Holiday Food and Toy Drives in Monmouth and Ocean Counties

Ocean County

Barnegat

St. Bernard's Food for Pets, a newly formed offshoot of a local church food pantry, is collecting pet food for needy families' furry friends at several sites in Barnegat and nearby communities.

Two food pantries in Barnegat also welcome donations. The Barnegat Emergency Food Pantry, located next to downtown's Gazebo Park at the corner of Route 9 and Bay Avenue, can receive donations during its regular hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday). You can also send monetary donations to P.O. Box 816, Barnegat, NJ 08005 or call 609-698-7174. To give to the St. Vincent De Paul Society at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 747 West Bay Ave., call 609-698-7477.

Berkeley

The Berkeley Township Police Benevolent Association Local #237 has begun its annual Toys for Tots campaign. The public is asked to drop off unwrapped toys to be distributed to needy families in town. Toys may be dropped off at the police department at 631 Pinewald-Keswick Road; Provident Bank, 1 Plaza Drive, Holiday City at Berkeley; Kamy Dental, 211 Route 9, Bayville; and House of Pizza, 210 Ocean Gate Drive in Bayville. For more information, please call George Dohn or Jen Hawk at 732-341-6600.

Brick

The Pioneer Hose Volunteer Fire Co. 1 Brick Township District 1 has their Annual Adopt–a-Family fund drive. They will also be collecting for their annual Adopt–a–Family food drive. Each year the members of Pioneer Hose works with local agencies to identify a family in need. They collect dry and canned food, frozen turkeys and hams. They also accept monetary donations. The week before Christmas they deliver the food and toys to the family. The tree sales or non perishable items can be left in the bin located outside the firehouse door. For any questions contact Capt. Jimmy Kathenes at 732-477-7236.

Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick is in desperate need of various types of animal food, blankets, collars, etc.  www.jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org

New Beginnings Christian Church in Brick is accepting donations year-round at their nonprofit Community Thrift Store and Food Pantry. Whether it be old furniture and clothes, cans of vegetables and bags of rice, all the donations reach the surrounding communities to help those in need. Now, during Thanksgiving and Christmas, this need is even greater and they are asking for any holiday food items. You can bring all donations to 236 Brick Blvd. in Brick and if you have any questions the phone number is (732) 451-0779. 

Lacey

Craving Cupcakes (629-1 North Main St, Lacey) is helping gather food and pet food for the Lacey Food Bank. To add an incentive for people to donate, more than 35 businesses in the township have contributed items for gift baskets that will be raffled off at Craving Cupcakes on Dec. 21. Every person who makes a food or pet item donation will receive a raffle ticket. The non-perishable food items, pet food, and pet supplies, such as warm blankets, can be dropped off at Craving Cupcakes. To get involved, call Veronica Liga at 609-242-7205.

Lacey Marine (308 Route 9 South, Forked River) is collecting food for the Lacey Food Bank.

Manahawkin

Manahawkin UMC youth group is collecting gifts/ gift cards for children ages 13 and older. This age group, often over-looked, need our help too. All donations collected will be given to the Stafford Twp. PBA for distribution. Please consider donating a gift card or small gift. All donations can be delivered to Manahawkin UMC located at 116 Stafford Ave. in Manahawkin. If you have any questions please contact Kirsten Mosher at 609-597-7666.

Point Pleasant

Most of the downtown merchants in Point Beach will be open until 8 p.m. every Friday through Dec. 23 and will be collecting non-perishable food items for St. Gregory's Pantry and also relevant items for the local Animal Welfare Committee. Participating stores will have a red balloon out front. 

St. Gregory's Pantry (804 Bay Ave., Point Beach) distributes more than 250 family-sized holiday dinners each year. The pantry is an ecumenical, community based emergency food bank supported by fourteen local churches. You can donate Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon.  They will also be collecting toy donations and stocking stuffers for children they'll be providing dinners and gifts to. To get involved, make a monetary donation or see a listing of volunteer opportunities click here. 

Toms River

Recently the members of the Toms River Fire Co. 2 adopted the Huff Family for the holidays. The family has three children, and the youngest one, Lillie was born with many birth defects due to having a stroke in utero. Lillie has had countless surgeries and is not even 2 years old. She has been in and out of Jersey Shore Medical Center countless times due to her uncontrolable Infantile Spasm Epilepsy. Lillie's parents, Dan, and Kristi, have been trying to make ends meet with their regular bills, as well as all of the medical bills for Lillie. If you are able to help in anyway at all, you can visit Lillie's website that the family has set up for her, or you can contact Tom Mauro at tmauro@trfire.org. 

Toms River Town Hall has become a location for Toys for Tots drop-off. The bin is located in the lobby on the first floor. Residents can drop off donations of new toys for distribution to needy children during the holidays.

United Way of Ocean County’s Holiday Stars Gift Drive is looking for individuals or companies who want to receive a name of someone in need of gifts this year. Go to their website to sign-up.

S.A.V.E. (Shore Animal Volunteer Enterprise) is an all volunteer, non-profit animal rescue in Toms River. They survive solely on donations and their Thrift Shop (777 Fischer Blvd.) They deal primarily with cats & kittens and the cost of their housing, medical care, food and vaccines is overwhelming. They have a wish list at their website at www.saverescuegroups.org or call 732-288-2884. Any donations of money, food, towels, etc is greatly appreciated and desperately needed.

Monmouth County

Asbury Park

The Asbury Park police department has received over 300 applications from families asking to help give their kids a Christmas by possibly providing a toy or two. Please drop off either a toy or a warm coat at either The Stone Pony or The Wonder Bar. Monetary donations happily accepted- please make out to the Asbury Park Police Dept Toy Drive and mail to 913 Ocean Ave Asbury Park, 07712.

Trinity Church in Asbury Park is collecting new wrapped toys for their soup kitchen. Visit www.trinitynj.com for more info.

Belmar

The and a local charity have set up a donation fund for the by area youths earlier this week. Police have coordinated with Wall Helps Its People (WHIP), a township-based charitable organization, to set up the fund, Lt. Walter Pomphrey said. The borough is collecting donations at Borough Hall, 601 Main Street, Belmar, to help provide Ivins with food, clothing and housing after Jan. 2.They'll accept any donations, but most people are giving money. No amount is too small, Doherty said. Anyone interested in making a monetary donation can mail it to:

WHIP
P.O.Box 1214
Wall, NJ  07719

The organiztion will not accept clothing or food donations. All money received will be used to provide food, clothing, shelter and other necessities, Pomphrey said.

Manasquan

The First Presbyterian Church of Manasquan (6 Virginia Avenue) Food Pantry is accepting donations. You can donate Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or  Thursday and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Those needing assistance may call the Pantry at 732-223-0898. 

Manalapan

Monmouth County Library-Headquarters (123 Symmes Drive) has a dropbox for Blankie Depot, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, who provides handmade blankets to New Jersey children suffering serious illness and trauma. They welcome handmade blankets of all sizes and styles (knit, crochet, quilt, fleece, flannel). They also distribute handcrafted infant hats, cancer caps, newborn booties and layettes, children’s sweaters, pillow cases, gloves, scarves, outwear sets, pajamas, tote bags and handcrafted soft plush toys. Their outreach includes area facilities that serve fragile children, including: state hospitals, cancer treatment facilities, health clinics, homeless shelters, youth hospice, behavioral clinics, grief counselors, special-needs camps and state non-profits.  If you are interested in joining the the team, please email the Director at: director@blankiedepo.org

Red Bank

First Presbyterian Church in Red Bank houses multiple organizations:  Lunch Break, a soup kitchen, Manna food pantry and Project Connect which provides and delivers Christmas gifts to local families and seniors in need visit  www.towerhillchurch.org for more info. 

If your group or organization is sponsoring an ongoing charity drive, we want to include it on our weekly list. Email a short description of your efforts, including what is being done, where it is happening and when. Send it to our community editor at jeanne.m.crump@gmail.com.