Harbor House. And families escaping domestic abuse will have received legal advice and support to rebuild their lives.

All of these sevices and many more are provided by various organizations in Brick, and Tuesday night, 14 of those organizations received financial support from the township as it distributed $40,900 in federal Community Development Block Grant program funding.

Jim Sigurdson of Community Services Inc. of Ocean County, better known as Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, said the $10,000 grant it received from the township provides crucial funding to help it meet the needs of 261 seniors who are homebound and need help preparing meals.

He praised Brick officials for their continued support, saying, "If our NFL teams were as reliable as the township, they would win every game."

Mayor John G. Ducey said the checks range from $1,000 to $10,000.

“The organizations that we are honored to support through our CDBG program have an enormous impact on our community and the Jersey Shore," Ducey said. "It is impossible to calculate how many lives are touched by and how many people will be helped by them. We are honored and privileged to help each one of these groups in their missions to make people’s lives better.”

The CDBG Check recipients are:

Community Services, Inc. of Ocean County/Meals on Wheels, $10,000

Through its ‘Meals on Wheels’ program, Community Services Inc. provides nutritious meals to homebound elderly in their own homes. The program also serves meals daily to seniors at the Brick Township Senior Center on Adamston Road. For more information, please call 732-367-1400 or the Brick Senior Center at 732-920-8686

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, $5,000

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity is making a difference in Ocean County by building and renovating houses so that there is adequate housing in decent communities in which every person can live and grow to their full potential. This grant award will go toward their A Brush With Kindness Program which will be used specifically for home restorations in Brick. For more information visit www.nohfh.com.

Church of the Epiphany, St. Vincent DePaul Society, $4,000

Volunteers provide counseling to those in need to manage housing expenses and provide financial assistance to cover food, clothing, utilities and rent. For more information please call 732-458-0220.

Ocean County Hunger Relief, $4,000

Ocean County Hunger Relief provides emergency food assistance for needy people. They operate 38 food pantries throughout Ocean County. They may be reached at 732-349-1500.

Providence House, $3,500

A division of Catholic Charities, Providence House provides a wide variety of services related to preventing domestic violence and assisting its victims. For many years, the Township has worked with Providence House to fight domestic violence in our community. Providence House may be reached at 732-262-3143 or 732-244-8259. They have an office located in Lions Head Plaza.

Dottie’s House, $3,000

Dottie’s House provides transitional housing for victims of domestic violence and their children. These grant funds will help offset the operating costs for the transitional housing facility. They may be reached at 732-295-7380.

Interfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County, $3,000

There are times when families face becoming homeless because of personal, financial or medical reasons. Interfaith Homeless Assistance provides a safety net program for Brick Township residents who face becoming homeless. They may be reached at 732-370-1550.

The Arc, Ocean County Chapter, $1,500

The Arc, Ocean County Chapter advocates for, provides supports and empowers children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families, ensuring they are accepted and valued as citizens of our community. The Arc does this through vocational, recreational, family support, residential, transportation and primary medical care programs. Their phone number is 732-363-3335 ext. 115.

Ocean’s Harbor House, $1,500

Ocean’s Harbor House provides free short-term shelter and crisis intervention for male and female youth ages 10-17. Any youth who is homeless, has runaway, been thrown away or abused, or is otherwise in need of immediate intervention may find help 24 hours a day at this safe haven. Their Shelter Services 24 Hours/Day Hotline is 732-929-0660 and their Outreach Center phone number is 732-929-4001.

Church of the Visitation, $1,250

The Church of the Visitation on Mantoloking Road hosts a community lunch on the third Wednesday of each month. Lunches are free and available from noon-1 p.m. For more information call 732-255-2835.

CONTACT of Ocean and Monmouth Counties, $1,150

Contact of Ocean County provides a 24-hour hotline and crisis intervention for people in need of help with drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, suicide, depression and other personal issues. They may be reached at732-240-6100 or 609-693-5834.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County, Inc., $1,000

Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Ocean County provides community and site-based mentoring services for young people throughout the county. This year’s grant will help offset funds for Big Brothers to start a mentoring program in Brick’s elementary schools. They may be reached 732-905-5349.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, $1,000

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey is a nonprofit interfaith organization that provides volunteers to assist frail elderly with simple daily tasks enabling them to live, with dignity, where they are most comfortable – in their own homes. And there is never a charge for help provided! Their phone number is 732-505-2273.

STEPS (Solutions to End Poverty Soon), $1,000

Assists residents in and out of Court with Landlord/Tenant matters and provide outreach to seniors with housing issues. For more information call 732- 367-1640.

“These organizations rely heavily on the kindness of volunteers and the generosity of donors. I encourage any resident who wants to make a difference to reach out to one of these organizations to see how you can help,” Ducey said.

Ducey said township Planner Michael Fowler coordinated the CDBG program.

“This used to be handled by a vendor and he added this to his workload," Ducey said. "He has done a great job and has created significant savings for the township in the process.”

Jim Sigurdson of Community Services Inc. of Ocean County, talks about the Meals on Wheels program at the Township Council meeting Tuesday night. Karen Wall photo