Paul Goldfinger photo. Ocean Grove, NJ. Blogfinger.net. Click once to enlarge. 11/12/24
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Re-post 3/10/26
We were taking out the trash when she appeared. She asked for some water. She said that she went to high school in Manasquan and college in Arizona . We didn’t pry–she volunteered.
And then she said that she had no money. We gave her a bottle of water and money. I had been on the porch trying out some night-time imagery. She didn’t object to the photo.
She thanked us and turned to walk away. Sometimes there are panhandlers in town, but not often.
I’m told that there are homeless in the Grove who will look for places to sleep outdoors in town to avoid the cold winds. It was windy this evening.
We know that there are shelters in the area, but sometimes they are full or dangerous or both.
Yesterday I drove past a church on Asbury Avenue in a deprived neighborhood . There was a banner out front that offered free breakfasts on Saturday mornings. But what about the rest of the week?
There is some charity in the Grove, but is anyone offering a hot meal? How about the Chamber of Commercials doing something other than hustling tourists to spend their money on stuff or food trucks for themselves.
Does the Camp Meting or St. Paul’s, religious organizations, offer any charities for the homeless?
How about the OG secular and residential community forming a selfless charity in town devoted to the homeless: food, shelter, clothing, love, attention? The Home Owners Assoc. is collecting some items. It’s a modest beginning. More is needed.
And the small art movement is offering free art, but if you have nothing, then free art is not helpful.
BEN E. KING: