Editor, The Herald:

Hello! My name is Stephanie Orem and I am organizing the Jersey Shore Hurricane Relief Fundraiser and Donation Drive. I grew up in one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy and to know what it was and has been reduced to is heartbreaking. The pictures you see online and in the news are disturbing, houses washed away by an angry ocean, streets broken apart and covered in sand, buildings burnt down to foundations due to gas leaks…overwhelming and unimaginable to most but a living nightmare to all affected up there. I decided I had to help, had to reach out to those I grew up with, had to help people put their lives back together, especially now at the Holidays.

With the help of my friends here and the generosity of the Town of Farmville businesses we have been able to organize this fundraiser and donation drive. We have a donated tractor-trailer and driver courtesy of Joe Swett and Scott Transport of Amelia, and we are trying to fill it up! We will be collecting donations until November 30, 2012 and delivering our donations to Toms River New Jersey on December 7, 2012. We are working with three organizations up there, Operation Jersey Shore Santa, who is making sure all displaced families (especially those with children) have Christmas or whichever holiday they celebrate, The Jersey Shore Animal Center which is housing numerous displaced pets that didn't go to shelters with their people and the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Department which is housing first responders and the EMS members who are now homeless from Seaside Heights and Seaside Park NJ.

There will be a fundraiser and donation drive at Main Street Lanes of Farmville on Nov. 18, from noon to 6 p.m. raffling items donated from local businesses to raise money for fuel to get the donations up there. Donations can be dropped off there at this time only and moved to a storage bin donated by ABO Storage until we fill the trailer. Davis GMC of Farmville, Hair by Mary and Co. on Main Street are also a donation drop off point until Nov. 30, during hours of operation. Any other donations, monetary or other can be arranged for pick up or drop off by calling Stephanie at 434-547-5011 or Cheryl at 434-547-8988. A full donation list can be found on my Facebook page (look up and “friend” Stephanie Orem Tkach). Here is an abbreviated list of donations we are accepting:

Gift cards to Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Dollar General…you can also look online to buy gift cards for Shoprite, Foodtown, Grand Union, A&P, or the Ocean County Mall and they can be mailed to:

Dick Gabriel Memorial Fund

PO Box 1202

Island Heights, NJ 08732

These will go directly to the Island Heights Fire Department

Operation Jersey Shore Santa:

Artificial Christmas Trees and decorations, wrapping paper and Scotch tape, gift tags NEW UNWRAPPED gifts: Barbie Dolls, Hot Wheels, Coloring books and crayons, Board games, puzzles and toddler toys.

Jersey Shore Animal Center: Dry cat and dog food, Dry puppy and kitten food, Canned dog food Paper towels and bleach, Cat carriers (plastic and card board) Blankets, towels, sheets and comforters;

Once again, find me on Facebook for a complete and updated list of acceptable donations or call me 434-547-5011 for info or to set up a pick up or drop off. Any monetary donations will be used for travel expenses and any remainders will be given to Operation Jersey Shore Santa so they can deliver Happy Holidays to the little ones who have lost everything.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have helped all ready and thank you in advance to all who read this and can help fill our trailer. And thank you on behalf of the Jersey Shore. “Revive. Rebuild. Restore.”

Sincerely, from a Jersey girl at heart

Stephanie Orem Tkach

Prince Edward