Marlboro Moving Company Delivers 15K Bottles Of Water To Texas

MARLBORO, NJ – A handful of Central Jersey business owners recently joined forces to lend a hand to millions of Texas residents left without drinking water last week. The effort comes following a historic winter storm that knocked out power and froze pipes across the state.

Long Branch-based JAR Of Hope foundation (founded by a Manalapan family), The Moving Guys and The Junk Guys, of Marlboro and Eat Clean Bro of Freehold all donated a collective 15,000 bottles of water to the cause.

“Like everyone else, we sat in front of the TV and watched the horrible scenes from Texas,” says Jim Raffone, Founder/CEO of JAR Of Hope, a nonprofit which raises funds to research a cure for a fatal childhood disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. “JAR Of Hope was born out of a need to help families whose children were dying, and who had nowhere else to go for help. Right now, people in Texas need help…so how could we not try and help them?” Read more: Manalapan Dad To Walk From D.C. To NJ For Son With Rare Disease

A trunk filled with 15,000 bottles was driven by Rick DeMarco and Joe Russo, co-owners of The Moving Guys and The Junk Guys. They left the Garden State on Saturday, Feb. 27 at noon and arrived in Longview, Texas on Monday following a 1,440-mile trip.

DeMarco started the relief effort by calling several municipalities in Texas offering help, but logistical problems and storm-recovery efforts caused a delay in some initial plans. The aftermath of the storm in Longview was particularly devastating, and local officials were “thrilled” to get a call from the business owner.

The water was delivered to the Longview Dream Center, a food-bank and clothing operation that assists local residents in times of need.

“It meant so much to me personally,” DeMarco said, “to be a part of this … to pull into Longview with water for people who don’t have anything to drink. And who were so happy to see our truck.”

Thousands of Texans are still in need of drinking water following the storm crisis. You can find a comprehensive list of ways to help here.