Toms River Boy Finds Joy, Purpose In Helping Others

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Niko Heinzman is like a lot of 11-year-old boys. He loves to surf. He loves to play guitar. He loves to hang out with friends.

But there's something else the Toms River resident enjoys: Helping others, which he has been doing in a multitude of ways since he was young.

Whether it's collecting Toys for Tots, collecting money to support Toms River Volunteer Fire Company 1, or volunteering to help sort items for hurricane relief, Niko loves to help people who are less fortunate.

Tuesday night Niko was on the receiving end, as he was presented with the President's Award and was named an honorary member of Toms River Volunteer Fire Company 1 during a ceremony at the firehouse with family and friends in attendance, in recognition of his volunteer spirit.

"Most days kids wake up wanting to be firemen, wanting to be us, to live the dream," said Ian Monzo, the 2022 president of the fire company. "I want to be Niko. He inspires me to be a better person because of the selfless, kind acts he does for our community."

"It makes me happy," Niko said with a wide smile, as he talked about why he likes to help people.

"We talk about the 'Warrior Way' all the time, and Niko exemplifies that," said Kate Melson, a supervisor at Washington Street Elementary School, where Niko is a fifth-grade student and a member of the safety patrol. "We're so proud of him."

Niko has been volunteering since he was young, helping his parents, Randy and Suzanne Heinzman, sort donations they were collecting through their former business for Hurricane Harvey relief in 2017.

Steve Levine, the former owner of The Windmill restaurant in Long Branch who got to know the Heinzmans, then the owners of Ron's West End Pub, during those relief efforts, said Niko has been a big part of helping at every level.

"He was selling hotdogs to raise money for Harvey relief," Levine said. Since then Levine has teamed up with Niko to help with other efforts, such as a toy distribution event in Asbury Park hosted by Kiwanis Club and We Build NJ, where Niko served free hotdogs to the families.

Levine said, when he calls and asks Niko if he wants to help, the youngster is eager to join in.

"He never says no," Levine said.

Niko has chosen to forgo birthday presents more than once, instead asking family and friends to make donations that went to the fire department, Suzanne Heinzman said, and has sought donations for Toys For Tots on multiple occasions.

"He appreciates what he has in life and wants to help those in need," she said.

His most recent volunteer effort helping Levine took him behind the scenes at the Light of Day 2023 concert at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. The Light of Day concert raises money for research to solve Parkinson's disease and its related illnesses, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

"He got to go behind the soundboard," Suzanne Heinzman said, which was a thrill for a boy who loves rock music. "He wears the T-shirt every week."

Monzo said the fire company's President's Award usually goes to someone within the fire company, he was so impressed with what Niko has done and continues to do for the community that he proposed giving it to a civilian (someone who is not part of the fire company)

"It's nice for us to recognize anyone, but especially a young person," Monzo said.

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