Grover Steve Froias and others getting charged at the Community Room on Friday morning. PG photo
By Paul Goldfinger
Friday update: For those who plan to help on Saturday, please bring gloves, rakes, shovel or brooms. If you have some black garbage bags, bring those. You will be assigned to a crew by a team leader. You may be asked to go door-to-door to check on occupants. Workers from outside this area will be helping as well. Mr. Del Campo says that Ocean Grove will be become a “base” for volunteer efforts on behalf of not only Ocean Grove, but other neighboring towns.
He said, “We want to help others.” He admitted that the effort is being designed as they go, since they don’t have any off-the-shelf emergency plans for an event such as this. Debris will be picked up, and there will be trucks to haul it away. The OGCMA will be working in cooperation with Neptune Township.
The charging center has been busy. There are counsellors and pastors present to offer support, protection, heating, and prayer if requested. At the very least, it is a place where folks can come to socialize. CMA employees are also there to offer help. PG
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE OGCMA AT 732 775 0035. IF YOU CAN’T GET THROUGH, SEND US AN EMAIL AT BLOGFINGER@VERIZON.NET, AND WE WILL GET IT TO THE FOLKS AT THE CMA.
Thursday: On Saturday, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association will launch an extensive effort to clean up storm debris. They hope to enlist the efforts of all who are willing to volunteer.
Camp Meeting Administrator Ralph delCampo said the purpose is “to bring the community together and to help people.”
The effort begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday with a prayer and information meeting at the Bishop Janes Tabernacle, to be attended by Mayor Randy Bishop and other officials. At that meeting there will be information about heating, protection and provision. Also we will hear about recovery activities, assistance and community support and request for more volunteers.h
At 11 a.m. the meeting will dissolve and the volunteer cleanup will begin. DelCampo said Ocean Grove will be divided into 14 parts, with a team leader for each part. Trucks and other equipment will be brought in to help the volunteers remove debris and trash left by the storm.
Anyone is free to join in, and those who don’t wish to attend the prayer and information meeting can just show up at 11 a.m. at the boardwalk pavilion. People can stay and work for whatever length of time is convenient. Those with limited physical stamina should not feel excluded; everyone’s abilities can be put to use, delCampo said.
The cleanup will continue beyond Saturday for all those who wish to participate.
Flyers will soon be distributed throughout Ocean Grove announcing the details of the cleanup.
On Friday, the Camp Meeting will also be opening its Community Room on Pilgrim Pathway as a place where people can recharge their electronic devices. This recharging station will be open to the public every day. Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Camp Meeting will put in as many electrical outlets as possible, as well as a land line for people who need to make phone calls. They will also have counselors there to assist people in whatever way they can.
And finally, the Camp Meeting has put installed lighting inside the Great Auditorium. DelCampo said this lighting is to help make the area safer. It is not intended to turn the auditorium into a gathering place.
Is there a chance another cleanup is taking place this weekend?
I would love to come and help also…..We have a house on Franklin Avenue, Abbott Avenue and Cookman Avenue and if there is anything we can do to get Ocean Grove cleaned up for Summer of 2013, I’m there.!! Coming in from Danbury, Connecticut
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I grew up in Ocean Grove and wish the residents well, and be safe.
have a generator issue I need to deal with at first light for my parents…will be in the GROVE as SOON as I am done….
Yes to all. The CMA is very welcoming of all the help it can get.
The traffic lights are mostly still out, but 35 and 33 are passable, and there is minimal trouble driving in town.
A friend and I from Somerset want to try and head down. Are we going to be able to get there? Will we be able to get into the town??
I have the same question… A friend and i live in Somerset exit 127 parkway. Are we going to be allowed in to help if we can get there???
What tools should we bring to help? I’ve been wanting to come check on the house and this is a good use of scarce gasoline.
Dave, I agree with you. This town has many changes in its lifetime. A few hammer and nails we can build our lives back. Bring hammers and nails. This way we can start Building! What we once had has changed but Doesn’t mean we changed. Lets piece OG back together. Hammers and Nails!!
I’m interested in knowing that as well. I’m in upstate NY but I’ve been coming to OG since I was born, and this summer I drove down a whole bunch of times to surf. I don’t have a ton of time this Saturday but I’d love to come down and help out for a few hours if it would be appreciated or possible, and I could bring gas and stuff to give out too if needed. If this becomes a regular thing I’d certainly like to help out on other times when I’m more free as well. The pictures are stunning, I want to help however possible!
Yes, I am hoping to come from DC to help. If we can make it, what specifically should we bring with us? I’m assuming we would not stay overnight in the Grove, but I know my grandparents would be able to distribute to people who need things. I just can’t get in touch to find out what people need up there! Take care, OG.
Will the police or authorities allow part-time OGers to come help? Or are they still trying to keep people out of shore areas? If people come are there specific supplies that we should bring — I’m hearing gas is shortage etc…
This is fantastic. Hopefully this turns into an every Saturday at 10AM thing until OG is returned to as we know it!
We will be there! We will support our neighbors and the wonderful place and movement that is Ocean Grove!