Toms River's Shore2Help Aims To Aid Harvey-Battered Texas Town

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Five years after Superstorm Sandy turned life upside down in Toms River, residents and officials alike know how hard it's been to recover from the devastation, and how it took a community effort — and help from the outside — to make any progress.

It's for that reason that township officials, along with the Toms River Police Department, the Toms River Regional Schools and the People’s Pantry, are extending a helping hand to the residents of Beaumont, Texas, through the "Shore2Help" donation drive.

The "Shore2Help" campaign is collecting gift cards for families in Beaumont, Texas, which was hard-hit by Hurricane Harvey in August, so those families can purchase necessities. Gift cards for national chains including Walmart, Target, Lowe’s Home Improvement and the Home Depot will be accepted at the following locations:

• Toms River Town Hall, 33 Washington Street (in the lobby)
• Toms River Police Department, 255 Oak Avenue
• Toms River Schools, 1144 Hooper Avenue (teachers will be collecting gift cards from students/parents)
• The People’s Pantry, 1769 Hooper Avenue

Only gift cards for Walmart, Lowes, Target and Home Depot are being accepted because they are national chains. Donors are asked to write the dollar amount purchased on the card for easier distribution.

"As a community, we know all too well the devastation a hurricane can bring long after the storm has passed," Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher said. "Toms River is an extremely generous community when asked to help others in need. No amount is too small. Let’s show Beaumont, Texas, that we stand with them as they begin the long road to recovery."

"It’s a great opportunity for us to pay it forward," Police Chief Mitch Little said. "During, and after Superstorm Sandy we were very fortunate to have help pouring in from all over to help us through the tough times. Being part of this campaign and adopting a police department like ours to assist in their recovery was a no-brainer for us. The Beaumont Police Department is the perfect fit!"

The Toms River Police Department has been in contact with the Beaumont Police Department and they are compiling a list of their department’s families who have been directly affected by Hurricane Harvey, he said.

"We will be personalizing gifts for the families in effort to bring smiles to their faces and hope to them in their time of need," Little said.

The Toms River Regional School District has partnered directly with the Beaumont Independent School District, which serves 19,000 students. The school district continues to serve more than 300 displaced students, and more than 100 district employees have been directly affected, officials said. Extreme water levels caused damage at several of Beaumont’s 29 schools, most notably one of high schools, and many students have been moved to other district schools or alternate education facilities in the area.

The storm has changed the dynamics of everything the school district does on a day-to-day basis, according to Nakisha Burns, director of community and media relations. "Until you’re in it," Burns said, "it’s impossible to explain."

She said their school district is grateful for the assistance.

"Anything that can be done to help is beyond appreciated," Burns said.

Toms River Superintendent David Healy has spoken with Beaumont Superintendent John Frossard to develop an effective support plan, officials said.

"Toms River Regional Schools — our students, families, teachers, administration, and staff — will not soon forget what life was like during and after Superstorm Sandy, and we are honored and excited to help another district that, unfortunately, finds itself in a similar situation," he said.

Beaumont, Texas, is about 90 miles east of Houston and was among the state’s cities that were hardest hit by Harvey, which dropped almost 50 inches of rain and unleashed flash flooding that destroyed homes and businesses and killed two people.

The FEMA verified loss for Beaumont is approximately $51 million. According to FEMA, 4,434 homes were damaged or destroyed, including 3,174 homeowners and 1,286 renters. The city has about 118,000 residents in comparison to Toms River, which has a population of approximately 92,000.

Patricia Donaghue, executive director of The People’s Pantry, said she was heartbroken to learn of the devastation in Texas and helped choose Beaumont for the donation drive.

"Toms River residents who went through Superstorm Sandy saw what was happening in Texas with Hurricane Harvey and they took it personally. Our community kept asking the same question: How can we help? And that is what we intend to do," Donoghue said.

"So many are struggling during this challenging time as residents are displaced and mountains of debris remain," said Kelaher, who has spoken to Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames about the Toms River effort. "I've made it clear to the Mayor of Beaumont that Toms River is here for them. Let's come together as a town, contribute in any way we can, and show Beaumont that they have Toms River’s full support."

Photos taken by "Compass 82," show piles of debris that remain in the streets of Beaumont, Texas, weeks after Hurricane Harvey flooded the city. Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group