The Community YMCA Continues to Help Families Recover from Sandy at New Location in Leonardo

Shrewsbury, NJ (Oct. 29, 2014) – Families still recovering from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy met Monday with New Jersey Department of Children and Families Commissioner Allison Blake, Monmouth County Freeholder John P. Curley and The Community YMCA President and CEO Rhonda Anderson to celebrate the opening of the Y’s newly relocated Bayshore Family Success Center in Leonardo.

The state-supported center provided critical assistance to families after Superstorm Sandy hit two years ago and continues to help those still struggling to rebuild their lives.

“A lot of children and families were impacted, and I really value the partnership with organizations like The Community Y and the work you are doing to help families,” Blake said.

Anderson said the Y is “grateful to provide a welcoming place to give families the support they need.”

The center, originally housed in the public library in Union Beach, has been a gathering place for over 2,000 people in the Bayshore community and has provided Superstorm Sandy support services to approximately 200 individuals.

Lisa and Gerard Lamberson turned to the center for help after the storm left them and their six children homeless. “The center has helped in so many ways,” Lisa Lamberson said. “They helped with food and clothing and connected us to a place for us all to stay.” The family is still living in a motel and looks forward to moving back to Keansburg.

Freeholder Curley presented a certificate of appreciation to The Community YMCA for assisting Bayshore families after the storm and for continuing to offer families helpful resources such as financial literacy and job readiness programs, support group, health education workshops and family fun nights.

The center relocated earlier this month to the Henry Hudson Trail Activity Center, 945 State Highway 36 in Leonardo and is hosting an Open House on Thursday, Nov. 20, 4-7 p.m.

The center is one of 51 state-supported Family Success Centers throughout New Jersey that act as “one-stop” shops for wrap-around resources and supports for families. The centers bring together concerned community residents, leaders, and community agencies to address the problems that threaten the safety and stability of families and the community.

In addition to the services at the Bayshore Family Success Center, the Y also is providing free therapeutic counseling to families impacted by Superstorm Sandy with support from the Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief Fund. For more information, call 732.497.3811.

About The Community YMCA
The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County through programs such as: preschool, before and after school care, health and wellness, leadership, arts enrichment, personal and family counseling and summer day camp. With a mission to serve all, more than $660,000 in reduced and free membership fees and programs is provided by the YCares financial assistance program to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit the Y’s Web site.